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“L’Etape Challenge” Launched

Eric Schlange
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1
“L’Etape Challenge” Launched

“L’Etape Challenge” Launched

Today, Zwift launched a four-climb challenge centered around the 2026 L’Étape du Tour event. This may be a “mini challenge”, but that doesn’t mean the climbs are small! Read on for details…

Challenge Requirements

The Challenge features four iconic French climbs, listed in the order riders will encounter them in the IRL L’Etape du Tour event held on the Queen Stage (stage 20) of this year’s Tour de France.

You can complete them in any order you’d like, though, or even join a group for extra motivation! Here’s the list, along with dates group rides will be held on each climb:

  • Climb 1: Col de la Croix de Fer
    • Length: 27.1 km (16.8 miles)
    • Elevation Gain: 1558 m (5,112‘)
    • Scheduled events: June 6/7
  • Climb 2: Col du Télégraphe
    • Length: 11.9 km (7.4 miles)
    • Elevation Gain: 844 m (2,769‘)
    • Scheduled events: June 13/14
  • Climb 3: Col du Galibier (Valloire)
    • Length: 18 km (11.2 miles)
    • Elevation Gain: 1224 m (4,016‘)
    • Scheduled events: June 20/31
  • Climb 4: Col de Sarenne
    • Length: 12.8 km (8.0 miles)
    • Elevation Gain: 923 m (3,028‘)
    • Scheduled events: June 27/28

Completing the Challenge

Everyone is automatically signed up for this challenge. As long as you’ve got version 1.114 or higher installed, and you’re within the challenge date window, you can ride the four climbs above in any way you’d like (in an event, as a free ride, for a structured workout, etc) and get credit for completion.

Click that challenge card to access the climbs and see reward details.

Pro tip: Want to double up on bonus XP? Tackle one of the new Quickfire 30 Challenge workouts on a weekend in June when one of the climbs above is scheduled (see June portal schedule). To do this, you’ll need to pick the workout first, from your homescreen. Then choose any route in Watopia (Volcano Circuit CCW is a good one, as it gets you close to the climb portal). You’ll get credit for completing the workout as well as the climb!

Challenge Rewards

You will earn an XP bonus for each climb you complete in the challenge, with a total of 2250 XP available. You will also unlock the L’Etape 2026 Kit if you complete all 4 climbs!

  • 1 climb: 500 XP
  • 2 climbs: 750 XP
  • 3 climbs: 1000 XP
  • 4 climbs: L’Etape 2026 Kit 

Deadline

This challenge goes live on June 1, 2026 at 09:00 PT, and ends July 5, 2026 at 23:59 PT.

(I recommend finishing before the final day, though, as some past Challenges have ended earlier than expected, and you don’t want to be caught out if that happens.)

Questions or Comments?

Post below!

Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE 2 Sale Announced for Australia/New Zealand

Eric Schlange
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1
Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE 2 Sale Announced for Australia/New Zealand

Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE 2 Sale Announced for Australia/New Zealand

Today, Zwift x Wahoo kick off a weeklong hardware promotion for riders in Australia and New Zealand. It features two key pieces of Zwift hardware: the full Zwift Ride setup and the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 trainer! See details below…

Zwift Ride

Typically priced at AU$2,299.95, the Zwift Ride setup (frame + trainer) is available from Wahoo for $1899.95. This is a $400 savings, or 17.4% off.

SHOP ZWIFT RIDE @ WAHOO

Note: the Zwift Ride discount is only available in Australia.

The Zwift Ride delivers a high-quality Zwift riding experience in a complete, full-featured package. That includes smooth reliability of virtual shifting, the reliable connectivity of the KICKR CORE 2, and an easily adjustable frame so you can dial in your fit.

Wahoo KICKR CORE 2

Close-up of a Wahoo indoor bike trainer showing the logo, zigzag pattern on the flywheel, and an orange Zwift-branded attachment at the center.

The KICKR CORE 2, typically priced at AU$899.95, is available from Wahoo for $749.95. This is a $150 savings, or 16.7% off. (It also includes 1 free months of Zwift, for new subscribers only.)

SHOP KICKR CORE 2 @ WAHOO

Already have a bike, but want a reliable and affordable smart trainer? Wahoo’s latest CORE smart trainer builds on the reliable and well-regarded original CORE, adding integrated WiFi, more stability, and race mode for ultra-fast power data.

Questions or comments?

While many of Zwift’s hardware promos in the past have “missed” Australia and New Zealand, this deal applies only to these countries. Good on ya, Zwift x Wahoo. Hopefully, this helps some Zwifters down under upgrade their setups while “Zwift weather” is in effect. Discount pricing above is good through 12:01 AM AEST, June 9.

Got questions or comments? Share below!

VO2sday Micro Races, Week 5: 5×4-Minute Mass Start Time Trials in NYC

Eric Schlange
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2
VO2sday Micro Races, Week 5: 5×4-Minute Mass Start Time Trials in NYC

VO2sday Micro Races, Week 5: 5×4-Minute Mass Start Time Trials in NYC

For the fifth week of our new VO2sday race series, we’re heading to New York for five tough, back-to-back races. Everything this week is the same as last week, except we’re on new roads. Read on for details!

June 2 Race Details and Signup

Here are this week’s courses:

Races are held at three different times each Tuesday:

  • Zone 1: 11am UTC/7am UT/4am PT
  • Zone 2: 5pm UTC/1pm ET/10am PT
  • Zone 3: 11pm UTC/7pm ET/4pm PT

Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/vo2sday >

Time-Based Races

Until we decide to change it, all VO2sday events will be 4 minutes long, regardless of your category or how hard you ride. The goal? Ride further than your competitors by holding the highest steady power you can muster across all 5 events.

Important note: Because these are time-based races, the only meaningful race results you’ll see this week are on the finishing screen that pops up at the end of each race, and the race results in Companion or at zwift.com. ZwiftPower will not display results properly.

(We won’t have a 5-race GC competition this week, because we don’t have a way to combine rider distances from each race and show them on a leaderboard since ZwiftPower doesn’t support this. Additionally, Zwift has a hard time handling races under 5 minutes in length, so that’s making a GC even more challenging. The good news is, I’m working with Nathan Guerra and his brilliant team over at Leadout Sports to make it happen. Stay tuned for news on this front!)

Compound Score Categories

Race categories are based on Zwift’s Compound Score, which factors in your 5-minute power and bodyweight. Compound Score categories for these events are set to:

  • A: 1600+
  • B: 1200-1600
  • C: 900-1200
  • D: 900 and below

Structured Workout Racing

The VO2sday Micro Races are nothing like your typical Zwift scratch race. Here’s how these races are distinctly structured to be engaging and fun while delivering a proper VO2 max session:

  • 5 races in less than an hour – that’s 5 hard VO2 max intervals.
  • Very short efforts: Each race is very short, only 4 minutes, just like a good VO2 max interval.
  • Recovery time: Races are 10 minutes apart, so a 4-minute race leaves you with 6 minutes of recovery before the next interval.
  • Mix of courses: Each week’s race courses feature a mix of flat, climb, rolling, and even downhill parcours. Riders with lots of pure watts have the advantage in some races, while riders with strong w/kg have the advantage in others.
  • Compound Score categories: Since results will be driven by your power numbers, riders will be categorized based on compound score, not Zwift Racing Score. This takes into account your 5-minute power and body weight.
  • Mass start: While riders are broken into categories for results, these are mass-start events with all categories starting together, so everyone has riders ahead to chase. (Remember, the goal is to push as hard as you can for the duration of the race, not to sit in the pack and conserve so you can sprint to victory in the last 15 seconds!)
  • Drafting is disabled, so these are effectively time trials. (Yes, you’ll want a fast TT setup.) Hopefully this forces you out of the “sit in then sprint” mindset, and into “hold steady high power for the duration” mode.

Questions or comments?

I’d love to hear your feedback after you’ve completed the latest set of VO2sday races. Share it below, along with any questions or comments you’ve got beforehand!

Between Efforts, Episode 2: What Makes Zwift Good, Frustrating, and Still Worth Riding?

Nathan Krake
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2
Between Efforts, Episode 2: What Makes Zwift Good, Frustrating, and Still Worth Riding?

Between Efforts, Episode 2: What Makes Zwift Good, Frustrating, and Still Worth Riding?

In this episode of Between Efforts, I talk with Eric Schlange, the founder of Zwift Insider, about the platform, the community and the future of virtual cycling.

We dig into how Zwift Insider grew from a useful side project into the most trusted resource in the Zwift world, what it takes to keep up with constant platform changes, and where Zwift might be heading in 2026 and beyond.

We also talk about racing, the Rouvy acquisition, MyWhoosh, AI summaries affecting creators, Zwift Community Live in Mallorca, and why virtual cycling has become much more than just riding indoors.

Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of May 30-31

Eric Schlange
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0
Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of May 30-31

This weekend’s notable events include training rides for the annual Mt. Fuji Hill Climb event, plus some popular races/group rides and a running kit unlock event! See our picks below…

🤝 Mt. FUJI Hill Climb

✅ Big Climb

The real-life Mt. Fuji hill climb event is next weekend, and this week Zwift is hosting multiple events on this big climb, to help riders prepare.

Mt. Fuji is no joke – in real life, or on Zwift! It’s a 25.6km climb, with 1218m of elevation gain. Learn more about the climb on Zwift here >

Multiple timeslots this weekend
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/mtfujihillclimb

🤝LA GRUPETTA DE ZABI

✅ Banded Ride　✅ Popular

Once again, we’re featuring a popular ride from the newish ZABI squad. It’s a 120-minute banded ride on London’s The PRL Half route, which is 69.7km long with 1013m of elevation. The banded group may not quite finish the route in 2 hours, but you can continue on to finish on the Classique and earn the route badge if you’d like!

Saturday, May 30 @ 7am UTC/3am ET/12am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5596792

🥇 SISU Pinkki Stage 7

✅ Popular 　✅ Stage Race

SISU’s 7-stage Pinkki race series runs across the 3 weeks of the men’s Giro d’Italia, and riders are taking on Stage 7 this Saturday! This stage is on Watopia’s Dust in the Wind (52.5km, 583m), and there are several event times to accommodate everyone’s schedules.

Read all about the SISU Pinkki Series >

This is the most popular race happening this weekend. Even if you haven’t raced the earlier stages, you’re welcome to jump in!

Multiple timeslots on Saturday, May 30
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/sisu

🤝 Hercules – Get Your Kit On – Club Top Launch Party

✅ Run 　✅ Kit Unlock

The Hercules Running & Tri club is finally getting their kit in game, and this weekend they’re hosting 3 kit unlock run events of differing lengths: 15, 30, and 45 minutes. Hercules says the virtual pink and black running club vest is “a symbol of power, unity, and fearless spirit.” See the IRL version here.

Multiple timeslots this weekend
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/hercules

🤝WOW – High Speed Ride on TT bikes with draft

✅ Fast Miles　✅ Upgrade Hack　✅ Unique Event　

Want to accumulate lots of miles quickly? Join this popular group ride, which puts everyone on the fastest TT bike in game (Cadex Tri with DT Swiss disc wheels) with drafting enabled. It’s 100km, but it’ll be a fast 100km!

Riders are on Tempus Fugit – the flattest route on Zwift! Four different pace groups are offered, released so the faster groups catch the slower groups over time.

Bike upgrading hack: on rides with forced bikes, whatever bike you’re on when you join the event is the bike that accumulates the distance/elevation/time. So, for example, you could accumulate lots of distance toward a gravel bike upgrade while riding the Cadex Tri in this event.

Sunday, May 31 @ 12:45pm UTC/8:45am ET/5:45am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5597623

How We Make Our Picks

We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:

  • Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
  • Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
  • Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
  • Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
  • Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
  • Is it for a good cause?
  • Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
  • Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?

In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!

Top 5 Zwift Videos: Zwift Play Updates, First Races, and Alpe d’Huez

Oli Chi
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0
Top 5 Zwift Videos: Zwift Play Updates, First Races, and Alpe d’Huez

For the first time in a while, the Zwift Play controllers have received a new feature update. In this week’s top video, learn all about what this firmware update delivers!

We’ve also selected videos about one rider’s first Zwift race, a comparison of Zwift and Rouvy’s Alpe d’Huez, the Quick Fire 30 challenge, and heat training.

Zwift PLAY Controller Firmware 2.0.1 // Now With Bonded Bluetooth!

Shane Miller, GPLama, explains the latest firmware update for the Zwift Play controllers and shares why this update is important.

Nearly last?! – My first ever Zwift Race

Sub-elite runner Cole Running tackles his first-ever Zwift race. Watch as he documents this grueling experience!

Zwift vs Rouvy | Which Platform Nails Alpe d’Huez?

Both Rouvy and Zwift offer a version of the iconic Alpe d’Huez. In this video, Lake District Cyclist compares the two offerings.

Fastest Zwift XP Method? Quick Fire 30 Explained

Titanium Ben shares tips and tricks on how to optimize XP earnings with the new “Quick Fire 30” challenge.

I Tried Heat Training for 10 Days, Did My FTP Explode?

Liam Shaw shares how heat training has changed his training and performance on the bike.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!

Tiny Race Series – May 30 Routes – A Fresh Mix

Eric Schlange
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0
Tiny Race Series – May 30 Routes – A Fresh Mix

Tiny Race Series – May 30 Routes – A Fresh Mix

See zwiftinsider.com/tiny for current Tiny Race details.

Zwift Play Firmware v2.01 Released

Eric Schlange
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14
Zwift Play Firmware v2.01 Released

Zwift Play Firmware v2.01 Released

This week, Zwift released a firmware update for their Play controllers – the original Zwift controllers, which were launched in June 2023 and discontinued in September 2025.

The update will be welcome to Apple TV users in particular, as it combines the two controllers into a single Bluetooth connection. The update essentially brings the Play controllers in line with the latest Click v2 and Zwift Ride controllers’ capabilities, meaning the Play should soon be able to work with KICKR CORE v2 and JetBlack Victory sensor bridging, and should soon be supported in Rouvy.

Shane covers it all in his excellent video:

Updating Your Firmware

Updating your Play firmware is easy. First, make sure they aren’t connected to a Zwift game session, since Companion can’t connect and update them if they’re active in game.

Then, from the Companion app, tap the homescreen firmware update notice or go to More>Equipment. The steps then look like this:

Questions or comments?

Share below!

“Level Up” ZRacing Series Announced for June 2026

Eric Schlange
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27
“Level Up” ZRacing Series Announced for June 2026

“Level Up” ZRacing Series Announced for June 2026

Zwift’s “ZRacing” is the platform’s most popular ongoing race series, and in June, riders are taking on courses with lots of banners so we can earn lots of bonus XP! Read on for details…

Bonus XP

This month’s races are all about bonus XP.

You’ll earn a chunk of XP for each stage you complete, plus every banner you ride through will deliver either a 10 XP bonus or (33% of the time) the big 250 XP bonus! 2000 XP is available as stage bonuses:

  • 1 Stage = 1000 XP
  • 2 Stages = 500 XP
  • 3 Stages = 200 XP
  • 4 Stages = 200 XP
  • 5 Stages = 100 XP

June’s Routes

Here are the routes we’ll be racing in June:

  • Stage 1: Sprinter’s Playground (Jun 1-7)
    • Laps: 2
    • Banners: 8 
    • Distance: 25 km / 15.5 mi
    • Elevation: 136 m / 446 ft
  • Stage 2: BRAEk-fast Crits and Grits (Jun 8-14)
    • Laps: 1
    • Banners: 10 
    • Distance: 22.1 km / 13.7 mi
    • Elevation: 243 m / 797 ft
  • Stage 3: Hilly Route Reverse (Jun 15-21)
    • Laps: 2
    • Banners: 6 
    • Distance: 18.8 km / 11.7 mi
    • Elevation: 218 m / 715 ft
  • Stage 4: Issendorf Express (Jun 22-28)
    • Laps: 3
    • Banners: 9 
    • Distance: 21.7 km / 13.5 mi
    • Elevation: 159 m / 552 ft
  • Stage 5: Queen’s Highway After Party (Jun 29-Jul 5)
    • Laps: 1
    • Banners: 6 
    • Distance: 19.8 km / 12.3 mi
    • Elevation: 301 m / 988 ft

See Range 1 ZRacing events >
See Range 2 ZRacing events >
See Advanced ZRacing events >
See ALL Level Up events >

Post-Race Analysis

GC Leaderboard

Zwift’s web-based leaderboards track the monthly GC competition. Access the ZRacing leaderboards at zwift.com/racing/leagues/zracingjun2026.

Your GC ranking is based on your best finishing time for each stage, and you can race stages more than once to try for a better time.

Your Racing Profile

Zwift launched the new “Racing Profile Page” last month at zwift.com. This brings all your Zwift race results together in one place, making it easier to track performance, racing score changes, etc. Your profile is available at zwift.com/racing/me.

Category Options

Zwift schedules three different flavors of ZRacing events in order to encourage “Fairer, more competitive racing for everyone.” They each use different racing score ranges for categorization and are titled Advanced, Range 1, and Range 2. Click banners below to see upcoming events for each:

Questions or Comments?

Post below! 

Zwift Update Version 1.114 (161738) Released

Eric Schlange
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21
Zwift Update Version 1.114 (161738) Released

Zwift version 1.114 begins its phased rollout today. The update adds a new recumbent trike to everyone’s garage, plus three configurable fields to show split/interval averages. See details below…

New Zwift Recumbent Trike

Zwift says: “A new Zwift Recumbent Trike is available in everyone’s Garage. Engineered from real-world data and validated by World Ultra Cycling Association (WUCA), this recumbent trike combines low-drag efficiency with exceptional stability. Its aerodynamic position lets you hold speed with less effort, offering a fast, controlled ride from a whole new perspective.”

The trike is rated 1 star for weight and 4 stars for aero, just like Zwift’s Handcycle. It’s actually less aero than the Handcycle, but lighter weight. We’ll publish a complete post on its performance soon.

Split Average Power/Cadence/HR Added To HUD

The previous update added customizable fields to the workout HUD, but Zwifters were requesting the ability to see averages for the current interval instead of averages across the entire workout.

Today’s update brings that capability to the game, with split average power, heart rate, and cadence now available as HUD fields. These show your averages for your current split when not in a workout or the current interval when in a structured workout.

Configure these fields by going to Settings>HUD and selecting “Workouts” at the top. This lets you modify the setup for the HUD that only shows during structured workouts:

There are now 16 available HUD metrics:

  • Cadence (RPM)
  • Average Power
  • Heart Rate (BPM)
  • Energy Burned (CAL)
  • Power to Weight (W/kg)
  • Kilojoules (KJ)
  • Stress Points (SP)
  • Core Temperature (Deg)
  • Heat Stress Index (HSI)
  • Weighted Power (WP)
  • Power Balance (L/R)
  • Average W/kg
  • Average Speed
  • Split Average Power
  • Split Average Heart Rate
  • Split Average Cadence

If you do choose to display a split average in your HUD, be aware that there is nothing in the UI that makes it clear these are split averages vs full-ride averages. We recommend showing only split averages or full ride averages, but not both, since the fields look the same.

Release Notes

Zwift supplied the following additional release notes (our added notes are in italics):

  • Fixed an issue that could potentially cause Zwifters to lose bike upgrade progress after teleporting.
  • Fixed an issue that could potentially cause workout text to overflow the HUD in French, Italian, and Spanish languages.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause workout cadence goals to disappear while a workout was paused.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause the 3rd-person camera view to zoom in after switching bike frames.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause the 3rd-person camera to zoom in when equipping the handcycle.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause Coffee Stops to not be available in private meetups with the “Keep everyone together” setting enabled.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause the crankset to be invisible on the Specialized Tarmac SL8 frame.

Discuss this update in Zwift’s forum >

Questions or Comments?

If you spotted any other changes or bugs in the update, please comment below!

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