“Three Step Sisters” Route Details
See zwiftinsider.com/route/three-step-sisters/
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Join Fast Talk Labs + Expert Guests on Zwift
Join Fast Talk Labs + Expert Guests on Zwift
Fast Talk Labs + Zwift have spun up a new weekly ride series featuring Fast Talk Podcast cohosts Trevor Connor and Chris Case, with a new special guest each week.
Ride Schedule and Distinctives
- Each week features a different guest expert answering your questions (see below)!
- Events are every Tuesday at 2pm UTC/9am EST/6am PST
- Rides are 60 minutes long
- A different route is chosen each week, to keep things fresh
- Rides are banded, so you can ride at any pace you’d like without being dropped. As long as you keep pedaling, you’ll stay in the pack!
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/fasttalklabs >
Guests and Routes
February 10: Fast Talk Labs + Isaiah Newkirk Q&A Ride
- Special guest Isaiah Newkirk is a former professional road cyclist and USA Cycling Level 1 (Advanced) Coach. He is Performance Director for the Project Echelon UCI Continental road cycling team, one of the top-ranked teams in the U.S.
He has served as a data scientist for the Human Powered Health World Tour team and for riders on Jumbo-Visma and EF Education First. He was head coach of the Stanford University Cycling Team and for Boulder Junior Cycling.
As founder of Training Edge Coaching, Newkirk is known for his experience in athlete development and data analysis. He coaches road, gravel, and mountain bike riders and hosts The Training Edge podcast.
Learn more about Isaiah Newkirk at trainingedgecoaching.com/about. - Route: R.G.V.
February 17: Fast Talk Labs + Dr. Stacey Brickson Q&A Ride
- Special guest Dr. Stacey Bricksonis is a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and strength and conditioning specialist with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Brickson has worked in clinical practice and academia, serving on the faculty of UW-Madison in the Department of Orthopedics and in the Human Performance Lab, researching the relationships between sleep, mood, and training load with injury and illness in athletes. She worked with professional bike fitter Colin O’Brien at Cronometro for 10 years and is a certified bike fitter with Serotta International Cycling Institute and Bike PT. She is a USA Cycling Level 1 (Advanced) certified coach, a NICA Level 1 Coach, and a member of the USA Cycling Coach Development program.
She’s also pretty fast, so it’s a good thing this is a no-drop ride! Dr. Brickson has completed 6 Ironman races including the Ironman World Championship in Kona and has top 10 finishes in a variety of endurance races including Haute Route Norway, Unbound 100, Big Sugar 100, Chequamegon, Wausau24. She’s also earned her belt buckle at the Leadville 100 MTB.
She is founder of BrickO’s Drafters, a grass-roots cycling club with over 150 riders of all ages.
Learn more about Dr. Stacey Brickson and see her Fast Talk Labs here. - Route: Greater London Flat
February 24: Fast Talk Labs + Brent Bookwalter Q&A Ride
- Special guest Brent Bookwalter is a former professional road cyclist who raced for 16 years in the WorldTour, mostly with BMC Racing Team and Mitchelton-Scott. He earned a reputation for being a versatile rider with strengths in time trialing and served his teams as a road captain toward the end of his racing career.
Today, Bookwalter is an Olympian, Tour de France veteran, and NBC Sports analyst who helps endurance athletes, performers, and leaders strengthen their mindset, optimize their habits, and unlock their potential when it matters most.
Bring your questions for Brent about sport psychology and mental performance!
Learn more about Brent Bookwalter at brentbookwalter.com. - Route: Countryside Tour
March 3: Fast Talk Labs + Dr. Stephen Seiler Q&A Ride
- Special guest Dr. Stephen Seiler is the groundbreaking researcher of the polarized training method and a professor at the University of Agder in Norway. He served as research consultant and scientific advisor for the Norwegian Olympic Federation, which contributed to Norway’s strong performance in recent Winter Olympics and influenced the Norwegian training method now in widespread use among elite athletes in track and field, running, and triathlon.
Over the last 15 years, Dr. Seiler has become internationally known for his research publications and lectures related to the organization of endurance training and intensity distribution. This work has included both descriptive and experimental approaches, investigating cyclists, rowers, cross-country skiers, orienteers, and distance runners. His work has influenced and catalyzed international research around training intensity distribution and the “polarized training model.”
Dr. Seiler has published over 100 peer-reviewed publications and written over 100 popular science articles related to exercise physiology and the training process. He has also given scientific lectures across Europe, the United States, China, South Africa, and Australia. He is also a founding editorial board member of the International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance.
Join this ride to ask your questions about polarized training and Norwegian training. Learn more about Dr. Stephen Seiler and see his 50 articles, videos, and podcast episodes at Fast Talk Labs here. - Route: Watts the Limit
March 10: Fast Talk Labs + Dr. Scott Frey Q&A Ride
- Special guest Dr. Scott Frey is a cognitive neuroscience researcher and mental performance coach with 33 years of experience in the field. Frustrated with the “neck down” focus of endurance sports training, Dr. Frey embarked on a journey of original research and clinical work with endurance athletes, including leading two brain imaging research centers and a PhD program.
His coaching business, Cerebral Performance, focuses on brain training for higher endurance sports performance.
Join this ride to ask your questions about mental performance and brain training! - Route: The Fan Flats
March 17: Fast Talk Labs + Ben Delaney Q&A Ride
- Special guest Ben Delaney is a veteran bike tester now devoted to reviews of the best gravel bikes, races, and destinations on his popular YouTube channel, The Ride with Ben Delaney. Delaney has tested hundreds of road and more than 100 gravel bikes over his 25-year career as a cycling journalist.
Writing for premier cycling media like VeloNews, Cyclingnews, BikeRadar, and Outside, he has ridden the gnarliest gravel courses like Unbound Gravel, Belgian Waffle Ride, SBT GRVL, and dozens more. He has tested bikes and other gear while reporting on cycling’s marquee road races like the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, road world championships, and Tour of Flanders.
Through his YouTube channel, Ben Delaney offers in-depth and technical reviews of gravel bikes, road bikes, saddles, shoes, helmets, bike racks, and tools, shedding light on characteristics like ride quality, handling, comfort, climbing and descending, and rideability in varying terrain, surface, and weather conditions. He also interviews cycling tech experts to understand what makes the best gravel cycling gear so good. - Route: Rolling Highlands
March 24: Fast Talk Labs + Dr. Paul Laursen Q&A Ride
- Special guest Dr. Paul Laursen is an exercise physiologist and founder of HIIT Science, a catalog of high-intensity interval training courses for coaches and scientists, and Athletica.ai, an AI-powered endurance training platform.
Dr. Laursen is a globally recognized sport scientist and adjunct professor of exercise physiology at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand and University of Agder in Norway. Currently based in Canada, Dr. Laursen led the physiology team at High Performance Sport New Zealand, focusing on driving performance in Olympic sports before the London and Rio Olympic Games.
Dr. Laursen is an endurance athlete himself, completing 17 Ironman triathlons (including a sub-10-hour performance) and two team Race Across America (RAAM) events. - Route: Watopia’s Waistband
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/fasttalklabs >
All About Zwift Games 2026: Where the World Comes to Race!
All About Zwift Games 2026: Where the World Comes to Race!
The third edition of Zwift Games, the platform’s most popular stage race series, has just been announced. Racing begins February 16, but related rides kick off today!
Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about indoor cycling’s premier race festival.
Table of Contents
New This Year
Zwift’s learnings from previous Games have been applied to this year’s events, leading to various improvements, including:
- Fresh routes: Six new routes have been added to the game to host the Games stages.
- Road to Glory intro events: New to Zwift racing? These orientation events kick off today.
- Power metrics in leaderboards: Web-based GC leaderboards now include 90-day and Zwift Games 2026 power best metrics, so you can directly compare your Zwift Games metrics to recent performances.
- On demand: Zwift Games routes can be ridden “on-demand” as a solo effort beginning Friday, February 13. This makes it easy to recon the races, and you’ll also get credit for completing the stage!
- Bonus Stage 6: for the first time, Zwift is offering a sixth “bonus stage” with two unique race formats:
- Individual Time Trial: This will be Zwift’s first mainstream TT experience
- Crit Cade: Gamified race in Crit City using steering, boosts, and hazards
- New unlocks: Of course, what would a big Zwift event be without new unlocks? This year features Oakley glasses and a helmet, Zwift Games 2026 kit, and a big XP bonus!
- Equipment not neutralized: This will be the first year that bike frames and wheels aren’t neutralized, meaning your virtual bike choices will affect your speed in game. Upgrades also count!
- Bonus XP at arches: Most Zwift Games races will give you a feather powerup in the start pen, and that’s the only powerup you’ll get for the entire race. Any arches you ride through without holding a powerup will give you a 10 XP bonus, and there’s an increased 5% chance that you’ll get a 250 XP bonus at each arch.
Most of these new items are discussed in more detail below. Read on!
Stage Details
Zwift Games is an escalating challenge! Stages get progressively more difficult, with each route both longer and more climby than the one before:
Stage 1, February 16-22: Sprint
- Makuri Islands’ Kaze Kicker (17.3km, 140m elevation)
- Powerup: Feather given in the pens
- Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftgames2026stage1 >
Stage 2, February 23-March 1: Sprint
- New York’s Hudson Hustle (20.4km, 216m elevation)
- Powerup: Feather given in the pens
- Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftgames2026stage2 >
Stage 3, March 2-8: Punch
- Richmond’s Cobbled Crown (24.3km, 288m elevation)
- Powerup: Feather given in the pens
- Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftgames2026stage3 >
Stage 4, March 9-15: Climb
- France’s Peaky Pavé (30.8km, 371m elevation)
- Powerup: Feather given in the pens
- Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftgames2026stage4 >
Stage 5, March 16-22: Epic
- Watopia’s Three Step Sisters (38.1km, 586m elevation)
- Powerups: Feather given in the pens, and at the arches prior to the final two climbs
- Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftgames2026stage5 >
Stage 6, March 23-29: Bonus/Optional Races
- iTT on Scotland’s The Epiloch (10.9km, 92m elevation)
- Scratch Race on Crit City’s Crit Cade (steering required) – learn more about Crit Cade events
Make-Up Races: March 30-April 5
See all upcoming races at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftgames2026
Standard Schedule
The largest race fields will be found in the Standard (mixed) events held hourly, 24x daily, at 10 minutes past the hour. These races alternate each hour between two different Racing Score ranges:
- Range 1: 0-159 | 160-269 | 270-389 | 390-509 | 510-650
- Range 2: 0-209 | 210-329 | 330-449 | 450-569 | 570-725
The two ranges give racers a choice between a stronger category that may help them get a faster course time (great for the GC competition) or a slightly weaker category that gives them a better shot at a race win.
Advanced Schedule
Racers with a racing score of 650+ can jump into the Advanced Races held every two hours at 15 minutes past the hour.
See Advanced races at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftgames2026advanced
Women-Only Schedule
Women-only races will be held 5x daily at 10am, 12pm, 5pm, 6pm, and midnight UTC.
These races will use their own Racing Score-based bands: 0-199 | 200-299 | 300-399 | 400-499 | 500+.
If you’re a woman who hasn’t raced yet on Zwift, see our Women’s Racing homepage for a bit of inspiration >
GC Leaderboards
Zwift Games race results will be delivered via leaderboards on Zwift.com. The following leaderboards will be available:
- Overall General Classification
- Rankings for each stage (1-5)
- Ranking for TT (Bonus stage)
- Ranking for Crit Cade
Leaderboard rankings can be filtered by Gender, Racing Score band (buckets of 100), and Country. These filters can be used in combination.
This year, Zwift has added power metrics to the leaderboard, so you can compare your Zwift Games numbers to your 90-day bests. Here’s a mockup Zwift sent, where my League Best numbers may be a bit overstated…
View Leaderboards at zwift.com/racing/leagues/zwiftgames2026
Zwift Games Unlocks
A total of four in-game rewards are available to all Zwifters:
- Any one stage: Oakley Sphaera Strike Glasses
- Any three stages: Zwift Games 2026 Kit
- Any five stages: Oakley Velo Stelvio Helmet
- All six stages: 6000 XP bonus
Road to Glory Events
This year, Zwift has spun up special “Road to Glory” events to help newer racers learn the basics of Zwift racing. These group rides feature on-screen text throughout the event explaining powerups, drafting, Ride Ons, particular Watopia course features, and more. Rides are on 1 lap of Watopia’s Triple Twist, which is 24.5km long, with 201m of elevation gain.
I recently rode a Road to Glory preview event and found it well-planned, with many helpful tips packed into a relatively short time. I highly recommend it if you’re at all nervous about Zwift racing and looking for some hands-on training.
How to Register
No special registration is required – simply join any Zwift Games event to participate, or ride the courses on demand! Events should be available for signup beginning today (February 9).
See all upcoming races at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftgames2026
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of February 7-8
Quite a variety of events to feature this weekend: a crazy endurance ride for a good cause, a sweet new kit unlock event, a race series kickoff, and more! See this weekend’s most notable events below…
🤝DBR x Canyon x Cykelnerven
✅ Ultra Endurance ✅ Good Cause
This ride’s just a little bit crazy, yet it’s already got hundreds of crazies signed up!
It’s a 12-hour ride on London’s Classique circuit in support of Cykelnerven, raising awareness and funds for a world free of multiple sclerosis. Join for just the first hour or two if you’d like, or see if you can hang on for the full 12 hours.
Saturday, February 7 @ 8am UTC/3am ET/12am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5379446
🤝SYN x RAD RACE Spin
✅ New Kit Unlock
Join this special collaboration ride between Rad Race and The SYN, led at 2.5-3.2 W/kg on 90 minutes of Makuri Islands’ Electric Loop.
We’re featuring this particular event because it includes an unlock of the sweet new SYN x RAD RACE in-game kit (see the IRL version here).
Sunday, February 8 @ 7am UTC/2am ET/Saturday 11pm PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5412980
🥇 Tugaz Tour 2026: Stage 1
✅ Popular ✅ Unique Event
Tugaz Tour 2026 launches on Sunday with its first stage, held on one lap of the newish London Calling route (20.9km, 357m).
This tour consists of 15 standalone races, all held at a single time slot, always on weekends. The stages are inspired by the main competitions of the Portuguese Cycling Federation and will take place on the corresponding real-world dates. All races will be mass start scratch races – time gaps do not matter, only final placings count.
Registration, rules, results, and everything else related to the Tugaz Tour 2026 can be found on the official website.
Sunday, February 8 @ 10:05am UTC/5:05am ET/2:05am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5359137
🤝WOW – High Speed Ride on TT bikes with draft
✅ Fast Miles ✅ Upgrade Hack ✅ Unique Event
Want to accumulate lots of miles quickly? Join this newish and popular group ride, which puts everyone on the fastest TT bike in game (Cadex Tri) with drafting enabled. It’s 100km, but it’ll be a fast 100km!
Riders are on Tempus Fugit, the flattest route in Zwift. Four different pace groups, 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 road bike upgrade, while riding the Cadex Tri in this event.
Sunday, February 8 @ 1:45pm UTC/8:45am ET/5:45am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5413110
🤝🥇 Tour de Zwift, Stage 5
✅ Popular ✅ Unlocks ✅ Race If You Want
We’re nearing the end of Tour de Zwift, with stage 5 wrapping up this weekend, and the final stage next week. If you’re looking for a group ride where you can set your own pace but still have some company, TdZ is just the ticket since hundreds of riders join each event.
Read all about Tour de Zwift 2026 >
Each stage has three route length options. For stage 5 we’ve got some big climbing options: Tour of Fire and Ice (28.1km, 1183m), Glyph Heights (34km, 617m), and Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop (19.2km, 156m).
Hourly events all weekend!
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/tourdezwift2026
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!
Tiny Race Series – February 7 Routes – A Tricky Mix
Tiny Race Series – February 7 Routes – A Tricky Mix
See zwiftinsider.com/tiny for current Tiny Race details.
Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 End of Season Sale Announced
Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 End of Season Sale Announced
Zwift and Wahoo have just launched an “end of season” promotion on the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 smart trainer. The deeply discounted price is as low as it’s ever been, matching Black Friday pricing. If you’re in the market for a full-featured smart trainer at a great price, backed by industry-leading support… this is it.
Promo Pricing
- US $399.99 ($150 discount)
- EU €399.99 (€150 discount)
- UK £399.99 (£100 discount)
The deal begins today (February 5) and runs through March 1 on Zwift and Wahoo’s websites.
While Zwift only sells the KICKR CORE 2 with Zwift Cog and Click, Wahoo sells that version as well as a version with a standard cassette. Here are links to shop at Wahoo:
Price includes 1 free month of Zwift ($20 value) for new subscribers only, and you can purchase the trainer with either the Zwift Cog or a standard cassette.
Premium Features
Wahoo’s release of the CORE 2 in September 2025 shook up the smart trainer world, because the new CORE 2 maintains the affordability and reliability of the original CORE while adding three premium features:
- WiFi connectivity for fast, reliable connections and automatic firmware updates
- Race mode for near instantaneous response
- Bluetooth bridging of heart rate monitors, Zwift Click v2, and the controllers on the Zwift Ride (great for Apple TV users, learn more here)
Key Trainer Specs
- Max Wattage: 1800W
- Max Incline: 16%
- Max Decline: -10%
- Power Accuracy: +/-2%
- Connectivity: WiFi, ANT+ FEC, ANT+ Power, Bluetooth FTMS, and Zwift Protocol
- Cassette: sold with 11-speed cassette or Zwift Cog
- Supported Hubs: 130/135mm QR, 12×142, and 12×148 Thru Axle
- KICKR CLIMB compatible
- Weight: 30 lbs / 13.6 kg
- Dimensions: 23.5×20.5×18.5 in / 59.7×52×47 cm
Learn more about Zwift’s new Click v2 controllers here >
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
Zwift Racing League Week 6 Guide: Greatest London Loop (C/D Scratch Race)
Table of Contents
The sixth and final race of Zwift Racing League 2025/26 Round 3 happens Tuesday, February 10, and we’re in London for a scratch race.
If you’re on a C or D team, you’ll be racing one lap of Greatest London Loop, and this guide is for you. A and B teams will be on two laps of London Loop (click here for that race guide).
There’s much to discuss, including crucial course segments, powerup usage, bike decisions, and strategic options. Let’s go!
Looking at the Route
Here’s the Strava segment for the full Leith Hill climb, so you can analyze it further. It’s a long climb – the longest we’ll race in this round. Plan on 16 minutes minimum, but probably closer to 20 minutes for many C/D riders. It roughly breaks into four sections:
- First 1km: Quite flat and early, so I wouldn’t expect any big moves.
- 1-1.5km: Steep bit starts off the climbing in earnest. The pack will stretch here.
- 1.5-4.5km: Flatter, longer middle section. Sit in the wheels and draft here if you want to conserve energy for the final big kick.
- 4.5-6km: The pièce de résistance, averaging 8.3%. This is where the leading selection of riders will be finalized!
There are two small kickers on the circuit that deserve a mention as well. They may look small on the profile since they’re dwarfed by Leith Hill, but trust me – you’ll notice them in the race:
Powerups
Lightweight (feather): reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds.
Use on climbs, when weight matters the most. This is best saved for Leith Hill, particularly on the final section where the gradient is steepest and legs are burning.
Anvil: makes you heavier for up to 15 seconds, so you can descend faster. It won’t hurt you, as it only adds weight when the road is at a -1.5% decline or greater.
Use this when descending the backside of Leith Hill to make it even easier to sit in.
Bike Recommendations
More Route Recons
John Rice
J Dirom
Strategic Options
- Climbers: Lighter riders who can sustain high W/kg will surf wheels on the flats, then light it up on Leith Hill. Your goal: drop puncheurs/sprinters who have the pure watts to beat you in a pack finish.
- Puncheurs: You will struggle on Leith Hill thanks to the climb’s length, but if you can hold on, you’ll stand a good chance of finishing well. For you, surviving Leith Hill may require a combination of riding smart and praying the climbers don’t push the pace too high.
- Everyone Else: If you’re a pure sprinter, or simply a rider with lower fitness than most in the category, you’re going to struggle in this race, particularly up Leith Hill. Your best bet is to pace yourself well on Leith Hill, ride smart to bridge up to riders ahead on flats and descents, and simply finish as high in the list as possible. Remember: every point counts!
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
Zwift Racing League Week 6 Guide: London Loop (A/B Scratch Race)
Table of Contents
The sixth and final race of Zwift Racing League 2025/26 Round 3 happens Tuesday, February 10, and we’re in London for a scratch race.
If you’re on an A or B team, you’ll be racing two laps of the classic London Loop, and this guide is for you. C and D teams will be on Greatest London Loop (click here for that race guide).
There’s much to discuss, including crucial course segments, powerup usage, bike decisions, and strategic options. Let’s go!
Looking at the Route
Box Hill is a fairly steady 2.7km grade, but the final 300-400 meters of the segment are flat or even slightly downhill, throwing off the stats. The steepest part of the climb, where the pack quickly stretches and elastic snaps, is on the early long stretch before the left hairpin. This section averages 7-8%, and most of the climbing apart from that is around 5%.
There are three kickers on the circuit that deserve a mention as well:
The Box Hill Kicker comes just a few hundred meters after you ride through the Box Hill KOM banner. This one is short, but steep, and everyone’s legs are a big knackered. Pro tip: hit it hard and push across the top, and you can often close big gaps to riders ahead.
Powerups
Lightweight (feather): reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds.
Use on climbs, when weight matters the most. This is best saved for Box Hill, particularly on the lower slope where the pace will be high and the gradient is steepest.
Anvil: makes you heavier for up to 15 seconds, so you can descend faster. It won’t hurt you, as it only adds weight when the road is at a -1.5% decline or greater.
Use this when descending the backside of Box Hill to make it even easier to sit in.
Bike Recommendations
More Route Recons
John Rice
J Dirom
Strategic Options
- Climbers: Lighter riders who can sustain high W/kg will surf wheels on the flats, then light it up on Box Hill. Your goal: drop puncheurs/sprinters who have the pure watts to beat you in a pack finish.
- Puncheurs: If your VO2 power lets you compete on Box Hill-length climbs, but you’ve also got some pure sprint watts, you are in the sweet spot to win this race. Pure climbers may try to rip your legs off on the KOMs, but if you can survive, you can roll them in the end.
- Everyone Else: If you’re a pure sprinter, or simply a rider with lower fitness than most in the category, you’re going to struggle in this race, particularly up Box Hill. Your best bet is to pace yourself well on Box Hill, ride smart to bridge up to riders ahead, and simply finish as high in the list as possible. Remember: every point counts!
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
How the Race Was Lost: Cloud 9 Thunder vs. Wahoo Esports on Cobbled Climbs
How the Race Was Lost: Cloud 9 Thunder vs. Wahoo Esports on Cobbled Climbs
Some races are lost on the climb.
Others on the descent.
Mine was lost at the front door — with a baby monitor as co-pilot.
The setting was perfect. Racing with Team NL Cloud 9 Thunder in a Ladder race against my former teammates from Wahoo Esports, on Cobbled Climbs. Short, sharp efforts. Repeated accelerations. Chaos with intent. Exactly my kind of race. Exactly the terrain where I was determined to show my old mates nothing but my rear wheel.
But the first real battle had already started long before the start pen.
My youngest son was sick. High fever. Unsettled. Inconsolable. With my wife due home late, I had stationed a baby monitor right next to my Zwift setup. As I clipped in, I silently negotiated with fate: please no blue crying lights during the race. Just let me get through this one.
To prevent my two boys from repeatedly checking whether their mother had arrived yet, I made what would later turn out to be a catastrophic tactical decision: I locked the front door from the inside, using the hook.
Ten minutes before the race, the house finally went quiet. I started with cold legs and a fatigued mind, skipping any real warmup. Not ideal — but manageable.
At the start line, another complication. One rider from our team was missing. Confusion, quick chat, and then a decision: we would race four versus four anyway. Whether Wahoo Esports was also short a rider or simply chose sportsmanship, I honestly don’t know — but the race was on.
The first lap hurt, as expected. Then the legs woke up. The rhythm settled. The repeated surges began to feel controlled rather than desperate. The group thinned, the pace sharpened, and I found myself exactly where I wanted to be — in the front selection, feeling stronger with every acceleration.
That’s when I heard it.
Not the baby monitor.
The front door.
Loud knocking.
My wife was home.
And locked out.
I unclipped mid-race and sprinted across the house in cycling shoes. Door open. Quick explanation. Door closed again. A full anaerobic effort back to the bike. Back on. Straight into damage-control mode.
By sheer adrenaline and stubbornness, I managed to claw my way back to the front group just before the next climb. Heart rate pinned. Legs already flooded. Zero margin left.
The elastic snapped immediately.
As the group surged uphill, I had nothing. No kick. No response. Just the slow, inevitable slide backward as the watts refused to come back. The climb didn’t beat me — domestic logistics did.
The race wasn’t lost on Cobbled Climbs.
It wasn’t lost tactically.
It was lost in cycling shoes somewhere between the Zwift setup and the front door.
Lesson learned: always recon the course —
and always, always unlock the house.