Will my ELEMNT show turn-by-turn cues from the GPX?

Only if the file has TBT cue points (check the cue count on the result screen before download) and your import path preserves them. Depending on the ELEMNT model and app version, a file without cues shows as a breadcrumb line instead of a cue sheet.

Should I import directly or go through Komoot, Strava, or Ride with GPS?

Importing the GPX directly into the ELEMNT app keeps the cues Maps to GPX generated. Routing it through another service first can regenerate that service's own turn cues from the line, which may add, change, or drop cues depending on the service.

Should I use Route or Track for ELEMNT?

Use Route with TBT enabled when you want a cue sheet with turn prompts. Use Track when a stable line is enough. Either format imports as a route the ELEMNT can navigate, but only a file with cue points can show turn-by-turn prompts.

My route is too large to import quickly. What now?

Regenerate the GPX with point simplification enabled, which keeps every other point and roughly halves the file size, then import the smaller file.

Why does the ELEMNT route differ from the Google Maps route?

Maps to GPX recomputes the route through Google's Routes API in bicycle mode, falling back to driving mode where cycling data is unavailable, and any connected service you sync through can process the line again. Check the full route before riding.

Maps to GPX

Google Maps to Wahoo ELEMNT GPX for Cycling

Convert a Google Maps cycling route URL into a GPX file you can review before adding it to your Wahoo ELEMNT workflow.

Maps to GPX is free, needs no account, and shows distance, point count, and available turn cues before download.

How to import the GPX into a Wahoo ELEMNT

Download the GPX from Maps to GPX on your phone.
Open the ELEMNT companion app, go to Routes, and tap the + button to import the GPX file. You can also open the file from your phone's share menu and choose the ELEMNT app.
Check the route name and line in the app, then save it. The route syncs to the ELEMNT over Bluetooth.
On the ELEMNT, open Routes, select the route, and start navigation.

If you already plan rides in Komoot, Strava, or Ride with GPS, upload the GPX there instead and let the ELEMNT app sync it through the linked account.

How the ELEMNT app treats a Route GPX vs a Track GPX

The ELEMNT companion app can import both Route and Track GPX files as a route to navigate. With a Route file that carries TBT cue points, the app can show a cue sheet with turn instructions on the ELEMNT. With a Track-only file, or a Route file with no cues, it falls back to a breadcrumb line with no turn prompts.

Whether the app labels this a full turn-by-turn course or a plain line depends on the ELEMNT model and app version, since Wahoo's own route-building and imported-GPX handling are not identical — check what your ELEMNT shows before a ride.

Turn-by-turn cues on an ELEMNT

When TBT is enabled during conversion, Maps to GPX adds cue points built from Google's per-step navigation instructions alongside the Route or Track line. The ELEMNT app reads these cues and can present them as a cue sheet with distance-to-turn alerts, but only when the file actually contains them.

If you already route through Komoot, Strava, or Ride with GPS and let those sync to ELEMNT, note that those services can regenerate their own turn cues from the line instead of using the ones from the GPX — depending on the service, this can add, change, or drop cues.

Common problems and fixes

Route too long or slow to import: enable point simplification (keeps every other point) and regenerate before importing again.

No turn-by-turn cues on the ELEMNT: confirm the result screen showed a cue count above 0 before download, use Route with TBT enabled, and re-check after import since some third-party services strip or rebuild cues.

The line does not match Google Maps: this usually means the area had no cycling data, so the conversion used driving mode as a fallback. Compare the distance shown in Maps to GPX with the Google Maps estimate.

Worked example: Tokyo Station to Tokyo Tower

Converting this route in bicycle mode produces a 4.4 km route with 78 route points and 18 TBT cues. That is the cue sheet size to expect on the ELEMNT after import — a route that comes back with 0 cues means the source directions returned no usable navigation instructions.

FAQ

Will my ELEMNT show turn-by-turn cues from the GPX?: Only if the file has TBT cue points (check the cue count on the result screen before download) and your import path preserves them. Depending on the ELEMNT model and app version, a file without cues shows as a breadcrumb line instead of a cue sheet.
Should I import directly or go through Komoot, Strava, or Ride with GPS?: Importing the GPX directly into the ELEMNT app keeps the cues Maps to GPX generated. Routing it through another service first can regenerate that service's own turn cues from the line, which may add, change, or drop cues depending on the service.
Should I use Route or Track for ELEMNT?: Use Route with TBT enabled when you want a cue sheet with turn prompts. Use Track when a stable line is enough. Either format imports as a route the ELEMNT can navigate, but only a file with cue points can show turn-by-turn prompts.
My route is too large to import quickly. What now?: Regenerate the GPX with point simplification enabled, which keeps every other point and roughly halves the file size, then import the smaller file.
Why does the ELEMNT route differ from the Google Maps route?: Maps to GPX recomputes the route through Google's Routes API in bicycle mode, falling back to driving mode where cycling data is unavailable, and any connected service you sync through can process the line again. Check the full route before riding.

Wahoo GPX