New Bots, Flatter Routes: Zwift Rolls Out RoboPacer Changes
In a few hours, Zwift will flip the switch on a swath of RoboPacer changes. Here’s the new schedule, which is planned to go live at 9am PT/12pm ET/4pm UTC:
What’s Changing?
Zwift is rolling out several changes at once:
New RoboPacers: 4 bots are being added, bringing us to 14 active bots. The first 10 bots are evenly spaced from 0.8 to 2.6 W/kg in 0.2 W/kg increments, while the final 4 bots are spaced a bit further apart. New RoboPacers:
Cruz (1.2 W/kg)
Mochi (1.4 W/kg)
Dani (2.0 W/kg)
Betty (2.4 W/kg)
Modified RoboPacers: Taylor is being adjusted from 1.1 to 1.0 W/kg, while Bernie is being adjusted from 1.5 to 1.6 W/kg.
Watopia Only: RoboPacers will no longer be available on the scheduled “guest world”. They will only be in Watopia.
Flatter Routes: Since flatter routes make it easier for groups to stay together, RoboPacers will be on these routes:
Changing Twice a Week: Instead of changing every day or two, routes will stay the same Monday-Thursday, then rotate to a new schedule for Friday-Sunday.
What else is coming on Zwift? Points racing, ROUVY connections, Background Pairing, and more…
Last week, I shared Zwift’s Fall 2026 “This Season on Zwift” press release. But there’s actually more to TSOZ than I shared! Zwift held a call with cycling/fitness media days before the announcement, and that call covered upcoming features and changes that weren’t included in the press release.
(On top of that, there are other features and changes coming, some of them quite big, which Zwift didn’t mention at all. I can’t talk about those yet, but will of course spill the tea as soon as possible.)
Here’s everything else Zwift discussed on that media call…
Zwift Stats
Zwift kicked off the call with a run through some platform statistics, which are always fun.
Pro users: Over 300 professional athletes are active on Zwift, including WorldTour riders, World and Olympic Champions, and IRONMAN Triathletes. Many of these users are far from “casual” Zwifters, including:
Lucy Charles Barclay, Level 111, 67,000km
Jonas Abrahamsen: Level 102, 53,000km
Sarah Gigante: Level 109, 62,000km
Lionel Sanders, Level 102, 95,000km
Sir Mark Cavendish: Level 61, 21,000km
Global community stats: The Zwift community is massive, and the numbers we record are quite impressive:
More than 1 million riders come to Zwift to improve their fitness
88 million indoor activities on the platform in the past 365 days
Over 25 million outdoor activities uploaded since May 2025
The average Zwifter: Along the lines of the recent GCN video, Zwift shared the numbers for “the average Zwifter Power Profile”:
5 sec power – 567 watts
1 min power – 314 watts
5 min power – 237 watts
20 min power – 206 watts
How we train: With Zwift’s Fitness Metrics being a fairly new feature, it’s interesting to see some aggregated data of the community’s metrics.
95% of Zwifters have a Fresh or Productive Training Status
Less than 2% are Detraining and <3% are Overreaching
~60% of Zwifters complete a workout monthly
Over the past 365 days, Zwifters have completed:
Free Rides: 25,309,968
Races: 2,695,829
Climb Portal: 1,339,158
RoboPacers: 5,048,084
Group Rides: 5,184,652
Lastly, while discussing the upcoming new Halo bikes, it was mentioned that ~9k Zwifters have earned a Halo Bike through Bike Upgrades.
Workout Cleanup
Not the most glamorous news item (which may explain its absence from the press release), but important nonetheless, given how popular workouts are on Zwift! Zwift says October will bring updates to the workout library, including 40 new Endurance, Recovery, and VO2Max workouts. We’ll also see a fresh look to the library, including refreshed collections with more options in each collection.
(Lastly, I know from personal internal contacts that Zwift has tasked folks with cleaning up existing workouts – fixing minor errors like typos, instructions that don’t quite match the current interval, etc.)
Companion Home Screen Update
The Companion app is getting a refresh in October – that was mentioned in Zwift’s press release. But the release didn’t include the screenshot on the right below, which is shows the current state of development for the new “activity review” screen we’ll see after finishing our session.
You can see it shows how much the activity increased your training score, how much XP you earned, and your average watts. Of course, this screen will probably change before it’s released to the general public… but I like where it’s going.
Zwift + ROUVY
Zwift announced their acquisition of ROUVY back in April, but we haven’t seen any news of the two platforms working together since. On the TSOZ call, Zwift mentioned that, starting in late October, Zwifters will be able to connect their ROUVY accounts to Zwift in the same way we connect other apps (Strava, Wahoo, Garmin, etc). Your ROUVY rides will then accrue Zwift XP at the same rate as outdoor rides (5 XP per km).
ROUVY has already rolled out a Zwift connection which does the same thing, but in the other direction (that is, your Zwift rides will count towards ROUVY level progression). ROUVY says, “Only XP is shared between the two platforms. Your subscriptions, routes, workouts, and activity history stay separate.” Furthermore, “XP is shared only while you have an active subscription in ROUVY and an active membership in Zwift. Connecting the accounts does not give you access to the other platform, and there is no combined or discounted plan for the two.”
You can find instructions for connecting your Zwift account to ROUVY on this support page.
Background Pairing
While I’m often swapping trainers or other devices as I test hardware for Zwift Insider reviews, the vast majority of Zwifters connect the same trainer, heart rate monitor, and controllers before each session via the pairing screen. But next week, that will change! Automatic “background pairing” is coming to Zwift. I’ve been using it for several weeks now, and have no complaints. Now, instead of the pairing screen popping up before you reach the homescreen, a small dialogue pops up to show you connection progress:
It will warn you if it doesn’t reconnect all the hardware used in your previous session, and it stays out of the way if everything connects as expected. Easy.
Initially slated for a September 9 release, this feature is now planned for the next game release, v1.122, slated for this Tuesday (September 22).
Racing Changes
Lastly, while there were some mentions of upcoming racing changes and events in Zwift’s press release, it left out three racing-related items which I think are actually the most exciting.
First, Zwift has developed a Racing API that lets approved partners access results and register riders for events. Zwift told us that seven of the largest community organizers are already on the API, and there are more coming onboard. This API is what’s behind powerful new platforms like LeadoutEsports.com, which hosts our VO2sday results since ZwiftPower can’t handle duration-based events!
Next, Zwift told us they are “Actively working on bringing native points racing to Zwift.” (I already knew this, because I was on a call with various community organizers a couple of months ago. But now we can talk about it!) Zwift didn’t give an ETA for this release, but they are working with “several community organizers” to make sure what they build is fit for the task. Exciting stuff!
Lastly, the racing portion of our personal profiles at Zwift.com continues to grow richer, with the recent addition of a league results row, and the ability to click a race to see some personal metrics (see below). Zwift says the dashboard will soon include a chart of our Zwift Racing Score (ZRS) history, which I’m very much looking forward to. (I’ve seen mockups, and they look great!)
Your Thoughts
I hope you found some of the items above interesting… or even exciting. While most of them aren’t groundbreaking on their own, these types of small changes, when combined with many others over months and years, lead to that rich, engaging, yet easy-to-use experience that is the holy grail of software platforms.
Got thoughts about what Zwift has planned? Share below!
Have you done 25 laps of the Volcano Circuit yet? This week’s top pick has hundreds of riders signed up to knock out this achievement together. We’re also featuring a unique new chase event from Zwift, a ride to honor the Milligan University Cycling Team, ZRL Recon Rides and more! See our picks below…
✅ Popular ✅ Beginner-Friendly ✅ Achievement Badges
Far and away the biggest ride happening this weekend, YouTuber Jessica Strange‘s 100km Volcano Party looks like a great way to knock out some distance and even grab those volcano circuit multi-lap badges if you haven’t yet!
Jessica will have the leader beacon, cruising at a cat D/E pace. Ride with her, or ride ahead or behind. With so many riders on such a small circuit (only 4.1km long) there will always be someone to ride with!
This is a new style of event Zwift spun up in recent days. Technically classified as a group ride and not a race, these events are made up of two groups: the Party People (category D) who start first and wear fun costumes, and the Party Crashers (category E) who start a few minutes later and push hard to catch the Party People and crash the party before the ride ends.
Ride leaders from the community will have beacons and attempt to keep each group together while working toward beating the other group across the line. Hop in and have fun!
You don’t have to have known someone personally to feel loss or fear when cyclists are killed, particularly when the crash involves a vehicle. We are all part of the same cycling community.
“Team Giant invites cyclists everywhere to join us on Zwift for a special memorial ride honoring the Milligan University cycling team and remembering those whose lives were tragically lost, while supporting those who continue to recover.”
Join the ZABI group for a banded ride that allows you to go as hard or as easy as you’d like. “Your level or watts don’t matter. What matters here is friendship, fun, and enjoying virtual cycling as a group.”
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!
Gravel Mountain Returns! Speed Tests, Bug Fixes, Events, and More
Zwift launched Gravel Mountain back in April, but quickly pulled it due to a buggy race experience. Zwifters have been wondering when it would return, and the answer is: last week! Zwift Labs events have been set up, allowing riders to test the updated map. Read on for details…
Races
Friday Night Fun Races are being held on the Red Rock Loop and Red Rock Loop Reverse routes, with six different time slots to choose from. These events have been set up by Zwift’s James Bailey, so you may encounter silly stuff like dino suits or forced bikes.
These races use the “Boost” powerup, which delivers a burst of speed. Additionally, it sounds like some of the races will be held on the arcade version of the circuit, which requires steering and includes boosts and hazard pads, similar to the arcade version of Crit City.
Some Zwifters have asked what surface is used on Gravel Mountain, since it appears to be dirt, but less dusty than the Jungle. The surface is in fact, dirt (in terms of Crr), but with the dust and camera shake reduced for an improved experience.
So which bike is fastest in Gravel Mountain? I tested three top bikes, one in each category. Here are the lap times at 4 W/kg:
Zwift says they’ve fixed the bugs reported when Gravel Mountain was released back in April. That includes avatars bouncing on screen, erratic left/right movements and acceleration, riding through rocks, and a lack of rider placings. Most notably, though, Zwift has reduced the “visual speed” from 2.5x faster than normal to 2x.
This “visual speed” (I’m not sure what else to call it, so I’m calling it that) is accomplished by scaling the GPS coordinates. This allows your actual recorded speeds to remain accurate, while changing the speed at which you pass through the on-screen environment. So you get accurate speeds, but a faster, more exciting experience.
You can see the effect of this GPS scaling by comparing the Red Rock Loop from back in March to the new, slightly slower loop. Here’s the older version – note the length, and its dimensions on the map:
Here’s the new version. Note the increased length and dimensions on the map compared to the map above.
The next few months are shaping up to be pretty busy with new roads, features, and epic events. In this week’s top video, learn all about Zwift’s upcoming updates.
Also included in this week’s post: videos about the Zwift Ride V2, FTP tests, riding 100 kilometers, and Zwift settings.
Zwift’s Next Big Updates: What’s Coming This Season?
Adam from Road to A breaks down all of the features coming to Zwift over the next few months (read the full press release here).
New Zwift Ride V2 Is Here! What’s Changed?
Last week, Zwift unveiled version 2 of their popular Zwift Ride smart frame. Hear from Desfit as he shares details on the new version and covers his initial impressions after trying the Zwift Ride V2.
Zwift 20-Minute FTP Test — How Much Have I Improved?
After over a year of training, TCycles puts his fitness to the test with an FTP test. Watch as he tackles the 20-minute FTP test and compares his results to past FTP tests.
Zwift 100km Volcano Challenge | Everything You Need To Know!
Jessica Strange talks about Zwift’s 100km Volcano Circuit challenge ahead of her 25-lap Volcano Circuit group ride.
Last week’s This Season on Zwift included the always-exciting announcement of a Zwift map expansion. Even more exciting, it’s the expansion of everyone’s favorite map, Watopia! Let’s dive into the scant details we know as we look forward to its October launch.
The Big Picture
Here’s how the ~18 km of new roads (in red) fit into the existing Watopia map:
As you can see above, the new roads connect the Jarvis circuit to the Jungle, offering what Zwift calls a “flat bypass option around the Epic KOM”.
A Flat(ter) Western Bypass
Based on Strava data, the elevation of the new road at the Jarvis juncture is ~3 meters, while the elevation on the other end at the Jungle is ~31 meters. So we know there is at least a bit of climbing to be done on these new roads, but it’s much less than the ~100 meters of elevation gained when you ride up the base of the Epic KOM Reverse from the Marina and turn to the Jungle.
Another way of looking at it: Zwift’s southern coast expansion in October 2023 added ~19 km of flatter road around the Epic KOM to the southeast. This upcoming expansion adds a bypass to the northwest.
Teaser Visuals
Zwift says this expansion is an archipelago island chain inspired by Catalina Island and California’s West Coast, which makes sense. Zwift is based in Long Beach, CA, after all, and various biomes in Watopia are based on California themes, including the redwoods of Titans Grove, the beachfront in downtown Watopia, and the desert of Fuego Flats with its California Super Bloom.
I’ve only been able to get two teaser images from Zwift, which I’ve included below:
The first image is quite nondescript and could be in Makuri Islands apart from the tiny floatplane pictured. The second image faces Alpe du Zwift, and shows a whale jumping (sure to be a dramatic animation!) and a lap banner for one of the new crit courses.
More Details
The new map includes two “crit-style circuits” with “mini paddocks” attached, “made specifically for racing” according to Zwift. We don’t know exactly how the crit circuits will be laid out, but you can see my best guess below in white:
There’s also a lightning-bolt-shaped circuit which has been referenced as “Power Island” internally at Zwift. This will include some power segments (introduced in the recent New York expansion) which will feature in an upcoming event series (see below). Also, it sounds like Zwift may be expanding the power segment idea to include the ability to set power targets for specific segments. Interesting!
This expansion will add 20 new routes to Watopia. That may seem like a lot (Watopia already has 127 routes!), but with all the roads in Watopia, adding fresh roads creates a huge number of interesting potential routes. I don’t think we’ll find the new routes as repetitive as those released with the recent Paris expansion.
We don’t have details on these routes yet, but one I’m personally hoping for is a slightly longer, flatter version of “The Big Ring” that will be even friendlier for long group rides. (Hopefully it will go in a CCW direction, too, which should make the Jungle section feel like much less of an obstacle.)
Related Events
Two major Zwift events will take advantage of the expansion, beginning with the ever-popular Tour of Watopia (October 5-November 22) with its double XP and another ultimate challenge.
Stage 4 of the Tour kicks off on Monday, October 26, and that will be our first chance to ride these new roads. Tour of Watopia is a 5-stage tour, and Zwift says the Tour includes “6 new route badges to chase”, so it would seem that the three routes used for Stage 4 and the three routes used for Stage 5 will all be new.
Additionally, a new “Power Play” series kicks off in November, running from November 23 to December 27. Details are sparse, but they at least tell us the Watopia expansion will include multiple power segments. Zwift says the series “aims to give Zwifters a fresh and fun new way to get a quality workout, making use of Power Segments in New York, the Montmartre and The Grade climbs, and new Power Segments that will launch in the new Watopia Expansion.”
Your Thoughts
What do you think of Zwift’s planned Watopia expansion? Can you see any cool route ideas that use the new roads? Share your thoughts below…
Wattage Cottage Episode 6: This Season on Zwift and So Much Zwifter Data
Our latest episode focuses on “This Season on Zwift“, this week’s announcement from Zwift about what they have planned for the next few months. We’re joined by Ryan Condon, who offers his totally unprepared reactions to each TSOZ topic before we dive in for a deeper take:
Companion App Refresh, New Bikes, and (maybe) Purchaseable Paint Schemes
We also dive into a recent GCN video that revealed aggregated stats pulled from analyzing millions of power data points from Zwifters’ last 12 months of personal bests. Is the data even useful? What else could Zwift do with it? There are many possibilities in a world of big training data…
And that’s a wrap. Thanks for listening! Leave a review if the show is landing for you, and share us with your cycling friends. Word of mouth is how independent podcasts grow.
Listen On:
Meet the Team
Dave Towle: The voice of American cycling, having called some of the biggest races in the country for decades. Find him @davetowleannouncer.
Shane Miller (GPLama): Based in Australia, Shane is one of the most followed and trusted cycling tech reviewers in the world. Find him at @gplama.
Eric Schlange: Founder of Zwift Insider, the internet’s most comprehensive and reliable resource for Zwift routes, updates, and platform intelligence. Find him @zwiftinsider.
Share Your Thoughts!
This is just an early episode of what we hope is a long-running and useful community Zwift podcast. Share your thoughts below. We’re listening!
Ride of the Week Calendar: See Zwift’s Route and Climb of the Week Schedule
Zwift’s Route and Climb of the Week challenges are designed to get you riding routes you may not otherwise ride, in return for an XP or Drops bonus. Each week, a new route and climb are selected, with bonuses attached to each as detailed below.
Weekly challenges switch at 9am Pacific each Monday (noon Eastern, 4pm UTC).
Riding the featured route or climb in any fashion will earn you completion credit and the XP or Drops bonus. To easily access the ride of the week selections and see your progress, click the Ride of the Week challenge card on the homescreen:
Questions or Comments
Questions or comments about Route/Climb of the Week? Share below!
