Teamwork and camaraderie are woven into cycling culture, so it’s no surprise that teams have been a part of Zwift from the beginning. Often Zwift teams are formed from existing outdoor cycling clubs, but increasingly we’re seeing teams that begin on Zwift and morph into outdoor teams!
Here’s your guide to Zwift cycling teams: why they exist, how to find and join a team, and much more.
What are Teams Doing on Zwift?
First: team members participate in group rides and races. They may select particular races to attend so they can work together as a team, like DIRT did recently. They may also ride together in a larger group ride, providing company to each other.
Next, some teams organize and lead regular Zwift group rides – these often begin as team training rides then later open up to anyone interested when they are added to Zwift’s official event calendar. Races are usually managed by Zwift teams as well. Most of the events on Zwift’s calendar are community-based, and the vast majority of those community events are managed by teams. Teams truly make Zwift events happen!
Lastly, team members interact with each other outside of Zwift, typically via Facebook and Discord. Facebook is the main social network where Zwifters interact, and a team Facebook page is a good place for a smaller group of Zwifters to hang out, encourage each other, and share information. Discord is also commonly used in-game and between Zwift sessions to stay in touch via text and voice chat.
For a perfect example of teamwork in Zwift, watch the end of the Zwift Team Worlds 2017 race below. You can see Justin’s teammates supporting him in-game and also hear Justin’s teammates on Discord, acting as a virtual “team car” to help guide his efforts and cheer him on.
Joining a Team
You can check the “Available for recruitment” box in your ZwiftPower profile’s settings to encourage teams to reach out to you, but unless you are an unaffiliated rider posting very strong A race results, you will need to take the initiative to reach out and join a team.
To learn how to join a team, click the team’s name on ZwiftPower’s teams page, then click the “About” tab. Teams generally include signup info here.
For most of Zwift’s largest teams, joining involves 2 simple steps:
- Join the team on ZwiftPower (click team name on ZwiftPower’s teams page, then click “Join” at top-right)
- Join the team Facebook group (link is under “contact” on ZwiftPower’s teams page) – this is optional, but recommended if you want to socialize with your teammates
Some teams may require you to jump through a few hoops before you can officially wear the in-game team kit: racing in a particular number of events, joining group rides led by the team, etc.
For smaller teams, and especially elite race teams, you will need to reach out to team management to discuss joining. Again, that contact info is found on ZwiftPower’s teams page.
ZwiftPower actually allows riders to sign up for multiple teams. You can only set one team as your primary team, though.
FAQ
- How do I start my own Zwift team?
Creating a team is easy – just do it! Create a Facebook group, and create the team in ZwiftPower (click Team>Create New Team). The hard work comes in building the team and managing the logistics of an active group. Watch for a Zwift Insider post on this topic soon. - How do I get my club’s kit into Zwift?
The short answer is: you probably don’t. Not yet, anyway. Read this post for details > - My team wants to organize official events that will be on Zwift’s calendar. How do we get started?
Email [email protected], but be aware that the calendar is quite full already and Zwift’s event staff are very busy. Your event will probably need to be “special” in some before it gets approved. - How can I organize events for my club?
For now, your only realistic option is probably Meetups. Click to learn how they work > - I’ve heard that Zwift has a “Clubs” feature. Can I use that?
Soon! It’s currently in a limited beta, but the plan is for it to be released to teams once testing is completed. This will radically empower Zwift teams, so we’re all excited to see it launch! Read more about Zwift Clubs here > - How can my team receive an invite to big invitational races like Zwift’s Tour of Watopia Pro-Am series?
There’s no golden ticket. ZwiftHQ chooses which teams to invite, based on a number of (secret) criteria. Your best hope for getting an invite is to have a strong social media presence while turning in top race results in the most competitive non-invitational races on Zwift! - How many teams exist?
If we define a team as any group with 10 or more ZwiftPower-registered riders, there are over 600 teams at this time on Zwift. To view this list of teams along with key details visit ZwiftPower’s teams page.
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