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Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of September 26-27

Eric Schlange
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0
Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of September 26-27

It definitely feels like Zwift season is revving up this weekend, with the zFondo series kicking off, the Zwift Ride V2 going on sale, and lots of riders jumping into the game after taking the summer off.

This weekend, I’m featuring some of the most interesting long rides and races on the calendar. Hop in and challenge yourself!

🤝 zFondo Series Kickoff: Fuhgeddaboudit

✅ Bonus XP 　✅ Popular 　✅ Endurance Challenge 　✅ Jersey Unlock

This is the first of this season’s zFondo weekends, and it’s on a route we’ve never fondoed before: New York’s Fuhgeddaboudit (79km, 838m). Join whatever pace group you’d like, and hang with that group’s RoboPacer (or try to beat it)! Fondos aren’t official races – some treat them as personal challenges, some as a race. You do you.

Read all about the Zwift Fondo Series >

(I’ll be racing the 5am PT zFondo with YouTuber Ryan Condon. Join us!)

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

🤝The Fudging Uber Pretzel

✅ Endurance Challenge 　✅ Route Badge

Have you conquered The Über Pretzel (128.8km, 2335m) yet? It’s a beast…arguably the hardest route on Zwift. Tough routes like this are always better with a group. Join the Fudging Slackers are knock it out!

You gotta love the event description on this one. “It’s early. It’s long. It’s probably a terrible idea.”

Pro tip: Don’t overcook it early, because it finishes up Alpe du Zwift!

Sunday, September 27 @ 5:30am UTC/1:30am ET/Saturday 10:30pm PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5690812

🤝 The BMTR Fundo

Top-down view of three cyclists in matching black BMTR jerseys riding on a road, with the BMTR logo featuring a bear on the left side of the image.

✅ Popular Ride　✅ Legacy Leaders　✅ Endurance Challenge　✅ Kit Unlock

A regularly featured event here on Zwift Insider, the BMTR Fundo consistently draws lots of joiners because it’s well led and run week after week, year after year.

Four distances to choose from – pick the category corresponding to the distance you want to ride. This week’s event has the 100-mile A group on Watts the Limit, with B/C/D on Waisted 8.

Saturday, September 26 @ 12:10pm UTC/8:10am ET/5:10am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5710947

🤝Pretzels, Epics and Afterparties p/b Velos

Velos logo on a blue gradient background with four cyclists in blue and green uniforms riding in formation.

✅ Pace Options　✅ Endurance Training　✅ Kit Unlock

The Velos squad has been riding a variety of epic routes in September, with the series ending this weekend on Watopia’s Zwift Games 2024 Epic (81.5km, 878m). “Long rides can drag on your own, so jump in, and Team Velos will help the time fly past with the friendly chat and questionable jokes.”

The yellow beacon will lead at 2.5 W/kg, while the red beacon will pace at 2 W/kg. The ride officially lasts 2 hours, but riders are encouraged to press on and finish the route.

Saturday, September 26 @ 11am UTC/7am ET/4am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5710928

🥇 2026 SISU World Championships – Road Race

✅ Beginner-Friendly 　✅ Banded 　✅ Popular

Coinciding with the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montréal, SISU Racing is holding the 2026 SISU Worlds Road Race this weekend on Watopia’s Bambino Fondo (52.6km, 581m). Read all about it here, then join in the fun!

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

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 Settings, Building Fitness, and Cycplus T7

Oli Chi
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0
Top 5 Zwift Videos: Zwift Settings, Building Fitness, and Cycplus T7

Ever wondered what the “best” settings for Zwift are? In this week’s top video, hear from one Zwifter as he walks viewers through his favorite Zwift settings.

We’ve also included videos about building back fitness, riding the Cycplus T7, trainer recommendations, and cardio gains from Zwift.

Zwift Settings I Change Immediately (And You Should Too)

Just getting started on Zwift? Experienced Zwifter Chad Rides shares a list of settings that he recommends riders adjust.

I ruinedmy FTP!! Road to 450W FTP Episode 1

The Cycling Giraffe explains why he has lost so much power in the last year and shares his plans for building back his fitness.

Don’t Buy a Smart Trainer Until You See This | CYCPLUS T7

At less than half the price of the Wahoo KICKR Bike Pro, is the Cycplus T7 able to provide a similar riding experience?

Best Indoor Bike Trainer in 2026? (Advice From a Pro Esport Champ)

If you’re looking to upgrade your trainer before we hit indoor season, take a look at Tilly on a Bike’s smart trainer recommendations.

My Journey with Zwift (So Far)

Since getting his VO2 max tested, Jinamgo has been using Zwift and TrainerRoad as his primary form of cardio. How much has he improved in the last few months?

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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

Tiny Race Series – September 26 Routes – Heroic Hillclimbs

Eric Schlange
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0
Tiny Race Series – September 26 Routes – Heroic Hillclimbs

Tiny Race Series – September 26 Routes – Heroic Hillclimbs

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

Zwift Ride Big Weekend Sale Begins (+ Good News for Canadians)

Eric Schlange
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8
Zwift Ride Big Weekend Sale Begins (+ Good News for Canadians)

Zwift Ride Big Weekend Sale Begins (+ Good News for Canadians)

Zwift just launched their Big Weekend Sale event, featuring the first-ever discount on the new Zwift Ride V2. The sale begins today and runs through Monday, September 28. (And before any of you long-suffering Canadians comment about not being able to get a Zwift Ride shipped affordably… scroll down for good news!)

Zwift Ride V2 – First Time Sale

A man rides a stationary bike in a blue room. Text reads ZWIFT RIDE $999.99 and BIG weekend sale SEPT 7-28. Bright, colorful geometric shapes decorate the image.

With a strong feature set paired with pricing well below other smart bikes, the Zwift Ride has been the best deal going since it launched in the summer of 2024. (My educated guess is that Zwift has sold over 100,000 units thus far. But don’t quote me on that.) Just 2 weeks ago, Zwift began shipping the new Zwift Ride V2, which features several iterative improvements so it’s more adjustable and accommodating to a wider range of riders (read about exactly what changed in this post).

For the next few days, riders can pick up the Zwift Ride V2 + Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 package for just $999.99/€999.99/£899.99. That’s a huge discount off the regular price, especially for Zwifters in the US:

Zwift Cog and Click – 75% Off

Bike computer mounts, four black rubber straps, two round covers, and a device with colored buttons are arranged on a white surface.
A round, orange Zwift bike trainer cassette tool with a black rim and center, displayed against a plain white background.

Zwift’s Cog and Click Upgrade Kit is normally priced at an affordable $50 US, but it’s now on sale for just $12.50. Clearly, Zwift wants everyone to try virtual shifting!

If you’ve got a trainer that supports virtual shifting, but don’t yet have the Cog to replace your cassette or the Clicks to do the shifting… it may be time to give it a try!

Related: Which trainers support virtual shifting?

Oh Canada… Good News For You!

A modern indoor cycling bike with a white frame labeled ZWIFT, orange accents on the knobs and handlebars, and a black flywheel. The bike has no visible wheels and is designed for stationary cycling workouts.
A stationary white indoor cycling bike with black and orange accents, the word ZWIFT on the frame, and a sturdy flywheel, set against a plain white background.

The good folks at WTRL, organizers of Zwift Racing League and WTRL TTT, have been working with Zwift for months to build the infrastructure to stock and sell the Zwift Ride in Canada. And it’s finally happening!

Pre-orders are now open to purchase the Zwift Ride V2 + KICKR CORE 2 bundle ($2,099 CAD) and the Zwift Ride V2 frame ($1,250 CAD). You can even buy the frame with a different trainer, including the Wahoo KICKR v6, Tacx NEO 2T, Tacx NEO 3M, and JetBlack Victory.

Shop Now at WTRL >
(Tip: change your currency to CAD $ | Canada in the top-right to see the Zwift Ride V2 options)

(While Wahoo has been selling both of these items for quite some time to Canada – and they sell the frame for $1,200 CAD – Wahoo charges $275 CAD to ship either item, while WTRL ships free, at least to the Canadian addresses we tested. Additionally, it appears sales tax is a bit lower through WTRL. So there’s significant net savings when buying from WTRL vs Wahoo, even if the price is higher in Canada than in the US, UK, and EU.)

A final note: the shopping links in this post are affiliate links, so when you shop through them, Zwift Insider earns an affiliate commission. Thanks in advance for your support!

Zwift Racing League Week 2 Guide: Innsbruckring (Scratch Race)

Eric Schlange
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8
Zwift Racing League Week 2 Guide: Innsbruckring (Scratch Race)

The second race of Zwift Racing League 2026/27 Round 1 happens on Tuesday, September 29, and we’re in Innsbruck for a scratch race on the popular Innsbruckring.

Let’s dig into the course layout, powerups, bike decisions, and strategic options for teams.

Looking at the Route

Each lap of Innsbruckring is 8.8 km, and A/B teams will race 4 laps (35.4km, 309m elevation) while C/D will race 3 laps (26.6km, 232m elevation).

Innsbruckring is popular for races and has featured twice in ZRL: as a points race in 2022/23 and as a scratch race in 2023/24. While the exaggerated route profile below looks lumpy, it’s quite flat and uneventful for most of the lap. Especially in a scratch race, where only your finish position matters, the Leg Snapper climb will be the key selection point on each lap:

The Leg Snapper KOM begins when you cross the short bridge and the road tilts sharply upward 5km into your first lap. At 430 meters long with a steady average gradient of 6.9%, this climb will force a selection each and every lap! Be prepared for an all-out 50 to 75-second effort to stay in touch.

Keep hammering over the top of the Leg Snapper to get back up to speed on the descent immediately following. You can even use the aero powerup you got at the banner if you’d like, then recover a bit on the descent and even through the sprint (where you’ll get a feather powerup) if you’re in the front pack, as riders won’t be pushing hard since this is a scratch race.

The pack will be strung out, and gaps will have formed thanks to the Leg Snapper. This is where riders face a decision. If you’re in the front group, do you keep pushing to hold the gap? If you’re in a chase group, do you try to bridge up? Typically in multi-lap scratch races on Innsbruckring a group of riders is dropped over the Leg Snapper, then rejoins the front pack a few minutes later after the front pack eases. This is especially true on the first lap, and becomes less true as the race drags on through subsequent laps.

On the last lap, you commonly see the front pack keeping the pressure on after the Leg Snapper, so dropped riders stay dropped all the way to the finish.

Speaking of the finish: this finish always feels like a drawn-out sprint. Riders often try to go long, but are unable to hold it. Patience is crucial here, and you’ll want to maximize the use of your powerup. Holding an aero will be crucial for the finish!

Read more about the Innsbruckring route >

PowerUp Notes

Specific powerups are assigned to each arch: a 250 XP bonus at the start/finish arch, the aero boost at the Leg Snapper KOM arch, and a feather at the sprint arch.

A simple white helmet with a visor, shown in profile with three lines behind it to indicate speed, centered on a turquoise circle with a gray and white border.

Aero Boost (helmet): makes you more aerodynamic (reduces your CdA by 25%) for 15 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents), especially when no draft is available (although it is still useful when drafting). This is the powerup you want to be holding going into the finish.

Lightweight (feather): reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds.
Use on climbs, when weight matters the most. This is a handy powerup for the Leg Snapper, and it’s long enough to last for the majority of the climb. The downside is, you’ll have to forgo the 250 XP bonus at the start/finish if you want to hold onto it for the Leg Snapper!

Bike Recommendations

Bike recommendations for this race are simple, thanks to how Zwift has set up the current crop of in-game road bikes. You’ll want to pick one of the top “aero all-arounders”, the best of which are:

Wheel choice feels a bit trickier here, because it seems like we need to choose between the most aero wheels (disc wheelsets) or better climbing wheels (to help you survive the Leg Snapper). Lucky for you – I tested it! Here are the Leg Snapper times for three of the top contenders, using the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 frame at 6 W/kg (450W):

My take is: go with the disc wheelset. (And the DT Swiss 85/Disc or Swiss Side 850/Disc will also work just fine, as they perform essentially the same as the Shimano disc.) You’ll lose a quarter-second on the Leg Snapper, but you’ll be faster on the flats and in that final sprint.

A cyclist in orange and black gear rides a red bike through a virtual city street at night, with mountains in the background and colorful banners along the roadside.

Halo upgraders: your Tron bike is also a good option on this course. It’s as fast up the Leg Snapper and around the course overall as the fastest road bike combos.

Of course, your frame’s upgrade status should impact your decision.

Related: All About Zwift’s New “Bike Upgrades” Functionality >

For more info on bike and wheelset performance in Zwift, check out:

More Route Recons

Lots of recon events are scheduled on upcoming ZRL routes, led by various teams. See upcoming ZRL recons for this race at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlrecon.

Additionally, riders in the Zwift community do a great job every week creating recon videos that preview the courses and offer tips to help you perform your best on the day. I’ll add them below as I find them!

J Dirom

John Rice

TacticalWatts

Strategic Options

How will these races unfold, and what strategies will riders employ in the second race of round 1? Here’s what I predict:

  • Hold On To Your Aeros: Riders wanting to contend in the final sprint will 100% want to hold onto the aero powerup they receive the last time up the Leg Snapper.
  • Close the Gap: In typical Zwift races, the pack breaks up over the Leg Snapper + Sprint, but chase groups will often rejoin the front group in the “uneventful” 6.8km that follows. I predict this will happen on laps 1, 2, and 3, with few riders rejoining the front each lap. But on that final lap, I bet the front riders will push to stay away!
  • Four Hard Kilometers: Lighter riders and anyone who lacks sprint power may want to attack on the final Leg Snapper to drop the pure sprinters, then try to stay away to the finish. Teams may strategically execute attacks, with one rider going off the front while the rest sit in. The ensuing chase will make the final 4km of the race difficult for everyone.
  • Survive and Sprint: This is what most riders will be doing. The goal is to do minimal work to stay in touch with the front pack over the Leg Snapper (“sagging the climb” helps), then be in contention on the final sprint.

Your Thoughts

Any insights or questions about this race? Share below!

Zwift Climb Portal Schedule

Eric Schlange
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169
Zwift Climb Portal Schedule

Zwift Climb Portal Schedule

Zwift’s Climb Portal gives Zwifters access to a growing library of famous real-life climbs in a gamified environment where roads are colored based on gradient. Learn more about the Climb Portal >

While the library of climbs continues to grow, only three climbs are accessible on a given day:

  • Climb of the month: the first climb listed on the calendar below rotates monthly. This climb is available only in France, and you can ride it by clicking the appropriate card at the bottom of your home screen under “Just Ride”.
  • Featured daily climb: the second climb listed rotates daily and is only available in Watopia. Ride it by clicking the appropriate card at the bottom of your home screen under “Just Ride”.
  • Climb of the week: the last climb listed rotates weekly and awards bonus XP upon completion. This climb is only available in France, and can be accessed via the “Climb of the Week” card on your homescreen.

Learn more about a climb by clicking it in the schedule below.

< September 2026 >
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
  1Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) CipressaCipressa Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP) 2Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Gotthard PassGotthard Pass Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP) 3Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col d’AspinCol d’Aspin Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP) 4Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Cheddar GorgeCheddar Gorge Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP) 5Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col des AravisCol des Aravis Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP) 6Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col de la Croix de FerCol de la Croix de Fer Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) (500 XP)
7Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Cote de PikeCote de Pike Cote de Trebiac (250 XP)Cote de Trebiac (250 XP) 8Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Pla d'AdetPla d'Adet Cote de Trebiac (250 XP)Cote de Trebiac (250 XP) 9Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Hardknott PassHardknott Pass Cote de Trebiac (250 XP)Cote de Trebiac (250 XP) 10Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Alto de PatiosAlto de Patios Cote de Trebiac (250 XP)Cote de Trebiac (250 XP) 11Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Isola 2000Isola 2000 Cote de Trebiac (250 XP)Cote de Trebiac (250 XP) 12Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Bealach na BàBealach na Bà Cote de Trebiac (250 XP)Cote de Trebiac (250 XP) 13Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col du TélégrapheCol du Télégraphe Cote de Trebiac (250 XP)Cote de Trebiac (250 XP)
14Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Mûr de BretagneMûr de Bretagne Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP)Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP) 15Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Côte de La RedouteCôte de La Redoute Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP)Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP) 16Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) La Turbie + Col d'EzeLa Turbie + Col d'Eze Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP)Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP) 17Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Coll d'OrdinoColl d'Ordino Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP)Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP) 18Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) La Laguna NegraLa Laguna Negra Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP)Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP) 19Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) TrollstigenTrollstigen Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP)Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP) 20Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col de SarenneCol de Sarenne Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP)Col du Galibier (Lautaret) (500 XP)
21Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Old La HondaOld La Honda Crow Road (15k Drops)Crow Road (15k Drops) 22Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Oude KwaremontOude Kwaremont Crow Road (15k Drops)Crow Road (15k Drops) 23Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col de la Croix Saint-RobertCol de la Croix Saint-Robert Crow Road (15k Drops)Crow Road (15k Drops) 24Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col du RosierCol du Rosier Crow Road (15k Drops)Crow Road (15k Drops) 25Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col de la MadoneCol de la Madone Crow Road (15k Drops)Crow Road (15k Drops) 26Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Lagos de CovadongaLagos de Covadonga Crow Road (15k Drops)Crow Road (15k Drops) 27Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Mt FujiMt Fuji Crow Road (15k Drops)Crow Road (15k Drops)
28Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Mt. HamiltonMt. Hamilton Col du Rosier (250 XP)Col du Rosier (250 XP) 29Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) Col du TourmaletCol du Tourmalet Col du Rosier (250 XP)Col du Rosier (250 XP) 30Col du Galibier (Valloire)Col du Galibier (Valloire) RocacorbaRocacorba Col du Rosier (250 XP)Col du Rosier (250 XP)        
Categories
 Climb of the Month
 Climb of the Week
 Climb Portal - Blue
 Climb Portal - Dark Blue
 Climb Portal - Light Blue

Access the currently featured monthly and daily climbs from the bottom of the Zwift homescreen under “Just Ride”:

Access the Climb of the Week from the “Climb of the Week” card:

A Zwift dashboard showing events, routes, and workout options, including Route of the Week, Climb of the Week, Indoor/Outdoor, and completed events. User stats and navigation options are visible at the top.

Zwift Course Calendar – Current Guest World Schedule

Eric Schlange
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14
Zwift Course Calendar – Current Guest World Schedule

Watopia is available every day while the other maps rotate as “Guest Worlds” according to the calendar below. This gives Zwifters access to three worlds (Watopia + two guest worlds) at any given time.

< September 2026 >
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
  1ParisParis FranceFrance 2ParisParis FranceFrance 3RichmondRichmond InnsbruckInnsbruck 4LondonLondon RichmondRichmond 5LondonLondon RichmondRichmond 6YorkshireYorkshire LondonLondon
7YorkshireYorkshire LondonLondon 8New YorkNew York Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands 9New YorkNew York Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands 10Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands ScotlandScotland 11Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands ScotlandScotland 12ParisParis FranceFrance 13ParisParis FranceFrance
14YorkshireYorkshire LondonLondon 15YorkshireYorkshire LondonLondon 16LondonLondon RichmondRichmond 17LondonLondon RichmondRichmond 18RichmondRichmond InnsbruckInnsbruck 19Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands ScotlandScotland 20Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands ScotlandScotland
21New YorkNew York Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands 22New YorkNew York Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands 23ParisParis FranceFrance 24ParisParis FranceFrance 25YorkshireYorkshire LondonLondon 26YorkshireYorkshire LondonLondon 27LondonLondon RichmondRichmond
28LondonLondon RichmondRichmond 29RichmondRichmond InnsbruckInnsbruck 30Makuri IslandsMakuri Islands ScotlandScotland        
Categories
 France
 Innsbruck
 London
 Makuri Islands
 New York
 Paris
 Richmond
 Scotland
 Yorkshire

Keep in mind the guest course changeover happens at midnight Eastern/9pm Pacific (4am UTC the following day).

If you’d like to ride an off-schedule course, see How To Access the Route You Want. 

See archived calendars (November 2019 and older)

All About Zwift’s New Party Crashers Events

Eric Schlange
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13
All About Zwift’s New Party Crashers Events

All About Zwift’s New Party Crashers Events

If you’ve signed into Zwift in recent days, you’ve probably noticed the prominent Party Crashers banner:

Zwift dashboard with bright Party Crashers event banner, weekly stats, ride suggestions, and event cards. Main navigation includes Home, Events, Routes, and Workouts. Widgets and announcements fill the screen.

What is this event, and how should you approach it? Dive in and find out…

Party Crashers Basics

While Party Crashers events are essentially chase races, they are technically classified as group rides on Zwift’s calendar.

When you sign up, you choose which group you want to be in:

  • Category D: You’re here for the party. Keep it casual and social in whatever costume Zwift has placed you in for the week. But also, try to stay away from the Party Crashers!
  • Category E: Party Crashers. You’ll start 5 minutes behind category D, and your goal is to catch them before the ride ends.

Party Crashers Strategy

Many of the D “partier” groups are led by community riders who hold to a stated pace and keep the party going. If you’re joining for the party, stay with the beacon and help pull on the front if you’re able. This shared workload will help your group stay away from the crashers as long as possible.

Party Crashers: you’ll want to stick together as well, working together by rotating pulls on the front to keep your speed high so you can reel in the partiers.

When/if the two groups merge near the end of the ride, all bets are off. Partiers who are feeling strong can up their power and try to hang with the Party Crashers. And some Party Crashers may choose to sit up and hang with the partiers! It’s not a race, so you can do whatever you’d like. Just have fun.

Schedule

This is a 4-week series running through October 4. Events are scheduled every 2 hours throughout the day.

  • Stage 1 – Battle of the Space Invaders – September 14-18
  • Stage 2 – Cowboys vs Aliens – September 19-23
  • Stage 3 – Dino Chase – September 24-28
  • Stage 4 – Man vs Machine – September 29-October 4

Sign Up

See upcoming Party Crashers events at zwift.com/events/tag/partycrashers >

Bonus XP and Silly Costumes

Whenever you ride through an arch, you’ve got a 1/3 chance of landing the big XP bonus (250 XP). That can add up to a lot of XP during the ride, as Gerben shows in his recent video:

Each week’s rides place riders in a costume based on the theme. This week, for example, is Cowboys vs. Aliens. You can see the costumes in Gerben’s video above… space suits for the partiers, and a space kit (and maybe a cowboy hat?) for the crashers.

Improvements

I love that Zwift is trying a different sort of event. Keeping them as group rides and recruiting community leaders keeps it fun, too.

But could these events be better? Zwift Insider reader “Bob” had this suggestion:

…if Zwift would just add an on-screen tally showing the number of riders in the opposite group that you have passed/held off, it would really take those events to the next level. It’s a neat idea but hard to get too excited when you have almost no information about the opposing group.

I agree with Bob. On top of that, I would love to see a time gap displayed, so you know how close you are to the other group. This suggestion would really enhance chase races as well, which is why I mentioned it years ago in Zwift Chase Race Basics, Strategies, and More.

Come on, Zwift. Let’s take chase races/rides to the next level!

Your Thoughts

Have you ridden a Party Crashers event yet? Were you partying, or crashing? How was the experience? Share below!

Zwift zFondo Series 2026/27 Announced

Eric Schlange
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18
Zwift zFondo Series 2026/27 Announced

Zwift zFondo Series 2026/27 Announced

Zwift’s big fondo events are a seasonal tradition where thousands of riders push themselves to finish long weekend rides. The 2026/27 schedule has just been announced, with the first events happening this weekend on New York’s longest route, Fuhgeddaboudit.

This is the first route in a diverse list selected for this monthly series. And Zwift’s longest route (London’s The PRL Full) features in December during the Rapha Festive 500!

Here are all the details for this season’s ZFondo Series…

Routes and Schedule

The last weekend of each month is designated as a Fondo Weekend, and each month features a different route.

Events are scheduled every three hours during Fondo Weekends.

  • September 25-27, 2026
    • Route: Fuhgeddaboudit
    • Length: 79km (49.1 miles)
    • Elevation: 838m (2749’)
  • October 23-25, 2026
    • Route: Makuri Pretzel
    • Length: 77.6km (48.2 miles)
    • Elevation: 616m (2021’)
  • November 27-29, 2026
    • Route: Sacre Bleu
    • Length: 71.2km (44.2 miles)
    • Elevation: 396m (1299’)
  • December 25-27, 2026
    • Route: PRL Full or PRL Half
    • Length: 173km/69.1km (107.5 miles/42.9 miles)
    • Elevation: 2621m/1009m (8599’/3310’)
  • January 22-24, 2027
  • February 26-28, 2027
    • Route: The Pretzel
    • Length: 72.9km (45.3 miles)
    • Elevation: 1362m (4469’)
  • March 26-28, 2027
See Upcoming Zwift Fondos and Sign Up

Categorization and RoboPacers

You must choose a category when you sign up, but the category you choose is entirely up to you, and all categories start together and are visible to each other.

The idea is that you’ll choose a category at the approximate pace you plan to ride, making it easy to see and group up with other riders targeting a similar pace. Each category will include a RoboPacer with a beacon, and you can choose to ride with that RoboPacer group or not.

Available categories:

  • A: 4.2 W/kg (RoboPacer: Constance @4.2 W/kg)
  • B: 3.2 W/kg (RoboPacer: Jacques @3.2 W/kg)
  • C: 2.6 W/kg (RoboPacer: Coco @2.6 W/kg)
  • D: 1.8 W/kg (RoboPacer: Miguel @1.8 W/kg)
  • E: 1.5 W/kg (RoboPacer: D Bernie @1.5 W/kg)

Bonuses and Unlocks

Each month features either a 1000 XP or a 60,000 Drops bonus, plus an unlock of a legacy fondo kit:

  • September: 1000 XP
  • October: 1000 XP
  • November: 1000 XP
  • December: 60,000 Drops
  • January: 60,000 Drops
  • February: 60,000 Drops
  • March: 1000 XP

We don’t know which legacy kits will be unlocked, only that they’ll be different from last year’s. We’ll share more unlock info if/when we get it!

Is this a race?

Officially, no. But hundreds (possibly thousands) of riders will turn out for each of these popular “fun race” events, and the front of each event will certainly be filled with strong riders going all out.

With so many riders participating, everyone should be able to find a group that suits their desired pace. You do you!

Questions or Comments?

Post below!

Zwift Update Version 1.122 (166297) Released

Eric Schlange
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Zwift Update Version 1.122 (166297) Released

Zwift version 1.122 begins its phased rollout today. This update includes automatic background pairing, homescreen changes, and the removal of all level-locked roads. Read on for details!

No More Roadblocks

Two cyclists approach a virtual red gate with a large locked padlock icon, blocking the road in a digital landscape with green hills and cracked pavement.

Zwift’s update notes say they have, “Removed level restrictions from routes and route intersections, making all routes available to Zwifters at any level.”

Prior to this update, level gates existed when turning off the Epic KOM Reverse toward the Jungle (level 5+), turning from the Jungle Circuit onto Alpe du Zwift (level 6+), and turning at the LAX Roundabout onto the Southern Coast Road (level 10+).

Background Pairing

As mentioned in last week’s “What else is coming on Zwift?” post, today’s update includes background pairing. If you have it enabled (it’s turned on by default), the game boots directly to the homescreen and automatically connects to your fitness devices (trainer, power meter, heart rate monitor, controllers, etc) instead of forcing you to click to continue from the pairing screen.

Small widgets on the homescreen show your pairing progress:

A screen displays CONNECTING EQUIPMENT... Pairing your gear... with a progress circle showing 5 out of 6 completed steps. Green and blue areas are visible in the background.

The Pairing button on the homescreen shows how many devices are connected, and you can click it to add or change devices:

Three icons on a blue background: two people, a wireless signal with a red badge showing the number 5, and a house with a Z on its roof.

Additionally, Pairing Options are now available on the Pairing screen, allowing you to enable or disable the new Background Pairing feature and use Zwift Companion as a Bluetooth bridge:

A digital interface with buttons labeled PAIRING OPTIONS, RIDE, and POWER SOURCE 0 watts on a blue background.
Zwift pairing options screen with toggles for Enable Companion Bridging and Enable Background Pairing, both turned on. Two buttons at the bottom read Discard in blue and Save in orange.

Homescreen Changes

As announced in their “This Season On Zwift” Fall 2026 Press Release, Zwift has been working on several homescreen changes. These will “roll out gradually” starting with today’s game update. Changes include:

  • The new theater card puts Challenges front and center on the Home screen.
  • Personalized Recommendations are now only visible in the ‘For You’ row.
  • New Progress Widget on the Homescreen makes levels, achievement counts, and route completion more visible, giving Zwifters something to chase every time they log in.
  • The ‘For You’ row now uses ribbons to show when planned activities are due, e.g. today, tomorrow, and day-of-week labels.
  • Estimated duration now shown on route cards when selecting a workout from the Home screen.

New Launcher

Zwift says that launcher version 1.1.18 is now the minimum required version and will be installed automatically. This launcher has a slightly different look from the old one, and includes your profile photo, name, and ride/run levels:

The more important improvements, though, are behind the scenes, particularly for macOS users who have had connectivity challenges due to recent OS updates. Zwift’s release notes for the new launcher include this line for macOS:

Improved Local Network and Bluetooth permission handling when the macOS Launcher starts Zwift. Wi-Fi trainers and Companion devices connect more seamlessly on newer versions of macOS.

Coming Soon – Tour of Watopia

A group of cyclists in blue uniforms ride on a road with a large, green dinosaur statue in the background and a scenic, desert-like landscape.

Today’s release notes include a mention of Tour of Watopia coming soon. This big ride series is always a fun kick off to “indoor season”. This year features double XP, new unlocks, and our first look at the Watopia expansion… what’s not to love?

The Tour runs from October 5-November 15. Watch Zwift Insider this Friday for all the details about ToW 2026!

Release Notes

Zwift supplied these additional release notes:

  • Fixed a crash that could occur with JetBlack Victory trainers connected via USB when used as a Bluetooth bridge for other fitness devices like heart rate monitors or Zwift controllers.
  • Windows: Improved Bluetooth connection reliability.
  • iOS and tvOS
    • Reduced the amount of time it takes to open Zwift on some devices.
    • Improved text clarity on larger / lower DPI displays.

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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