This week’s top events feature substantial climbs including Alpe du Zwift, Ven-Top, and France’s Petit KOM (which feels anything but petite during a race). But we’re also featuring our new race series – the Tiny Races – for a taste of something fresh and different!
Zwift Insider Tiny Races
Our new Tiny Race series launches Saturday, and the idea is simple: four short back-to-back races, one every 15 minutes, so you’re done in one hour. Each race features just one type of powerup, so everyone has the same advantage.
You earn points based on your finish position in each race, and the winners for the week are the riders with the most points across their four races.
Read more about the Tiny Race series >
Saturday July 30, 3 timeslots
See a list of upcoming events at zwift.com/events/tag/tinyraces
Watch the Femmes (Stages 7 and 8) Ven-Top
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is now underway, and Zwift has a page detailing the event which includes how to watch the races in your country.
Saturday’s Watch the Femmes stage is 7, which takes riders all the way up Ven-Top… that’s over 1500m of elevation! If that’s a bit much for you, stage 8 on Sunday is on the La Reine route, which just takes you up to Chalet Reynard partway up the Ven-Top climb (1181 of elevation).
Multiple dates and timeslots
See a list of upcoming events at zwift.com/watch-the-femmes-mission
USMES Memorial & Mental Awareness Rides
Here’s a different sort of ride which gives you the opportunity to ride for a lost loved one/friend/Zwifter or just yourself if life has dealt you a tough hand of late. The ride description says:
We will ride Alpe De Zwift, with different speed pacers, ride in a pace group or do your own thing. All jerseys welcome, wear the colors of your rider or team, if you know their PR/PB, ride with the appropriate pace group to get close to their time.
The climb will represent the struggle of coping with loss and/or the mental wear of life itself at times, certainly the last few COVID lockdown years, allowing you to get some frustration out of the system.
The downhill will be a celebration of the person you lost / or just good vibes. If you wish to shout a riders name you are representing in chat as you hit the banner please do so.
Friday July 29 – two timeslots
5pm GMT/1pm EDT/10am PDT and 12am GMT/8pm EDT/5pm PDT
Zwift Classics – Watch the Femmes!
This week’s Zwift Classics race has the most climbing of any stage so far, with riders taking on France’s Casse-Pattes route which includes the Petit KOM. At 23.9km with 145m of climbing this route is mostly flat, but that Petit KOM will string out the pack and force decisive selections. Allez allez allez!
Read more about the Zwift Classics race series >
Multiple dates and timeslots
See a list of upcoming events at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftclassics
Jason’s 500th Ride Lead (The Uber Pretzel)
Jason Masterman is a dedicated ride leader on Zwift, having averaged 2.6 rides led weekly since he began in late 2018. This Sunday is his 500th ride lead, and he’s made it a big one – Watopia’s Uber Pretzel!
Read more about this ride, including an interview with Jason >
Come on out for a long day in the saddle, or just drop in for part of the ride. Whatever you do, be sure to congratulate Jason and thank him for his hard work!
Sunday July 31 @ 7:30pm GMT/3:30pm EDT/12:30am PDT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/3078803
Your Thoughts
Got other events that stand out this weekend? Share below in the comments!
Thanks for the inclusion, it’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to lead.