“Spiral Summit” Route Details (Watopia)
See zwiftinsider.com/route/spiral-summit/
All About the New Shimano Dura-Ace Wheelsets in Zwift: C36, C50, C60, and C99/Disc
All About the New Shimano Dura-Ace Wheelsets in Zwift: C36, C50, C60, and C99/Disc
Back on July 29th, Shimano announced the details of their new DURA-ACE wheelsets. Keen eyes had already spotted these wheels in the WorldTour peloton, including Mathieu van der Poel riding them to multiple victories, including his epic TdF stage 21 win on Champs-Élysées!
The new wheelsets include the C99/Disc combo, the C60, the C50, and the C36. These wheels currently show as “coming soon”, with Shimano saying they’ll be available to consumers beginning in September:
The new C36, C50, and C60 are effectively replacing the wheelsets of the same name that have been in Zwift for years (but you’ll need to buy the new wheels to get the upgrade). The older C36, C50, and C60 have been removed from the Drop Shop, but will remain in your garage if you’ve already purchased them. (Currently, the older wheels include “DURA-ACE” in the name, while the new wheels do not. Zwift says this will be changed soon, as all of Shimano’s wheels in Zwift come from their DURA-ACE line.)
Here are the ratings of the new wheels, along with level unlocks and pricing:
- Shimano DURA-ACE C36: 3 stars aero, 4 stars weight, requires level 6+ and 600,000 Drops
- Shimano DURA-ACE C50: 4 stars aero, 4 stars weight, requires level 10+ and 650,000 Drops
- Shimano DURA-ACE C60: 4 stars aero, 3 stars weight, requires level 12+ and 650,000 Drops
- Shimano DURA-ACE C99/Disc: 4 stars aero, 1 star weight, requires level 28+ and 900,000 Drops
The wheels are now available in the Drop Shop. But how do they compare with the previous versions, and how fast are they compared to other wheels on Zwift? Since Zwift’s 4-star rating system isn’t precise enough for our tastes, we ran these wheels through our standard battery of tests to determine exactly how they perform in Zwift and stack up against other wheelsets.
Let’s dive in and learn all about the in-game performance of these new Shimano DURA-ACE wheels!
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
Shimano’s wheels have always been rather lackluster performers in game when compared to the full Drop Shop list, but they’ve been top performers if you look at wheels available at lower levels (like 12 and below). These new wheelsets continue the trend of being available at low levels, but are sped up so much that they effectively erase the need to purchase anything else!
Here’s how much faster the new versions of these DURA-ACE wheels are on the flats, compared to the older models:
- C36: 11.2 seconds faster
- C50: 21 seconds faster
- C60: 17 seconds faster
Those are huge leaps! And the new C99/Disc pictured above is basically as fast as the best discs on the flats (and slightly faster on the climbs), while being available at a lower level (28). This has led to a major shakeup in our “fastest bike setups by level” tables, as shown below:
Fastest Wheelsets By Level (Pre 8/18/2026)
| Level | Fastest Wheelset | Time Savings |
| 1 | Zwift Classic (Free) | 0s |
| 3 | Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000) | 6.2s |
| 12 | Shimano C60 (325,000) | 31.6s |
| 15 | Roval Rapide CLX (500,000) | 33.4s |
| 16 | Roval CLX64 (525,000) | 40.1s |
| 25 | Zipp 808 (425,000) | 42.1s |
| 28 | Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 (550,000) fastest non-disc | 53s |
| 37 | Zipp 858/Super9 (750,000) | 54.7s |
| 39 | Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 850/Disc (900,000) fastest disc1 | 56.2s |
Fastest Wheelsets By Level (New Table As Of 8/18/2026)
| Level | Fastest Wheelset | Time Savings |
| 1 | Zwift Classic (Free) | 0s |
| 3 | Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000) | 6.2s |
| 6 | Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000) | 33.4s |
| 10 | Shimano DURA-ACE C50 (650,000) | 46.1s |
| 12 | Shimano DURA-ACE C60 (650,000) | 48.6s |
| 28 | Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 (550,000) fastest non-disc | 53s |
| 28 | Shimano DURA-ACE C99/Disc (900,000)1 | 58.2s |
Climb Performance
As mentioned in the Flat Performance section above, Shimano’s wheels have been top performers among those unlocked at lower levels. These updated DURA-ACE hoops climb significantly better than their predecessors.
Here’s how much faster the new versions of these DURA-ACE wheels are on the climbs, compared to the older models:
- C36: 3.5 seconds faster
- C50: 12.6 seconds faster
- C60: 13.1 seconds faster
This has led to a revision of our “Fastest Wheels by Level” list. While not as radical a revision as the aero performance list referenced above, it’s worth a mention.
Fastest Climbing Wheelsets by Level (Pre 8/18/2026)
| Level | Fastest Wheelset | Time Savings |
| 1 | Zwift Classic (Free) | 0 |
| 3 | Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000) | 11.4s |
| 5 | Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (150,000) | 18.7s |
| 24 | Zipp 353 NSW (600,000) | 21.2s |
| 29 | CADEX Max 50 (680,000) | 22.5s |
| 32 | Princeton CarbonWorks Wake 6560 (685,000) | 24.1s |
| 35 | Princeton CarbonWorks Alta 3532 (685,000) | 25.9s |
Fastest Climbing Wheelsets by Level (New Table As Of 8/18/2026)
| Level | Fastest Wheelset | Time Savings |
| 1 | Zwift Classic (Free) | 0 |
| 3 | Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000) | 11.4s |
| 6 | Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000) | 22.2s |
| 29 | CADEX Max 50 (680,000) | 22.5s |
| 32 | Princeton CarbonWorks Wake 6560 (685,000) | 24.1s |
| 35 | Princeton CarbonWorks Alta 3532 (685,000) | 25.9s |
Not reflected in these tables but worth mentioning, the new C50 wheels come in just behind the C36 in climbing performance, putting them 5th overall. But the C50 are much better aero performers.
The new C99/Disc wheelset, while of course not a strong climber compared to non-disc wheelsets, is actually a bit lighter than the top disc wheels, meaning it climbs better than the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 85/Disc and Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 850/Disc. And when I say “a bit,” I mean less than 1 second faster – within our margin of error, but a measurable difference nonetheless.
Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using the Zwift Carbon frame.
Conclusions
With the release of these updated DURA-ACE wheelsets, Shimano’s wheels are finally truly strong performers. This is particularly true when you look at their very low level unlocks, but it’s even true compared to the overall landscape of wheels available to upper-level Zwifters. Our Wheel Ranking Charts show this clearly:
- The C60 and C50 are in the 3rd and 4th slots in the Time Savings, Stacked (300W) chart
- The C99/Disc is ranked above all other disc wheels when sorting by climb performance in the Time Savings Over 1 Hour (300W) chart, while the C36 and C50 are in the 4th and 5th slots
More experienced Zwifters may not pull the trigger to purchase the new DURA-ACE wheels (although I would bet many TT racers buy the new C99/Disc). But beginning Zwifters will surely be adding the non-disc DURA-ACE hoops to their garage early in their progression, since they’re the fastest wheels available below level 28.
These wheels have been added to the following posts:
- Master Zwift Wheels List
- Zwift Speed Tests: Wheel Ranking Charts
- Zwift Shopping Guide: What To Buy from the Drop Shop at Each Level
- Zwift Speed Tests Public Data (Google Sheet)
Questions or comments?
Share below!
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
Fastest Climbing Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level
If you’re racing on Zwift, upgrading your frame and wheels can cut crucial seconds off your efforts. But figuring out where to spend your hard-earned Drops can be confusing! So we’ve put together this table which lists the best climbing frame and wheelset available at every Zwift level.
Keep in mind this list applies only to bigger climbs. If your race is flat or only has short, rolling climbs you’ll probably want to go with a more aero setup.
Fastest Climbing Frames by Level
| Level | Fastest Frame | Time Savings |
| 1 | Zwift Steel (Free) | 0 |
| 3 | Zwift Carbon (55,000) | 31.1s |
| 8 | Liv Langma Advanced SL 2025 (1,000,000) | 72.1s |
| 10 | Canyon Aeroad 2024 (1,100,000) | 73.9s |
| 12 | Canyon Ultimate CFR (350,700) | 74.2s |
| 17 | Scott Addict RC (660,200) | 77.8s |
| 21 | Van Rysel RCR Pro (1,400,000) | 79.4s |
| 30 | Specialized Aethos S-Works (966,300)* | 85.8s |
| 40 | Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 (1,900,000) | 87.7s |
* The un-upgraded version of the Specialized Aethos S-Works climbs a bit slower than the un-upgraded Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9, but if you compare the fully-upgraded versions of both bikes, the Aethos is a much stronger climber. This is due to how Zwift’s upgrade system is structured. See charts/data >
Fastest Climbing Wheelsets by Level
| Level | Fastest Wheelset | Time Savings |
| 1 | Zwift Classic (Free) | 0 |
| 3 | Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000) | 11.4s |
| 6 | Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000) | 22.2s |
| 29 | CADEX Max 50 (680,000) | 22.5s |
| 32 | Princeton CarbonWorks Wake 6560 (685,000) | 24.1s |
| 35 | Princeton CarbonWorks Alta 3532 (685,000) | 25.9s |
Total time savings of fastest frame and wheelset over stock Zwift setup (Zwift Steele frame and Zwift classic wheels): 87.7+25.9=113.6 seconds
Times above are based on our climbing speed tests, done with a solo 75kg, 183cm rider at 300 watts on Watopia’s Alpe du Zwift.
Strategic Shopping
It may seem simplest to just purchase each frame or wheelset on the list as soon as you level up, but if you want to maximize performance you also need to take Zwift’s Bike Upgrade functionality into account, since it rewards riders who stay on the same frame long enough to fully upgrade it. Simply put: it doesn’t make sense to buy each frame/wheelset on this list, since you won’t be able to fully upgrade it before having access to buy the next fastest frame. So you’ll need to choose your purchases/upgrades wisely.
There’s another factor to consider here as well, when you’re looking strictly at climbing performance. Zwift’s upgrade system is structured so that, if a bike is classified as a climbing bike, the upgrades it receives are more climbing-focused. All-arounders and aero bikes, on the other hand, receive more “balanced” upgrades between aero and climb performance.
So while the table above shows the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 outperforming the Specialized Aethos S-Works on climbs, this is only true if the frames aren’t upgraded. If you compare fully-upgraded versions of those frames (the toggle on this Tron vs Top Performers chart may help), the Aethos is actually a much better climber, putting ~21 seconds into the S-Works Tarmac SL9 over an hour on a climb.
The Trek Emonda (unlocked by completing the Climb Mt Everest Challenge) earns a mention here as well, because it is classified as a climbing bike and will outclimb all bikes except the Aethos when fully upgraded.
Don’t have enough Drops? Keep riding – you’ll get them soon enough! (Learn how to earn more Drops here.) And if you’re wanting to level up faster, check out How to Earn More XP and Level Up Faster on Zwift.
Improvement by Level
Even more so than our list of most aero frames and wheels by level, the biggest performance gains for climbing come very early in a Zwifter’s level progression. Over 83% of total gains are attainable by just level 8!
Your Thoughts
Hopefully this helps you select a bike for your next race, no matter your Zwift level. Got questions or comments? Post below!
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
Top 5 Zwift Videos: Alpe du Zwift, Zwift vs IRL, and Zwift Racing League
As we make our way into the latter half of 2026, there is still time to chase your goals for the year. In this week’s top video, one Zwifter discusses new goals for 2026 and sets a fitness benchmark on the iconic Alpe du Zwift.
We’ve also included videos about climbing Mont Ventoux on both Zwift and in real life, details on Zwift Racing League, riding a stage from the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (TDFFaZ), and a look into a year’s worth of fitness gains.
Can I DESTROY My Alpe du Zwift PR in 5 Months?
Can You REALLY Experience Mont Ventoux On Zwift?
ZRL 2026/27: Everything We Know About the New Season
Can I Survive The Hardest Stage Of The Tour De France Femmes?
What 333 Days on Zwift Actually Does to Your Body
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below, and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Zwift Racing League 2026/27 Round 1 Details: Routes, Rules, Registration + More
Zwift Racing League 2026/27 Round 1 Details: Routes, Rules, Registration + More
Now in its 20th round, Zwift Racing League continues to take racing to the next level on Zwift! Registration is now open for the first round of the 2026/27 season, which begins on September 22.
This page contains everything you need to know about the current ZRL round and is updated as WTRL announces new details.
Intro to ZRL
Zwift Racing League (ZRL) is team-based racing for all abilities. It’s also the world’s largest virtual cycling competition, with over 30,000 riders of all abilities participating in each of the past two seasons!
Organized by WTRL, this is a team-based points competition spanning multiple weeks, with teams divided into divisions based on time zones and ability. Races take place every Tuesday, and the season is divided into distinct rounds with brief breaks in between.
ZRL is Zwift racing at its highest level. Its unique structure and varied race formats drive serious Zwift racers to show up week after week while providing a place for new racers who jump in and find their first team home.
Key Changes this Round
Zwift + WTRL continuously collaborate to modify ZRL’s structure and rules with the aim of engaging as many racers as possible. Heading into this first round of season, many rule changes have been made. See below for the basics, and see WTRL’s website for details.
4x 6-Week Rounds
The 2025/26 season ended with a four-week round, but this year all four rounds are full six-week affairs.
Team Size
Team sizes are being reduced from 12 riders to 10, with only 5 riders (instead of 6) racing each week.
FTS Points Expansion
Fastest Through Segment points were formerly given to the top 5 riders. They will now be awarded to the top 10 riders: 15 points for 1st, then 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, down to 1 point for 10th place. Learn all about FTS, FAL, and other points systems used in ZRL >
“Race of Truth” Format
The first race of each round will now be a “Race of Truth”. This format is scored just like a ZRL points race, but there’s one big difference: drafting is turned off (and so are TT bikes)!
Steering and Braking
For the first time ever, steering is enabled in all races. Braking will be available for TTT events only.
Road to Zwift Racing League Introduction Rides
Training events will be held every Tuesday until this round begins. Ride alongside other Zwifters and learn about team racing, what to expect when you race ZRL, and how to take the next step and join a team. No racing – just a group ride.
See upcoming events at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlintro.
In-Game Rewards
250 XP will be rewarded for every lap completed, adding up to thousands of XP across the season.
‘Rider for Hire’ System
Essentially a “classifieds” list of people looking for a team, with the ability for existing team admins to easily search the list and contact riders.
WTRL says this won’t be live until the first week of September, so if you’re looking for a team before then, visit wtrl.racing/zrl/teamhunt.
Jersey Rules Strictly Enforced
Teams must wear their chosen ZRL kit in every race. There are no exceptions, and penalties (currently not yet specified) will apply.
Additional Team Management Functionality
These upgrades are not yet fully in place, but the plan is to reduce the need for riders to click a RacePass each week. Instead, team admins can optionally select and sign up their 5 riders each week.
Actual Cadence Required
Here’s an interesting new rule:
6.2.2. Cadence data MUST be derived from the rider’s actual pedaling cadence. This may be provided by a dedicated cadence sensor, power meter, Smart Trainer or Smart Bike capable of measuring actual cadence.6.2.3. Estimated, simulated or averaged cadence data is NOT permitted. Some Smart Trainers generate cadence values algorithmically rather than measuring actual crank or pedal movement. Where this is the case, a separate device capable of measuring actual cadence MUST be used.
I predict this rule will cause a lot of strife and confusion, because most of the popular smart trainers (including the Wahoo KICKR and KICKR CORE) “generate cadence values algorithmically”, meaning many riders will need to purchase actual cadence sensors to comply with this rule.
Note: the above rule was changed in the rulebook on 8/18/2026, so it no longer applies. As always, see the current rulebook (available on this page) for current rules.
Power Accuracy and Pairing Guidelines
WTRL is updating their rules to clearly state pairing and accuracy standards. Here are some excerpts from the rules:
- Where a Smart Trainer with a built-in power meter is used, the Smart Trainer MUST be connected directly to Zwift as the primary Power Source. A separate pedal-, crank-, spider- or hub-based power meter MUST NOT be used as the primary Power Source when the Smart Trainer is capable of measuring to a manufacturer-published accuracy of ±2% or better. The Smart Trainer must also be connected to Zwift for Resistance/Controllable. This requirement standardizes power measurement at the trainer, after drivetrain losses, and is consistent with Zwift Esports equipment requirements.
- Where a Smart Trainer has a manufacturer-published power accuracy worse than ±2%, a pedal-, crank-, spider- or hub-based power meter with a manufacturer-published accuracy of ±2% or better may be used as the primary Power Source instead.
- Division A & B racers MUST transmit power information to the game (Zwift). Suitable equipment includes:
- Smart turbo trainer.
- Smart bike.
- Classic ‘dumb’ trainer with separate power meter.
- Division C & D racers may use any equipment including ZPower (non-smart trainers) though a power meter or smart trainer is heavily recommended for racers to enjoy the most beneficial experience.
- Racers on ZPower will be awarded 50% of points earned in the event.
- Racers on ZPower may only make up 40% of the team during a Team Time Trial event.
For details on ZRL rules, including the full “Technical Guide & Rules” PDF, see the ZRL Rules page >
Routes and Dates
Each ZRL round comprises weekly races which are either scratch races, points races (including Race of Truth), or team time trials (TTT). Scratch Races and Points Races are both actually points-based in terms of final results, but Points races include intermediate segments while Scratch Race points are all earned at the finish line. TTT winners are the teams who complete the race course fastest, with team time taken from the fourth rider across the line.
Race #1: Montmartre Mixer
September 22, 2026 (Race of Truth)
The round begins with the new “Race of Truth” format on one of the new Paris routes! In this format, we’re all on road bikes (no TT bikes allowed), but drafting is disabled. So basically, a Merckx-Style TT… with FAL+FTS segment points… on Zwift! Back-to-back Montmartre climbs are going to hurt, particularly in this format.
- 1 Lap of Paris’ Montmartre Mixer (27.6km, 198m elevation)
- Intermediate Segments (FAL+FTS):
- PowerUps: Feather at start 🛈
Race #2: Innsbruckring
September 29, 2026 (Scratch Race)
We head to Innsbruck for the first scratch race of the season, held on the popular Innsbruckring circuit. The elastic will stretch and break every time up the Leg Snapper… but who will stay away for that long final sprint?
- A/B: 4 Laps of Innsbruckring (35.4km, 308m elevation)
- C/D: 3 Laps of Innsbruckring (26.6km, 231m elevation)
- PowerUps 🛈:
- Feather @ start
- Aero boost @ Leg Snapper KOM
- Feather @ Innsbruck Sprint
- +250 XP @ Lap arch
Race #3: Makuri 40/Urumaze
October 6, 2026 (Points Race)
Our first true points races of the season are in Makuri Islands, with A/B riders on a different route from C/D. Both routes feature flat sprint segments hidden behind short climbs.
Read our Race 3 Guide (A/B) >
Read our Race 3 Guide (C/D) >
- A/B: 1 Lap of Makuri Islands’ Makuri 40 (40.3km, 317m elevation)
- A/B Intermediate Segments (FAL+FTS):
- C/D: 1 Lap of Makuri Islands’ Urumaze (26.8km, 202m elevation)
- C/D Intermediate Segments (FAL+FTS):
- PowerUps 🛈:
- Draft boost @ start
- +250 XP @ Lap Arch
- Equal probability of Aero Boost/Feather/Draft Boost @ all other arches
Race #4: Watopia Figure 8 Reverse
October 13, 2026 (TTT)
The only TTT of this round is on Watopia’s classic Figure 8 Reverse, a route popular in the early days of Zwift racing. Teams will take on the tricky Hilly KOM in both directions, as well as the rollers of The Esses and other pacing challenges.
- 1 Lap of Watopia’s Figure 8 Reverse (29.9km, 254m elevation)
- PowerUps 🛈:
- +250 XP @ Lap Arch
- Draft Boost @ all other arches
Race #5: Green to Screen
October 20, 2026 (Scratch)
The second scratch race of round 1 finds us in the Big Apple, taking on the Green to Screen route for the first time in ZRL history. Get ready for big attacks on the Brooklyn Bridge KOM near the finish!
- 1 Lap of New York’s Green to Screen (28.5km, 207m elevation)
- PowerUps 🛈:
- +250 XP @ Lap Arch
- Equal probability of Aero Boost/Feather/Draft Boost @ all other arches
Race #6: Spiral Summit
October 27, 2026 (Points)
The final race of the round is on a brand-new route with a red-hot finish! You begin with a lovely downhill section, but then the legs will be softened on the Jarvis KOM, and fully hammered to bits by the finish up the Volcano KOM.
- 1 Lap Watopia’s Spiral Summit (24km, 283m)
- Intermediate Segments (FAL+FTS):
- PowerUps: TBD 🛈
Race Timeslots
Some divisions and start times are adjusted between rounds. Use the table below to find a time slot that works for your team. Please note that time slots may shift a bit – what you see below are provisional times. We will update this table once WTRL finalizes it.
Teams/Registration
Team registration is already open (go to wtrl.racing/zrl/myteams/ and click “Register a Team”). Registration for round 1 closes on September 18, 2026.
ZRL is a team-based competition – you cannot sign up as an individual rider. Teams can roster up to 10 racers, but only 5 can race in each event. Teams must have at least 4 riders on their roster, and a rider can join as many teams as they’d like, but only a maximum of two teams per league category.
Want to race, but don’t have a team? Here are seven ways to find a team:
- Recruit friends onto a new ZRL team, then sign up your team at wtrl.racing/zrl/myteams.
- If you’re already a member of a larger Zwift Club, contact a senior Club representative to see if you can join one of your Club’s ZRL teams.
- Join an official team-lead ZRL Group Recon Ride (see below) where several teams can be found looking for more riders. These run several times a day, starting two weeks before the first race.
- Join the ZRL Facebook Group and post preferred race times/league, Pace Group Category, and any other preferences under the #zrlteamhunt tag where many teams are eagerly waiting.
- Reply to one of the #zrlrecruiting posts that teams make in the ZRL Facebook Group if you don’t want to post your own request.
- Reach out directly to WTRL and they can match you to a team based on race times, category, and team preferences.
- Use the new “WTRL Team Finder” tool once it becomes available at wtrl.racing/zrl/teamhunt.
First-Timer Tips
If this is your first time racing on Zwift, here are a few tips to get you started fast:
- You must create a WTRL profile linked to your Zwift account – do so at wtrl.racing/registration
- The minimum category you’ll race is determined by your power history on Zwift. See “Rider Categories” section here for details.
- Riders must use a power sensor to transmit power to the game – this would be a smart trainer, smartbike, or power meter. (You’re allowed to race C and D categories with a “classic” trainer and virtual power, but your points are cut in half.)
- Heart rate monitors are required. (You’re allowed to race without a HRM, but your points are cut in half.)
- Cadence monitors are required.
- You’ll want to have at least a few races under your belt before you try to join a team, so you are confident that you’re in the correct category. It causes a lot of hassle if you join a team and are forced to upgrade to a new category mid-round!
2026/27 ZRL Dates
- Round 1: September 22-October 27, 2026
- Round 2: November 17-December 22, 2026
- Round 3: January 12-February 16, 2027
- Round 4: March 2-April 6, 2027
Questions or Comments?
We recommend checking out WTRL’s Zwift Racing League page for rules, team registration, results, and more. They also have a Help Center with lots of useful info, and their Facebook page is the place to go for discussion of all things ZRL.
You may also share questions or comments below!
Zwift Update Version 1.120 (164452) Released
Zwift version 1.120 begins its phased rollout today. This update includes new Shimano DURA-ACE wheels, more route badges for runners, and some minor tweaks and fixes. Read on for details!
New Shimano Wheels
The following new wheels are now available in the Drop Shop:
- Shimano DURA-ACE C36: 3 stars aero, 4 stars weight, requires level 6+ and 600,000 Drops
- Shimano DURA-ACE C50: 4 stars aero, 4 stars weight, requires level 10+ and 650,000 Drops
- Shimano DURA-ACE C60: 4 stars aero, 3 stars weight, requires level 12+ and 650,000 Drops
- Shimano DURA-ACE C99/Disc: 4 stars aero, 1 star weight, requires level 28+ and 900,000 Drops
These are the in-game versions of Shimano’s latest DURA-ACE wheelsets, which are labeled as “coming soon” on their website. Watch for speed test results here on Zwift Insider this week, and news coming soon of upcoming Zwift races featuring these wheels!
The older versions of the C36, C50, and C60 have been removed from the Drop Shop, so they are no longer available for purchase, although they will remain in your garage if you’ve already purchased them.
Saving Wheelsets to Frames
Here’s a nice little update we didn’t see coming. Zwift’s release notes say, “Equipping a wheel set in the garage will save it to the equipped bike. Each owned bike in the garage can have a unique wheel set saved.”
Now you can easily set up, say, a climbing bike (Specialized Aethos with Princeton Alta wheels), a TT rig (Canyon Speedmax CFR with DT Swiss disc), a gravel bike (Cannondale SuperX LAB71 with Roval Terra Aero CLX wheels) and an all-around racer (Tarmac SL9 with Princeton Wake 6560 wheels). To swap from one bike to the other, just choose the new bike in your garage. Voilà! It already has the right wheels attached.
We’ve got two more garage requests for Zwift – an easy one, and a tougher one:
- Save our bike colorways, so we don’t have to click and pick it each time we swap back to that frame.
- Let us archive or delete eqipment from our garages so they aren’t so crowded. (Or better yet, let us sell items back for half price.)
New Route Badges for Runners
Zwift has added four new route badges for runners, continuing the trend they started in the v1.119 release. Once you’ve installed version 1.120, the following routes will have achievement badges and XP available for runners:
- Flat Route Run (390 XP)
- Loop de Loop Run (250 XP)
- Volcano Flat Run (480 XP)
- Beach Island Loop Run (510 XP)
Unmentioned Tweaks
Not mentioned in the release notes, but worth putting here just for the record:
- Specialized Tarmac SL9 has been renamed to the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9
- The Princeton Carbonworks 6560 Lava wheels were tweaked just a bit in their settings so they’ll perfectly match the White version of the wheels.
Release Notes
Zwift supplied these additional release notes:
- Fixed an issue where non-supported emojis used in the ride leader name would change the name to display as ‘Ride Leader’
- Fixed an issue where equipping a different bike colorway would reset the equipped bike to stock paint.
- You can now choose not to upload any screenshots at the end of a ride.
Discuss this update in Zwift’s forum >
Questions or Comments?
If you spotted any other changes or bugs in the update, please comment below!
Zwift Shorts Challenge Announced: Quick Sessions, Easy Progression
Zwift Shorts Challenge Announced: Quick Sessions, Easy Progression
Today, Zwift unveiled a simple new challenge, fittingly titled “Zwift Shorts”. The goal? Complete eight very short event-only routes that are typically unavailable for free riding:
These routes are easily accessible during the challenge (which ends September 27, 2026 at 23:59 PDT), making them ideal for quick sessions and easy progression.
Eight Short Routes
Here are the routes included in this challenge:
- Downtown Dolphin (3.1km, 17m)
- Macaron (2.6km, 15m)
- LaGuardia Loop (2.8km, 27m)
- Glasgow Reverse (3.9km, 40m)
- Neokyo Crit Course (3.8km, 20m)
- Twilight Crit (3.8km, 22m)
- The 6 Train Reverse (6.2km, 66m)
- ZG25 Climb Champs (4.7km, 156m)
Note: Route lengths on the in-game challenge screen shown above include event lead-ins, but when you free-ride most of these routes the game puts you at the end of the lead-in, so the actual route length is shorter than shown. Our lengths listed above are accurate, meaning this challenge requires ~31km of riding. Most riders could knock out this challenge in one solid session! Are you up for it?
You’ll get a green completion banner popup when you finish each route. Make sure you keep riding until you see the popup, to ensure you’ve completed the route!
You will get credit for completing a route whether you do it in an actual Zwift event (like a race or a group ride), or just click the “Zwift Shorts” card on the home screen and free-ride it.
Rewards
Up to 1000 bonus XP is rewarded as you progress through the challenge:
- Complete 2 routes: 250 XP
- Complete 4 routes: 250 XP
- Complete 6 routes: 250 XP
- Complete 8 routes: 250 XP
Questions or comments?
Share below!
Tour de Hisp 13-Stage Daily Tour Announced Beginning August 24
Tour de Hisp 13-Stage Daily Tour Announced Beginning August 24
Recently the HISP Club announced the 5th edition of their popular “Tour de Hisp” – a 13-stage daily tour running August 24-September 6. Here are all the details!
The Basics
- Time-Based GC: Series rankings are based on your total time to complete each race. Official GC standings hosted by ZwiftPower at zwiftpower.com/league.php?id=3324
- ZRS-Based Categories: Races are mass-start events, with riders broken out into these Zwift Racing Score-based groups for results:
- A: 690-1000
- B: 520-690
- C: 350-520
- D: 180-350
- E: 0-180
- 6
4Daily Start Times: Scheduled to suit many time zones. You can race whatever time you prefer, or race at varying times if you’d like. Your fastest time for the stage will be used for the GC.- 8:30am UTC/4:30am ET/1:30am PT
- 2pm UTC/10am ET/7am PT
- 5pm UTC/1pm ET/10am PT
- 7pm UTC/3pm ET/12pm PT
- 11pm UTC/7pm ET/4pm PT – new time added for Americas!
- 1am UTC/9pm ET/6pm PT – new time added for Americas!
Route and Schedule Details
- Stage 1 – Mon, Aug 24: Richmond’s Libby Hill After Party
- 33.9km, 160m elevation
- Stage 2 – Tue, Aug 25: Watopia’s Big Loop
- 42.8km, 663m elevation
- Stage 3 – Wed, Aug 26: Scotland’s Muckle Yin
- 23.7km, 282m elevation
- Stage 4 – Thu, Aug 27: Yorkshire’s Royal Pump Room 8
- 25.1km, 580m elevation
- Stage 5 – Fri, Aug 28: Makuri Islands’ Turf N Surf
- 25.1km, 19.4m elevation
- Stage 6 – Sat, Aug 29: Innsbruck’s Achterbahn
- 47.7km, 988m elevation
- Sun, Aug 30: Rest Day
- Stage 7 – Mon, Aug 31: Watopia’s Three Little Sisters
- 37.7km, 434m elevation
- Stage 8 – Tue, Sep 1: London’s Greater London Loop
- 25.5km, 255m elevation
- Stage 9 – Wed, Sep 2: Makuri Islands’ Yumezi Grit (3 laps)
- 26.5km, 318m elevation
- Stage 10 – Thu, Sep 3: France’s Casse-Pattes
- 25.2km, 155m elevation
- Stage 11 – Fri, Sep 4: Watopia’s Mountain Route
- 29.5km, 682m elevation
- Stage 12 – Sat, Sep 5: Watopia’s Tempus Fugit (iTT)
- 19.6km, 31.8m elevation
- Stage 13 – Sun, Sep 6: Paris’ Montmartre Mixer
- 25.2km, 190m elevation
How to Sign Up
Sign up for Tour de Hisp events like you would any other Zwift event – online or via the Companion app.
See upcoming Tour de Hisp events at zwift.com/events/tag/hisp
More Rules
- Steering enabled
- Smart trainer/power meter required
- ZwiftPower registration is required to be included in overall GC
Questions or comments?
Learn more at the Tour de HISP 2026 homepage. You may also post questions and comments below!
Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of August 15-16
This weekend wraps up a few different event series: Tour Fever, Tour de 4, and Tugaz Tour 2026. We feature all three below, plus a couple more! Scroll down for our picks…
🤝 Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4
✅ Good Cause ✅ Popular ✅ Kit/Cap Unlock
With more signups than any other event this weekend, the Tour de 4 ride with Sir Chris Hoy is as popular as ever! This is the last Tour de 4 events of 2026, so don’t miss it.
Join Sir Chris and special guests for an open-paced 45-minute ride on the Makuri Islands Island Hopper route. Finish the ride to unlock the in-game Chris Hoy Tour de 4 kit and the new 2026 Tour de 4 cycling cap.
Saturday, August 15 starting @ 9am UTC/5am ET/2am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/tourde4
🤝Shokz x Mountain Massif: Ride Open, Ride Together
✅ Prize Giveaway
Here’s a one-off ride from Zwift Insider friend and longtime ride organizer Tim Perkin. This ride, led by Tim at C pace on Watopia’s Sand and Sequoias (22.4km, 181m) includes a prize giveaway for one finisher: a pair of Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones!
Saturday, August 15 starting @12pm UTC/11am ET/8am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5672242
🥇Tugaz Tour 2026 – Volta a Portugal
✅ Popular ✅ No Powerups
The popular Tugaz Tour 2026 consists of 15 standalone races, and this is the last one! And it’s a big one, on Watopia’s The Pretzel (72.9km, 1362m). This is a mass start event using W/kg-based categories. There are no powerups, no steering, and no braking.
Sunday, August 16 @ 9:05am UTC/5:05am ET/2:05am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5370628
🤝Stage 4 – Tour Fever – L’Etape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
✅ Ventoux ✅ Popular ✅ Unlocks
This weekend is our last chance to knock out stages in Zwift’s Tour Fever series! Make-up events are scheduled all weekend… see upcoming events at zwift.com/events/tag/tourfever2026.
The events I want to highlight, though, are on stage 4’s long route. These are special L’Etape Femmes events on the challenging Ven-Top route (21.1km, 1534m ). Finishers receive an exclusive L’Etape Femmes kit unlock, along with any applicable Tour Fever unlocks.
Multiple time slots this weekend
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/tourfever2026stage4
🤝 Bikealicious Weekend Social Mixer
✅ Banded Ride ✅ Beginner-Friendly ✅ Route Badge ✅ New Route
The friendly Bikealicious crew is leading a banded group ride on New York’s Stay Puft Pursuit route (32km, 416m). Grab this route badge if you haven’t done so yet, which comes with a 625XP bonus.
Saturday, August 15 @ 9pm UTC/5pm ET/2pm PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5670213
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 – August 15 Routes – Forward-Reverse
Tiny Race Series – August 15 Routes – Forward-Reverse
See zwiftinsider.com/tiny for current Tiny Race details.