Zwift’s annual fondo series is a popular tradition where thousands of riders push themselves to finish long rides. The series kicks off this weekend, and Zwift has made some fun changes this year:
- A progressive route schedule which gets slightly longer each month, using new routes each month
- An expanded event schedule for more availability
- A fresh kit to unlock each month
Here are all the details about this year’s fondo series…
Zwift Fondo Schedule
Fondo weekends will happen once a month for three months, beginning this weekend and ending the last weekend of January 2024:
- November 30, 2023 – December 3, 2023 (Feast Fondos)
- December 29, 2023 – December 31, 2023 (Holiday Fondos)
- January 26, 2024 – January 28, 2024 (Gourmet Fondos)
Each weekend’s fondos kick off Thursday morning at 5am UTC (12am EST, Wednesday 9pm PST) and are scheduled every three hours until Monday 5am UTC/12am EST/Sunday 9pm PST).
Fondo Routes: “The Feast”
Each month will feature different routes, most not used in Zwift fondos of years past. Riders can choose between a short, medium, and long route (traditionally called the Bambino, Medio, and Gran Fondo, respectively). As the series progresses each month, the short, medium, and long options get slightly longer.
Here are the routes for this weekend (Nov 30-Dec 3):
- Gourmet Fondo: France Classic Fondo
- Custom Length: 91.5km/56.9 miles, 686m/2,250′ elevation (this appears to end at the Ballon Sprint)
- Savory Fondo: Tire-Bouchon
- 1 lap (63.7km/39.6 miles, 589m/1,932′ elevation)
- Feast Fondo: Casse Pattes
- 2 laps (46.5km/28.9 miles, 310m/1,017′ elevation)
Fondo Routes: “The Holidays”
Here are the routes for the weekend of Dec 29-31:
- Jolly Fondo: Gran Fondo 2022
- 1 lap: 92.8km/57.7 miles, 1116m/3,661′ elevation
- Spark Fondo: Big Foot Hills
- 1 lap (69.7km/43.3 miles, 713m/2,339′ elevation)
- Festive Fondo: The Big Ring
- 1 laps (51.1km/31.8 miles, 273m/895′ elevation)
Fondo Routes: “New Year’s”
We don’t yet know the routes for the weekend of Jan 26-28 since they haven’t been added to the calendar, but we know their lengths:
- Triumph: Gran Fondo
- 1 lap: 97.7km/60.7 miles, 1148m/3,766′ elevation
- Rise: The Pretzel
- 1 lap: 72.7km/45.2 miles, 1333m/4,373′ elevation
- Elevate: Eastern Eight
- 54.1km/33.6 miles, 413m/1,355′ elevation
Kit Unlocks
This year, you can unlock a different fondo kit each month by completing any of the three fondo distances. Here’s a shot of all three kits:
These kits are exclusive, meaning they will never be available anywhere else. A true badge of honor!
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 category will certainly be filled with strong riders going all out.
With so many riders taking part, everyone should be able to find a group going at their desired pace. You do you!
How the Categories Work
Unlike other Zwift events, the A, B, and C groups don’t refer to rider strength or fitness. Instead, they correspond to route and distance options:
- A Group (~90 km Gran Fondo)
- B Group (~70 km Medio fondo)
- C Group (~50 km Bambino fondo)
Questions or Comments?
Post below!
Do you know if these will be double draft events? I seem to remember they were in the past but I may well be wrong.
Since Pack Dynamics 4, double draft is no longer an option. Extra draft is built in at all times.
Some guesses about the January routes:
Zwift Gran Fondo route is 97.5km with .5km lead in… pretty close to 97.7km
Zwift Medio Fondo route is 72.5km with .5km lead in… pretty close to 72.7km. Could also be The Pretzel but I’m betting on Medio Fondo.
No real close match for 54.1km and there are a few routes in that range, but given the previous two guesses, I’d predict Zwift Bambino Fondo route at 52.4km
Fight me!
I think there will be new routes, either using the new coastal road, or placed on Makuri and not Watopia.
Based on the length of January fondos I’m guessing that the routes are Gran Fondo, The Pretzel and Eastern Eight.
Will there be any makeup rides for those of us traveling during the Big Holiday weekend
That would be really nice
Hi, A bit confused with length of Goumet Fondo Route.
Goumet Fondo says 91.5 Km but if “click” on France Classic Fondo Route is stated at 145.9 Km.
Can someone please clarify for me.
Many Thanks
It says that this route has a custom length of 91.5km. This means that the route will be cut short from the original to match this distance (possibly ending at the Ballon Sprint.)
Hope this helps.
But one can extend the ride to make it a 100km ride, right…?
Yes, Dan.
If you complete a route as part of the Fondo (say the Big Foot Hills with the Spark Fondo), which you have never completed before, would you also get the achievement for that route?
Maybe a noob question, but I am a noob after all, and this website is a godsend for someone like me, thank you!!
Yes!
These times are pretty awkward for people on the West coast with kids. Is there any way to start these rides later? What would happen if we join at 6pm and then walk away until 7pm? Would it kick us out, or would that be a way to get around the limits on late start (if we don’t mind riding alone)?
You could certainly join at 6pm but wait to start riding until hours later.
Are there route badges or extra route points for event-only routes? I can see on the Companion app that some event-only routes have a green calendar icon on them and some don’t. I feel like this means I have done some at some point?
Pretty new to zwift, about 2 months in. So maybe a silly question. Where can i sign up for the fondo event? Or can i just select a scheduled fondo ride? TIA
Can you ride them on demand, like the tour of Watopia?
No, you can not.
Any word yet on a fondo series for this year?
I’m eagerly waiting too. It always was a big motivator to tackle some of the longest courses in Zwift, and to do some real distances in very large bunches. I really want to know the dates and distances well in advance to plan my traing to it (and free some time for it too)…
Are there any Zwift zFondo events this year in 24/25?