Hometown: Too many to say, I was an Army Brat… born in Homestead, FL.
How did you get into cycling? Life long competitive swimmer, started to do relays (swim leg) for triathlons, then decided to bike and run as well.
How many years have you been racing on Zwift? Since September 2021
Are you part of a Virtual team? RAVE, TTT Rhino, and SISU.
Random fact: I have met members of most of the teams I ride with on Zwift IRL. Australia, Minnesota, and NYC!
What do you love most about racing? Online my team is able to deal with my super silly personality. Able to fit into schedule easily. As a mom to a special needs adult, IRL racing can be limited due to round-the-clock care required for my daughter. I’m a chaser by nature, IRL and on Zwift I love trying to catch riders.
What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? Chase race is definitely my favorite! It’s like one big TTT (which is my next favorite as I’m always trying to get everyone to work together…)
What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Iceni (2024) and Herd SHEries (2022)
What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? On Zwift managing to catch the peloton on Fuego Flats. Lots of in game messages helped that day. (10/4/2022) IRL, competing a 1156 mile, 13 day self-supported race.
What is your favourite food to eat post race? Anything! I’m ravenous post racing! Snickers is normally a treat.
What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Just have fun and give it a go. Discord with teamies can be so fun! Amazing, supportive, and diverse teams are available that will fit each individual’s needs.
Any upcoming race you are looking forward to? The Vätternrundan in Sweden June 2024 (with Rhino teamies). I had ankle surgery in August of 2023, still working my way back to ultra gravel distances as well as 70.3 distance for triathlon.
Update (February 10, 2025): Zwift updated this challenge with an expiration date, saying it must be completed by February 28.
Zwift launched Cardio Crusher, their first “mini Challenge”, on September 9th. And today, the next mini Challenge showed up in game. Named “Route Chaser: The Grade”, the challenge is to complete five different Watopia routes that each include all or part of The Grade climb.
Note our ZIMetrics difficulty ratings for each route; they get more challenging as you move through the challenge! In fact, our estimates say Mayan 8 will take 43 minutes to complete at 3 W/kg, while Power to the Tower is estimated at 113 minutes at 3 W/kg.
Challenge Rewards
Your reward for completing all five routes? Boosted fitness of course. Because any ride is a good ride, right?
But also, you may earn a route badge or two, as these are all fairly new routes. You’ll also get a 1000 XP bonus!
Joining the Challenge
To sign up for this Challenge, first click its card on the home screen (the big banner at the top, or the smaller card under “Challenges”:
If your Route Chaser challenge card looks like the one above, you aren’t yet signed up. Once you’re signed up, it will show a progress bar.
IMPORTANT: to finalize your sign up, you must also click one of the routes on the Challenge’s homescreen:
Clicking a route from this screen will take you into Watopia to ride that route. You don’t have to ride the route at that time, but now you’re officially signed up for the Challenge.
You’ll know you’re signed up because the card will show your challenge progress:
Getting Creative
Once you’re signed up for the Challenge (see instructions above), you can get creative about how you complete the routes. Do them in workouts, do them in events, do them as free rides. You do you!
Here’s a 200IQ move from Zwifter “Jenny” in the comments below: she got credit for both the Cardio Crusher Challengeand this Route Chaser Challenge by doing one of the Cardio Crusher workouts on one of the Route Chaser routes! (But again, make sure you’re signed up first. If the card on the homescreen shows a progress bar, then you’re good to go.)
FTP Tests on The Grade
The Grade is a climb that can be ridden at whatever pace you’d like. But did you know it was created as an FTP test that steps outside the bounds of typical structured FTP tests?
Instead, The Grade pits you against the mountain in an all-out effort to the top. Get to the top as quickly as possible, and when you ride through the KOM arch a sign will show your detected FTP. The game will also update your stored FTP if it’s an increase.
The fifth race of Zwift Racing League 2024/25 Round 1 happens Tuesday, October 8, and we’ll be in Watopia for our first-ever ZRL event on Glyph Heights. This is the only true climbing race of round 1 and, in fact, it is the climbiest ZRL race we’ve had since December of 2022. It’s sure to shatter the peloton into small groups of desperate riders.
There’s much to discuss, including the challenging route, lightweight bike decisions, strategic options, and points segments. Let’s go!
Looking at the Route: Glyph Heights
Watopia’s Glyph Heights route has never been raced in ZRL, since it has only been in game since June 2024. It’s a big loop with a long lead-in, and that lead-in ends with the same Mayan Mountainside KOM that you’ll see at the end of the race.
All riders will be racing a single lap of the route for a total of 33.9km with 618m of climbing.
Let’s discuss the key parts of this route, beginning just after we blast out of the start pen:
Lead-In: the first ~6.6km of the race is quite flat as you wind along the southern coast road through two sprint points which aren’t being used as intermediates, but will award powerups.
Mayan Mountainside KOM @6.6-8.6km (FTS): You’ll turn right at the first intersection and begin the Mayan Mountainside KOM at 6.6km. At 3.1% for 2km, this is the shorter of the two KOM segments in the race. You’ll get a powerup at the arch.
Itza KOM @9.2-12.9km (FTS and FAL): the longest of our KOM segments (3.75km at 2%), this one doesn’t kick off in earnest until around 10.5km, where the steady climb (2.3km at 3.2%) begins. Watch the steep bits that kick up to 8%! You’ll get a powerup at the arch.
Top Half of The Grade @13.6-15.6km: while not a points segment, this is the steepest climb in the race, averaging a steady ~9% for 2km. You’ll get a powerup at the arch.
Top of the Epic KOM @16.1-18.7km: the hits just keep coming, with more climbing on the heels of The Grade. The first part of this bit is rolling in nature, but it ends with a steady kilometer at 6% to the Epic KOM arch, where you’ll get your final powerup.
(Mostly) Downhill @19-32km: from the top of the Epic KOM you’ll descend all the way to the bottom of the Jungle. Keep your eyes open for the uphill bits here, but most riders will be using this time to recover for the finishing climb.
Mayan Mountainside KOM @31.9-33.9km (FTS): The final 2km of the race will be a fistfight/chess match between the strong riders who have survived on the front, with some going for a long attack while others try to surf the wheels to take it in a sprint on the flat final 200 meters.
Remember, FAL and FTS segment points as well as finishing points have changed this round for ZRL racers!
FAL points now go to the first 20 riders over the line (20-19-18…1 points, respectively). FTS points only go to the fastest 5 riders through the segment (10-8-6-4-2 points, respectively).
Riders will receive powerups at each arch, as noted above, for a total of six powerup opportunities. Powerup probabilities are weighted as noted below:
Draft Boost (van) – 20% Probability: increases the draft effect you are experiencing for 40 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents) when you are already drafting off another rider (since this powerup only helps when you are drafting.)While not terribly useful on this course, the van can be used for a breather on flats and descents. It may also prove useful in the flat final 200 meters of the race.
Lightweight (feather) – 80% Probability: reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds. Use on climbs, when weight matters the most.With all the intermediate KOMs and other climbs on this course, the feather is the most useful powerup.
Bike Frame + Wheel Choice
All of this route’s intermediate segments are climbs, the finish is a climb, and you’ve got additional steep crucial climbs like the top half of The Grade. So a super-aero (and rather heavy) disc wheel setup isn’t the best pick here. But just how lightweight should you go?
I’d recommend nothing heavier than the Tron bike. You could also go lighter than the Tron, with the Pinarello Dogma F + DT Swiss 62 wheels or even the featherweight Specialized Aethos + Lightweights or Roval Alpinists.
Tron bikePinarello Dogma F 2024 + DT Swiss 62Specialized Aethos + Roval Alpinist CLX
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.
In the Drops
John Rice
Strategic Options
Points Distribution, Glyph Heights (1 Lap)
This chart shows the maximum points a team of 6 could earn in a race with 60 participants.
There aren’t a lot of intermediate points available in this race, compared to finishing points. Here are some predictions of strategies we’ll see on Tuesday:
All-In For the First Climbs(s): riders with punchy power who don’t fancy their chances of surviving in the front group up The Grade may choose to go all-in for intermediate points on those initial Mayan Mountainside and/or Itza KOMs. A rider who times it right and tops the list for FAL and FTS on both would earn 40 points, which is a big haul.
Survival Mode: other riders may choose to play it safe, not chasing points on those first two climbs but instead trying to save their legs so they can stay in contention and have something left for the final push up the Mayan Mountainside KOM.
Bridging Up: packs will get strung out and elastic will stretch as riders climb up, up, up to the Epic KOM. But once the long descent begins, front riders won’t have much incentive to work to keep chasers away. Some riders who are dropped on the climbs will come back to the front before the bottom of the final Mayan Mountainside KOM. But will they be able to hang on to the line?
Strategic Fistfight Finish: as I already mentioned, that final Mayan Mountainside KOM will be both a fistfight and a chessmatch. Riders who don’t have a strong sprint will want to get off the front early, but sprinters will want to surf wheels and wait until the final flat 200 meters to make their move. Who will win the battle of brains and brawn?
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
Catch up on all things Zwifty in this week’s top 5 Zwift videos. This week’s top video covers Zwift’s latest game release and gives details on what’s coming next on Zwift.
In addition, we’ve selected videos about the Zwift World Series, the Zwift Cog, and 9 Zwift tips from GCN.
ZWIFT Update v1.74 – What’s New & What’s Coming Soon!
Shane Miller, GPLama, shares details about the latest game release and provides insight into what is coming soon on Zwift.
Zwift World Series // Elite Race 1 – Richmond Loop Around
Zwift Cog Compatibility Explained: Does It Limit Your Cycling App Choices?
Interested in upgrading to a Zwift Cog but don’t know whether it will limit you to only using Zwift? Smart Bike Trainers explains everything you need to know about the Zwift Cog and its compatibility.
In his latest video, Shane Miller, GPLama, dives into everything you need to know about Zwift’s updated ZCog. Shane covers the noise level, setup, and a host of FAQs.
Si from GCN covers 9 useful Zwift tips. Whether you’re a seasoned Zwifter or a beginner looking to dive in, there might just be a new hack for you to learn…
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Zwift just rolled out a fresh Mission for October, and it’s all about event participation.
Getting Started
To begin the Mission, select the mission card on your homescreen and click to register:
Once you’ve registered, clicking the mission card will show your Mission progress.
Completing the Mission
After registering for the mission, complete three different events by the end of the month to finish the mission.
(The most obvious events to join would be Tour of Watopia 2024. But you can pick any events from Zwift’s public calendar! Meetups or private club events do not count.)
Unlocks
Finish this mission, and the Watopia Origins badge will be yours. You’ll also unlock the Tour of Watopia socks to complete your Tour of Watopia 2024 kit!
Zwift version 1.75 begins its phased rollout today. This is a minor update with some visual tweaks and bug fixes, plus a new route badge and some new roads rising from the sea floor…
Watopia Expansion Rising
We already know there’s a Watopia expansion arriving, to be unveiled for the final stage of Tour of Watopia 2024. You could see some evidence of this expansion in game previously, off the coast of the Volcano, but today’s update makes it much more obvious!
Here’s a screenshot we grabbed from partway up the Volcano climb. What do you suppose the team at Zwift has up their sleeve?
BRAEk-fast Crit and Grits Badge
Not included in the release notes is Zwift’s addition of a new route achievement badge for Scotland’s BRAEk-fast Crit and Grits route created as a result of the ZRL route design contest for round 1.
Our guess is that this route will first be available for those racing in the final stage of Zwift Racing League Round 1 on October 15, and then it will be made available, perhaps even as a free-rideable route, in a future release.
More Release Notes
Zwift provided notes on additional tweaks and bug fixes in this update:
When long messages are shown in the HUD (e.g., Ride Ons received from a Zwifter with a long name, friends riding in the same world), the message now scrolls instead of being truncated.
Fixed an issue that could potentially prevent Zwifters from completing events on the Sleepless City route in Makuri Islands.
Windows: Fixed a potential visual issue that could occur when Zwifting through underwater tunnels.
tvOS
Fixed an issue that could cause the steering force field effect not to be visible.
Fixed an issue that could potentially cause the virtual shifting “Shift Style” setting to not be remembered between sessions.
iOS:Fixed an issue that could cause the “Quit Event” button to overlap with the “Menu” button when participating in an event on some Apple tablets.
Android:Fixed an issue that could cause the “Quit Event” button to overlap with the “Menu” button when participating in an event on some Android tablets.
Zwift Promo Announced: Free Zwift Play Controllers With Smart Trainer Purchase
UPDATE: Zwift has extended this promo for another week, through October 14.
Zwift has just announced a limited-time promotion to celebrate their big Birthday Weekend: buy a smart trainer, get Zwift Play controllers free (regular price $99USD)!
To get the free Play controllers, add both the trainer and Zwift Play controllers to your cart. You should see the Play controllers discounted to $0 before completing checkout.
Note: purchasing through the links above will help support Zwift Insider, as we receive a small affiliate commission. Thanks for your support!
Play Controller Capabilities
Zwift Play controllers easily mount on most road bike drop-bars (see above) and unlock various capabilities for Zwifters, allowing you to interact with the game without needing a keyboard or remote. Game interactions include:
Virtual Shifting is a popular innovation Zwift has brought to the indoor cycling space. Zwift Play includes buttons for virtual shifting, but you must also have a virtual shifting-compatible trainer in order to enjoy this feature.
All of the trainers listed above support virtual shifting on Zwift, except for the Wahoo KICKR Snap.
Zwift has just announced the details of its next major event series, and it’s a crowd favorite: the Tour of Watopia (ToW) featuring double XP! This year’s ToW takes us on a journey through Watopia’s development, as a part of Zwift’s big 10-year celebration.
The 5-stage tour runs from October 15-November 25. With double XP on tap, fresh kit unlocks, and a secret Watopia expansion for the final stage, you can bet Zwifters will be participating in big numbers. Because everyone wants those fast bikes, fire socks, and level 100 status!
Note: registering just sets you up to start checking off stages and perhaps get some email reminders about the Tour. It doesn’t sign you up for any specific events.
Double XP + Powerups
Typically riders are awarded 20XP per kilometer or 32XP per mile, depending on whether you have units set to metric or imperial. For ToW stages, riders will receive 40XP per kilometer/64XP per mile. Learn all about cycling XP and unlocks >
Runners typically receive 10XP per .25km or 15XP per .25 mile. You will receive 20XP per .25km or 30XP per .25 mile in ToW stages. Learn all about running XP and unlocks >
Additionally, powerups will last twice as long during ToW events. Here’s a list of powerups and their doubled lengths:
Lightweight (feather): reduces your weight by 10% for 60 seconds. Use on climbs, when weight matters the most.
Draft Boost (van): increases the draft effect you are experiencing for 80 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents) when you are already drafting off another rider (since this powerup only helps when you are drafting.)
Aero Boost (helmet): makes you more aerodynamic (reduces your CdA by 25%) for 30 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents), especially when no draft is available (although it is still useful when drafting.)
New for 2024
A teaser image from Zwift showing the new expansion rising from the ocean…
Zwift is rolling out a few new things for this year’s ToW, including:
New Roads! Stage 5 will feature a new Watopia expansion (details not yet released)
On-demand (cycling only): once you’ve registered, you can complete a stage by riding the route in any way – not just as a ToW event! If you ride a ToW stage on demand, you’ll receive 1.5x XP, not the 2x you get when riding it as an event. (Note that you will not get 1.5x XP if you do the route as a workout. This will be fixed in Zwift version 1.77, releasing on approximately October 29.)
New kit unlocks: complete all 5 stages to unlock the Tour of Watopia 2024 kit (details below)!
Ride Stages
Group ride events for ToW use the following category/group setup:
Group A: Longer Ride
Group B: Standard Ride
Group C: Shorter Ride
Group D: Women Only (same route as Group B)
Late join will be enabled for all rides, but Zwift encourages everyone to get into the pens before the event begins to maximize the fun. Events will be scheduled hourly.
Remember, any route listed below can also be free-ridden (or completed in a workout or meetup) for stage credit.
Stage 1: October 15-22 – Downtown to Volcano via Epic (2015-2017)
Group Ride Longer: Mountain Route– 29.6 km (18.4 miles), 682 m (2,238′)
Group Ride Standard: Figure 8 – 29.7 km (18.5 miles), 254 m (833′)
Group Ride Shorter: Whole Lotta Lava – 17.2 km (10.6 miles), 160 m (525′)
Stage 2: October 22-29 – Jungle to Alpe du Zwift (2017-2018)
Group Ride Longer: Road to Sky– 17.4 km (10.8 miles), 1,045 m (3,428′)
Group Ride Standard: Serpentine 8 – 26.9 km (16.8 miles), 239 m (784′)
Mountain Bikes only, with steamroller powerups awarded at arches
Group Ride Shorter: Jungle Circuit – 13.6 km (8.4 miles), 92 m (302′)
Mountain Bikes only, with steamroller powerups awarded at arches
Stage 3: October 29-November 5 – Fuego to Titans (2019)
Group Ride Longer: Eastern Eight– 54 km (33.5 miles), 412 m (1,352′)
Group Ride Standard: Sand and Sequoias – 22.4 km (13.9 miles), 181 m (594′)
Group Ride Shorter: Tempus Fugit – 19.6 km (12.1 miles), 22 m (72′)
Stage 4: November 5-12 – Southern Coast to The Grade (2023-2024)
Group Ride Longer: Itza Party – 46.2 km (28.7 miles), 508 m (1,660′)
Group Ride Standard: Mayan 8 – 26.2 km (16.3 miles), 249 m (817′)
Group Ride Shorter: Going Coastal – 18.8 km (11.7 miles), 69 m (227′)
Stage 5: November 12-19 – Jarvis Island (2024)
Group Ride Longer: Deca Dash – 52.6 km (32.7 miles), 500 m (1,640′)
Group Ride Standard: Waisted 8 – 30.9 km (19.2 miles), 144 m (472′)
Group Ride Shorter: Loopin Lava – 18.4 km (11.4 miles), 212 m (695′)
Running events for ToW use the following category/group setup:
Group A: Longer Run (10k)
Group B: Standard Run (5k)
Late join will be enabled for all run, but Zwift encourages everyone to get into the pens before the event begins to maximize the fun. Events will be scheduled hourly.
Stage 1: October 15-22 – Downtown to Volcano via Epic (2015-2017)
Missed a stage or two? Or maybe you just want more of that sweet double XP? Make-up stages will be held from November 19-25. During those 7 days, Zwift will host events every 30 minutes covering all 5 stages.
Kit Unlocks
There are both cycling and running kits to unlock during the ToW! Cycling kit is unlocked progressively as you complete stages:
Complete one stage to unlock the Tour de Watopia 2024 road shoes
Complete three stages to unlock the Tour of Watopia 20254 cap
Complete five stages to unlock the Tour of Watopia 2024 cycling kit
Note: October’s “Watopia Origins” mission unlocks matching ToW 2024 socks to complete your look.
Based on Zwift’s documentation, it appears that running unlocks are tied to the completion of specific stages:
Complete stage 1 or 2 to unlock the Tour de Watopia 2024 running shoes
Complete stage 3 or 4 to unlock the Tour de Watopia 2024 cap
Complete stage 5 to unlock the Tour de Watopia 2024 running kit
Questions or Comments?
We’ve shared everything we know above, and will update this post with new info as it becomes available.
Still got questions? Post below and we’ll try to get them answered.
Now, around 3 months into testing, Zwift is putting the final touches on ZRS and preparing to release it as the de facto race categorization method on the platform.
Let’s look at the latest tweaks Zwift has made to ZRS, and how they plan to roll it out.
Racing Score Changes
In a recent forum post, Zwift outlined the latest changes made to the scoring algorithm. (Some of these changes may have not yet rolled out quite yet, but they will all be live very soon):
Podium Bonuses: The top 3 finishers in each scored race are now receiving a podium bonus meant to help move racers up a category faster if they are regularly winning.
Finalized Subgroup Score Ranges: Zwift has defined the score ranges they will use for Zwift-owned races and recommend for community organizers. (For more information, see this forum topic.)
Faster Score Calculation: Scores are calculated and adjusted as each racer crosses the finish line, instead of being finalized after 12 hours to account for DNF’s. This will eliminate issues where individual scores would drop when checking the day after a race.
3×10-Minute Activity Requirement: Riders must now have at least three 10+ minute activities recorded in the last 90 days in order to race a scored event. This helps ensure an accurate seed score, to improve initial subgroup placement.
ZwiftPower Score Range Filters:ZwiftPower.com will be updated so users can continue tracking General Classification (GC) standings after event series like the Zwift World Series move to score-based subgroups.
Bug Fix for Stuck Low Scores: Zwift says they’ve “fixed an issue where scores that drop too low get stuck with low values even after winning several races.”
This is what you see if you don’t have enough recent activity to race…
Potential Changes
ZRS is graduating from Zwift Labs “beta” status in October, but it may continue to evolve over time. Zwift says they are investigating the following changes:
Enhancing the seed algorithm to incorporate a broader range of historical data, considering the performance of racers who are transitioning back indoors after an outdoor riding season
Measures to prevent intentional score manipulation
Category enforcement applied when joining an event instead of at sign up
An historical view of how your score has changed over time
Those all sound like great improvements to me!
Rollout Plan
As promised, Zwift will be rolling out ZRS in October! It will be used in the following events beginning on the given dates:
The last item, “Community Racing Events”, is a big one! While the first four items listed are all Zwift-owned events, that final item includes all races organized by the Zwift community. In talking to Zwift, they stated that their intention is to have all community-organized races shown on the public events calendar moved ZRS by October 7.
Private events can still use the old category enforcement groups or other systems, and ZRL and WTRL Thursday TTTs will not be using ZRS due to their custom categorization schemes.
This means that effectively every race you’ll see on the events calendar will be using ZRS beginning October 7.
Seed Score Reset and Details
On September 25, Zwift reset everyone’s Racing Score to their seed score. (Anecdotally, my score went from 589 – a score based on results in several scored races – to my pure seed score of 591. It seems like Zwift’s seed score algorithm has me pinned quite accurately!)
More about seed score:
That score is calculated based on your maximum power outputs for 30 seconds (CP30) and 10 minutes (CP600) from the past 90 days. These data points were selected after analyzing hundreds of thousands of combinations to ensure the most accurate and reliable base score calculation possible.
This extensive analysis allowed us to fine-tune the scoring model, ensuring it reflects a racer’s true performance across various metrics and conditions. It’s important to note that CP30 and CP600 are not equally weighted in the scoring process; the longer effort (CP600) has a greater influence on the final score. These values are normalized by weight and adjusted for fairness across performance levels, resulting in a seed score between 0 and 1000.
Zwift
Wrapping It Up
This latest round of updates and event changes looks to be the final major evolution of Zwift Racing Score prior to its big launch. And that big launch is big news! Zwift Racing Score superseding power-based categories will literally change the game when it comes to Zwift Racing.
It hasn’t been easy to differentiate the signal from the noise when it comes to racers offering their feedback on ZRS vs other categorization methods. (Are racers complaining because categories have shifted and they’re no longer at the top, or do they have legitimate complaints?) But our poll in August seemed to indicate that ZRS was a big improvement, and this latest round of tweaks addresses some of the key remaining complaints we’ve seen (like riders winning but not moving up fast enough, and riders being seeded at too low of a category).
I, for one, see ZRS as a major improvement over the old power-based scheme. And I’m hopeful that ZRS will improve even more with the latest changes and wider usage. Let’s race!
Your Thoughts
Are you excited to see ZRS rolling out across all of Zwift racing? Got concerns? Share your thoughts below!
