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Zwift Camp: Baseline events end this week, and many riders have already wrapped up all six stages. So what comes next?
Three new challenges have been released today, each targeting one of the areas of fitness which Zwift Camp: Baseline was evaluating (Sprinting, Attacking, and Endurance). You may take on whatever challenge(s) you’d like, but the performance report email sent at the end of Zwift Camp: Baseline points you to a particular challenge to help strengthen your limiter.
Each of the challenges contains 4-5 workouts which you must complete in order to finish the challenge and get the 1000XP bonus. You can see a list of each challenge’s workouts by clicking the challenge in your “Challenges” carousel on the homescreen:
Below, you’ll find the details of each challenge’s workouts. But first, let’s talk about the new route-based workouts!
Route-Based Workouts
For years now, Zwift has talked about bringing route-based workouts into the game. What exactly is a route-based workout, you ask? Think of it like this: have you ever ridden outdoors and used the physical layout of your route to determine/inspire your workout? Maybe you did hill repeats on a short loop that contained a climb, or put in a steady endurance effort on a long, flat road.
Route-based workouts in Zwift are meant to provide a somewhat looser, more organic alternative to structured ERG sessions. Instead of specific timed intervals at precise wattages, Zwift places you on a particular route and gives you on-screen instructions so you know what sort of effort level to target on particular locations on the course:
For these route-based workouts, the goal is to turn in a maximal effort on each timed segment (KQOM or sprint). So you can expect the workouts to feature:
- Longer endurance intervals on flat or rolling sections
- Sweet spot to threshold-level intervals on longer climbs
- VO2-level intervals on short climbs
- Sprint intervals on in-game sprint segments
Looking for Feedback
While the benchmarking events Zwift used in Zwift Academy Road 2021-2022 were basic route-based workouts, today’s release is Zwift’s most ambitious route-based workouts rollout to date. It’s still early days for this concept, but internal contacts within Zwift tell me they’re hoping the community will embrace the idea and deliver feedback to help direct the continued development of the route-based workout idea. (Share your feedback on this post – Zwift says they’ll be watching it!)
I’m stoked about the route-based workout concept, as I think it could be a “Zwifty” feature that creates a new kind of training experience. One that sort of mirrors what you can do outside, but with some improvements to the experience.
While I received early access to these challenges so I could publish this post when they went live, I haven’t had a chance to complete any of the workouts quite yet. My plan is to complete some or all of the route-based workouts so I can write a follow-up post detailing my experience, recommendations for improvements, etc. As you complete these workouts, please share your experience in the comments below for other Zwifters and Zwift HQ to see!
Endurance Challenge
Route-Based Workout: The Big Ring
“Challenge your speed and endurance with a long flat route and a few short sprint segments to turn up your heart rate and boost your endurance.”
51.2km, 275m elevation – read more about this route >
Sprint & KQOM Segments
Woodland Sprint Reverse (0.5km, -1.6%)
Sasquatch Sprint Reverse (0.35km, 0.1%)
Acropolis Sprint Reverse (0.45km, -1.1%)
Stoneway Sprint Reverse (0.4km, 0.75%)
Fuego Flats Sprint (0.5km, 0.2%)
Structured Workout: Aerobic Sustainability
This 50-minute basic endurance workout consists of 3 identical blocks, each containing 3x repeats of 30 seconds at 95% followed by 3:30 at 80% of FTP.
Route-Based Workout: Itza Climb Finish
“Challenge your muscular strength and endurance with 4 powerful sprints and 2 consecutive endurance-building climbs for the climb finish.”
30km, 294m elevation – read more about this route >
Sprint & KQOM Segments
Woodland Sprint Reverse (0.5km, -1.6%)
Sasquatch Sprint Reverse (0.35km, 0.1%)
Acropolis Sprint Reverse (0.45km, -1.1%)
Stoneway Sprint Reverse (0.4km, 0.75%)
Mayan Mountainside KOM (1.99km, 3.1%)
Itza KOM (3.75km, 2%
Woodland Sprint Reverse (0.5km, -1.6%)
Structured Workout: Long Climbs
This 57-minute workout focuses on strength endurance work by having you complete steady, low-cadence intervals like you would encounter on long climbs.
Route-Based Workout: Peak Performance
“The most challenging workout of this Challenge with a mix of long, steady climbs (including The Grade) and short intense sprints to boost your muscular strength and endurance. You might even get a new FTP at the top of The Grade!”
46.6km, 729m elevation – read more about this route >
Sprints and KQOM Segments
Titans Grove KOM Reverse (0.89km, 4.4%)
Woodland Sprint Reverse (0.5km, -1.6%)
Sasquatch Sprint Reverse (0.35km, 0.1%)
The Grade KOM (3.52km, 8.6%)
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Attacking Challenge
Route-Based Workout: The Muckle Yin
“Challenge your attacking power with 3 punchy climbs, 2 slightly longer climbs, and one sprint finish. Your goal is to attack each segment with maximum effort, while recovering smartly between segments.”
23.6km, 282m elevation – read more about this route >
Sprint & KQOM Segments
Breakaway Brae Reverse (0.4km, 2%)
Sgurr Summit North (1.6km, 3.7%)
Breakaway Brae (0.62km, 2.4%)
Sgurr Summit South (1km, 3.3%)
The Clyde Kicker (0.3km, 3.6%)
Champion’s Sprint (0.2km, -0.4%)
Structured Workout: Hill Attacks
This 45-minute workout has you complete 8x 1-minute intervals at 140% of FTP, simulating repeated attacks up a short hill in a race.
Route-Based Workout: Figure 8
“Challenge your strength and attacking power with a mix of 2 short sprints and 2 climbs. Focus on giving a strong and controlled effort in each segment.”
29.7km, 254m elevation – read more about this route >
Sprint & KQOM Segments
Hilly KOM Reverse (2.4km, 2%)
JWB Sprint Reverse (0.2km, 0%)
Hilly KOM (0.9km, 5.5%)
JWB Sprint (0.36km, -0.1%)
Structured Workout: Surge to the Max
This 46-minute workout contains 4x ramp repeats to train your ability to put in a big effort even when you’re already tired. Each ramp builds from 70%-105% of FTP over 3 minutes, then finishes with a 1-minute max effort. (Be sure to catch your breath during the 3 minutes of recovery between each ramp… you’re gonna need it!)
Sprinting Challenge
Route-Based Workout: Neokyo All-Nighter
“The shorter route of these Challenges with 4 short intense sprints and one short climb to challenge your sprinting power.”
24.5km, 168m elevation – read more about this route >
Sprints and KQOM Segments
Castle Park Sprint Reverse (0.21km, 0.3%)
Alley Sprint Reverse (0.38km, -1.2%)
Castle Park Sprint (0.22km, -0.7%)
Tower Sprint (0.32km, 0.4%)
Rooftop KOM (1.9km, 2.7%)
Structured Workout: Fun is Going Full Gas
Inspired by Mathieu van der Poel, this 45-minute workout trains your explosive power. The key intervals here are 8x 30-second efforts at 165% of FTP.
Route-Based Workout: Coast Crusher
“Challenge your sprinting power with a longer flat route with 8 short sprint segments spread out over the entirety of the route. Focus on maximum effort in each sprint and recover smartly in between segment. This one is going to challenge your mental and physical strength. Try to finish with a max effort for the finishing sprint!”
42.8km, 211m elevation – read more about this route >
Sprints and KQOM Segments
Stoneway Sprint (0.4km, 0.75%)
Acropolis Sprint (0.45km, 0.67%)
Sasquatch Sprint (0.35km, 0.2%)
Woodland Sprint (0.5km, -2%)
Woodland Sprint Reverse (0.5km, -1.6%)
Sasquatch Sprint Reverse (0.35km, 0.1%)
Acropolis Sprint Reverse (0.45km, -1.1%)
Stoneway Sprint Reverse (0.4km, 0.75%)
Structured Workout: Nelson Vails – Sprint
Nelson Vails, the first and only African American cyclist to win an Olympic medal, was known for going from zero to 40mph+ in the blink of an eye. this 38-minute work begins with 3x 15-second sprints at 150% of FTP, then you’ll complete 3s 2.5-minute ramp sections where the final 30 seconds is an all-out sprint effort.
Questions or Comments?
Let me know if you have questions about these three new challenges. And I’m especially interested in you sharing your experience as you take on the route-based workouts above. As mentioned above, Zwift HQ is watching the comments on this post as they look to iterate on the route-based workout concept, so please do share your thoughts below!
Can we do the workouts on the route-based ”workout” to do a 2 in 1?
Can we select the route-based workout from the route menu and still progress towards the challenge?
I think the answer to both questions is “no.” Because if you just pick the route, you don’t get the instructional dialog, or the custom white arch finish line, which is what you need to ride through for it to be marked as complete.
Plus… you wouldn’t want to ride these as a separate workout. Kinda defeats the purpose…
Does the White arch finish mean there will be a colored arch start? Will the route intervals just be the course defined Sprints and KQOM’s or newly defined work out segments to meet the purpose of the Baseline Challenge?
Nope… in the test workouts I’ve done, the only additional arch outside of the regular route is the white finish arch.
Correct. I just found that out this morning as I did a Zone 2 endurance ride and selected the Big Ring route and it was not credited to me in the Endurance Challenge. I know better next time.
I’m really looking forward to route-based workout on the PRL Full route. I probably should have been given a whole book to read about cycling.
Will there be group events for route based workouts?
How long will these be available for?
Does the baseline or any of the follow up challenges give badges?
No badges for the challenges but if you finish get 1000xp.
I like the idea of the route-based workouts a lot. It’s something I’ve done informally since I’ve had Zwift but the idea of putting some additional structure to it has some promise. Looking forward to doing some of these soon.
I finished all workouts and tests, but did not get any e-mails from zwift. Is there a chance Zwift can still send me the mails with the results? Ty already.
Best to reach out to Zwift support and ask.
Think you might be struggling. I’m in same boat. I don’t think Zwift can send out another copy. I’ve contacted the helpdesk to see if they can do anything.
My partner had this issue and you have to sign-up to marketing emails from Zwift to get the emails. Once he signed up he received the report and results.
Looks like Hill Attacks workout, if not a duplicate naming, is in the Climbing Collection, but actually 61 minutes?
I noticed the commentaries in the Fun is Going Full Gas workout are misaligned – from the initial primers, it tells you to GO GO GO in the recoveries and to recover during the efforts. Possibly related to the cause, as you approach the final two minutes it tells you you’re about to start the final minute.
I did the Aerobic Sustainability, in the Endurance Challenge today & found the same. It’s telling you to get ready to sprint when you’ve just started the 3 min rests, as well as other little niggles.
I had the same. It was about 1 minute behind after the warmup
Yup, same on Nelson Vails – Sprint
True with me as well timimg of the comments was off for a minute or so …very confusing sometimes 😉
Yep, it was exactly a minute out. Confusing at first!
Re; the requested feedback: I like the new route-based workout format. In the for-whatever-its-worth category, the comments in the Nelson Vails workout are misaligned with actual riding.
I did The Big Ring (first time completion). Got the route achievement badge and the route XP but didn’t show as complete in the Endurance Challenge (still at 0/4). I did choose the route through the Challenge (in the screenshots I can see the instructions for sprinting a segment).
Odd. Was there a white arch at the end that you rode through as well?
Thank so – Strava said the route is done and I got the route badge (first and only time).
Hi,
email Zwift support, they can look at route completion and change status in the challenge as well.
FYI The same thing happened to me. I finished Big Ring, passed the gate, and completed the course. Rode an extra few minutes but my session was not counted. Something was not right. I’m going to write an email to zwift support.
Update: I emailed Zwift support and sent them some screenshots which they asked for. They flipped the Endurance Challenge for Big Ring to Completed.
Do the structured workouts in the challenge differ from the workout menue? If you pull Nelson Vails sprint from workout folder, instead of going through the “challenge” screen do you still receive credit for the challenge?
I’ve done the first two workouts of the endurance challenge, The Big Ring (route based) and Aerobic Sustainability (structured).
I love the route based workout. I stopped using erg mode for workouts two years ago and never looked back, having to shift to get your power and cadence where you want it is just like the real world, prefer to keep up that muscle
memory (and no power death spiral in erg mode if I drop my cadence). Route based workouts are a great way to get the accountability and motivation of a workout but in a free ride where I might otherwise slack. Like I doubt I’d go for all 4 of the opening sprints on the Big Ring route, but when I’m getting prompted…. Love it.
On the one structured workout I did, the prompts were totally out of sync with the intervals, that’s a mess.
I completed the Attacking Challenge on Figure 8 in Watopia. I started from the Attacking Challenge screen and had all the instructional dialog while riding the route. I don’t think I saw the white arch at the end of the ride and and it does not show as complete in the Attacking Challenge. However, it does show as completed in my activities for Dec 30.
I did Figure8 this morning, the white arch was before the start/finish arch (like Muckle Yin) but had to ride for another 300-400m before the task completion screen popped up
Did three routes now and whilst enjoying having a workout this way…….however when finishing a route after the white arch (Peak Performance, Muckle Yin) I am not able to turn. Arrows are in companion app but not on screen and clicking them… no turn, no u-turns either btw. Would have preferred to ride a few Km’s on Tempus instead of turning on to Titans again 🙂 [during Peak Performance]
But having said that, think would have never sprinted all those sprints if I would be badge hunting on those routes
Is it possible to create a club event with these challenges?
It is not.
I completed two so far: sprinting (Neokyo All-Nighter) and attacking (Muckle Yin). I enjoyed them. I liked being in “workout mode” in what otherwise would have been free riding.
I broke several 90-day PRs during my workouts — why? Because of the simple, encouraging messages to “put all [my] effort into this” coming across my screen. It’s why I like Zwift, in general, and not spin classes or Peloton where, invariably, someone will yell at me and shout indiscriminately that I/we am/are not doing enough. I’ve always found Zwift experience to be positive.
And today I completed the first of four “endurance” workouts, which was The Big Ring. The messaging was nothIng special and was all front loaded — explanations of route-based workouts and Z2 and Z3 and some “go, go, go”-type messages before each of the sprints. I liked the pre-sprint warnings at 500m, 200m, etc. and reminders of the sprint lengths to help you “shift gears” into sprinting mode, but the messaging was entirely absent through and out of the jungle. So, nothing educational or inspirational for over 20 km. The only instruction came at the start of that stretch to “pick a pace and stick with it.” More messaging would be improve that experience for sure.
The strange thing is that after doing a ‘route workout’ while continuing with the activity and displaying the ‘brake unlock’ message – you cannot manoeuvre, turning at will. Zwift leads by its own concept 🙂
You cannot turn either via ZwiftPlay, from ‘Companion’ or from the HUD screen on the monitor.
Completes the ‘Endurance Challenge’ completely.
I found the same – once you’ve finished you’re locked into a route, and the turn buttons don’t work. I also found that the U-turn is also disabled.
how long are these challenges available for?
I have done 2 of tje routes of the sprinter challenge so.far .. like it! Just found out that after the finish arch amd receiving the ride report on screen yoi can free ride further but then the do a u turn button or choose another way to.go (right or left) doesn’t seem to work. During the workout i understand it doesn’t work but after finishing you should be able to go where you like don’t you?
Rode The Big Ring route-based workout a couple of days ago and enjoyed it. All the comments and instructions came up when they should.
Rode Aerobic Sustainability today and it was a mess. All the instructions were probably 90-120 secs late, making them nothing more than an intrusion and an annoyance. Don’t know if that difference between the route-based and the structured workouts will be a constant, but it seems Zwift QC needs to go back and look at these a little more closely.
Re Aerobic Sustainability, think this is an old workout that has been trimmed for this event, agree its a mess and I hated doing it, Zwift need to review these as when they are wrong they are awful!
Is it possible to access the challenges without having completed baseline? Because I have done 2 of the endurance routes but they are not completed
Hello, I’m really into these challenges becuase they’re shorter than usual plans and… challenging, very nice proposal.
I just finished the “Aerobic Sustainability” and I think I found a bug: just before finishing the first series (16, 17 minutes after starting) the comments on the screen were de-synchronized: means the comments said what I needed to read something like 45 seconds before they had to.I run Zwift on IOs, ver. 1.80.0.
I did the big ring route for the endurance workout, and I really enjoyed it. It’s another great option for training!
26/12/2024 i do the Big Ring.
30/12/2024 i do Peak Performance
both routes were executed when the challenges were already active, but were not executed.
can you help me?
YES SAME THING SOMEBODY TELL ME HOW TO COMPLETE 3 CHALLENGES?
I did one of the attack challenge “Nelson Vails” sprint in WATOPIA. But it is not shown as completed. How can I get a check?
Forgot to say did it Jan 10th 2025
I’ve been working on knocking out the Endurance Challenge. Did the Itza climb finish workout and it was great, very much enjoyed it and had no issues. Today (Jan 31) I did the Peak Performance workout and as I expected it was great, thoroughly enjoy the comments urging me to sprint when I normally wouldn’t. Completed the route and kept riding to pass through the white arch to end the workout. The workout summary popped up and everything. However, the Peak Performance remains unchecked inside of the endurance challenge. How can I get this marked completed? Is this some kind of bug that needs fixing? I really want the extra xp since I’m only level 33 and I’m working towards some faster wheels 😉
Sounds like a bug. I would reach out to Zwift support.
Same thing happened to me, twice now and on separate days
Yesterday did the figure 8 as part of the attacking challenge.
Today did the Big Ring as part of the endurance challenge.
After both were completed I had the ride report on my screen, and the companion app indicates workout complete.
Yet both remain unchecked within the attacking and endurance challenge on the main screen.
I have sent 2 separate emails to Zwift and am confident they will correct, but with so many having the same issue seems like should have been addressed by now.
I should note that previously I had completed the sprinting challenge without issue, all route based and traditional workouts had status updated immediately after completion.
Same here!
I successfully completed the Sprinting and Attacking challenge during January, all workouts were immediately accepted and status updated.
On Friday, 31 January, I started the first workout of the Endurance challenge – Aerobic sustainibility – and the workout has not yet been accepted.
How do I reach Zwift support? Via E-Mail?
Thanks in advance
Yes send an email to support, include your Zwift ID number, name of the workout & challenge group, etc.
Be patient – it usually takes a few days or more for a response.
To update the case:
I wrote to Zwift support via the support form on their website and I already got a reply within two days.
The work-out was subsequently credited and everything is fine now.
Support gave me also the following tip:
“Make sure that you are not logged in on multiple devices at the same time, as this may affect the storage of the data”
It could well have been the case that I also had the Zwift app open on the laptop.
Yes Zwift support credited both of my workouts as well – support certainly does a great job following up on issues.
However I did not have Zwift installed on more than one device so this solution does not apply to my situation.
I have one more traditional workout in the attacking challenge series to complete, I will follow up here if no credit given. hopefully they have fixed the bug!
I’ve noticed on the challenges that my PB Holo does not appear on the segments. Do the Holo’s not appear on the challenges or have I got my settings wrong?
I did the Endurance Itza Climb route based workout. All fine, but after passing through the white arch and getting the completion ride report, for some reason navigation wasn’t available once free riding – I couldn’t select navigation turns or do a u-turn? I understand this would not be available during the workout, but should be once completed?
Any idea when the challenges end? Is it Feb 28th?.
March 31
Hello!
Does anyone know if the structured workouts in the Baseline follow up challenge need to be opened from the “Baseline follow up challenge carousel” on the Zwift starting page to count for the challenge (or if it works just as well as open up the workout from the “regular” workout folder and still get it credited to the challenge)?
I’m thinking that it would be really nice if it’s possible to ride some of the structured workouts in the Baseline follow up challenge on the “on demand” Big Spin routes. 🙂
I had a look at the follow-up Challenges today and notice they each have DEC 23 – MAR 31, I hadn’t noticed an expiry date before, so I guess we have to complete them by the end of this month
I hope they keep the route based workouts in the workout library somewhere…
Finished the attacking challenge and was working through the sprint and endurance. I love the route-based workouts, especially (and also love checking off a list…and 1000XP). Signing on this evening to discover all challenges are missing from the sign on screen. I thought they were available through March 31. Any insight?
I ran into the same problem. I was able to access the structured workouts by going to the workout tab and scrolling through the workouts by name. When I completed one that way it did count (the baseline banner appeared with my count towards the challenge). But haven’t figured out how to access the route based workouts.
I don’t see them either!
It says on the app that the attacking and sprinting challenge will end March 31. As of today it is still available. I don’t want to start a challenge and then it will close out on me without finishing the full challenge. Any idea when will these challenges actually end?
Apparently between last night’s ride and tonight’s, convenient since I was about to complete one of the challenges tonight. Sigh.