The last Zwift update of 2023 was released today, with rollout to Windows/macOS/Android machines beginning today and iOS/Apple TV beginning tomorrow.
Given the previous update‘s pile of changes and the holiday season, it’s not surprising to see that this update is light on major features. But let’s dive into the details!
Workout Tooltips
Zwift has been tweaking the workout startup screen since they released it back in October, and today they added “tooltip”-style detail popups for intervals if you mouse over them (PC/Mac) or slide your finger over them on a touch screen device.
This is a welcome change, as it lets you see precise details for each interval in your workout.
Race Timing Display Changes
Today’s update includes this note:
Made a change for the timing of all competitive events (excluding team time trials and individual time trials): the time displayed in the HUD will now be the elapsed time from the event start (gun time) instead of the elapsed time beginning when the rider has crossed the start line (chip time). More information on this thread.
This is an interesting change. First, here’s a video showing how race timing behaved before this change. Note how my ride timer (and distance) don’t begin counting until approximately 30 seconds into the race. Then when I cross the finish line, the elapsed time on my HUD is around 30 seconds less than the time that pops up for the results.
The race result used “gun time”, while my HUD was showing “chip time.” (“Gun time” refers to starting the timer when the start gun is fired, while “chip time” references having a timing chip on your bike which is picked up when you cross the event’s start line.) This is a bit annoying when, for example, you’re competing in the ZRacing monthly GC and are chasing a particular target time.
With today’s change, the time shown in the HUD will now match the time shown on the results screen. That’s good. But the odd thing about this change is that it does not apply to time trial races, where time (arguably) matters a lot more, and gun time is used for race results!
My hunch is Zwift excluded TT events from this change because they need to do some code changes in order to display gun time for TT events, given the unique way TT events slot riders in at different start intervals. But this does need to happen, so I’ll bet this isn’t the last news we’ll see related to gun vs chip time.
More Release Notes
Zwift provided notes (and occasional jokes) on additional tweaks and bug fixes in this update:
Fixed a bug where cyclists could occasionally swerve into runners. That’s for other video games.
Fixed an issue where Climb Portal’s elevation scaling options could not be navigated using keyboard or Play controllers.
Fixed an issue with riders time in events that have the same segment and event finish lines.
Fixed an issue where the player’s name in race results could be displayed in the wrong font color.
You can now dismiss the new cycling Streaks screen via the Zwift Companion mobile app.
Fixed an issue where the road on the Canopies and Coastlines route flickered in some locations.
Steering-Only events are now categorized under the “Hardware Requirement” filter.
We humanely captured and re-released elsewhere the butterflies that appeared in the cycling Streaks screen after completing an activity in Climb Portal.
Windows/Mac: Fixed a potential crash that could occur when riding with a RoboPacer.
iOS & ATV: Custom workouts can once again be deleted
For this week’s top 5 we’ve selected a video about staying comfortable on the bike, a video to teach you all about indieVelo and how it compares to Zwift, two videos providing tips and tricks on Zwift racing, and a review of the Zwift Hub One.
11 Secrets to Ultimate Zwift Comfort
If you are getting back into the swing of things and realize that you’ve been very uncomfortable indoors, Katie Kookaburra has 11 tips to help you be as comfortable as possible when riding on the trainer.
How To Podium in a Zwift Race
Jake Sanderson shares his greatest tips and tricks to help you podium in your next Zwift race as he looks back at his first-ever podium finish.
indieVelo vs Zwift: Is indieVelo The Zwift Alternative We’ve Been Waiting For?
IndieVelo has been gaining popularity amongst Zwifters over the past few months, but is it a viable alternative to Zwift? Tariq Ali from Smart Bike Trainers provides an in-depth comparison of the two platforms.
Can I win this race in a breakaway?
Oli Chi from ZRace Central provides commentary and analysis of his latest Zwift race where he attempts to win in a small breakaway of 3 riders. Can he stay away for the win?
Zwift Hub One: One Trainer for Every Bike Ever?
James Dobb gives his thoughts on the Zwift Hub One and runs it through various tests to see if it lives up to the expectations.
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Here’s a complete list of workouts that can be used for Club events, including screenshots so you can get an idea of what each workout entails. (Keep in mind the power figures in the workout screenshots are based on a rider FTP of 250W. When you create a Club workout event, the intervals shown are based on the FTP stored in your profile. In the actual event, of course, the intervals will be customized to each rider’s FTP.)
Under 30 Minutes
Alphabetical List:
2 By 2
At/Overs
Brisk Burn
Calorie Crush
Control the Burn
Emily’s Short Mix
Expand
Flash Burn
Heat Wave
Instant Inferno
Jon’s Short Mix
Knife-Edge
Lactate Shuttle Short
Lavender Unicorn
Lunar Light
Micro Wave
Miracle
Sevens
Twenty Torch
Vault
Wave Rider
Wild Iris
As shown in Companion app:
Under 60 Minutes
Alphabetical List:
2×15 FTP Intervals
Aerobic Conditioning
Aerobic Power
Anaerobic Depletion
Depleting Workout
FTP Gains
FTP Short Blogs
Grin and Bear It
Intensive Aerobic
Jon’s Mix
Low Cadence Intervals
Primed FTP
Pyramids
SST (Short)
Step By Step
Strength Endurance/Threshold Combo
The Gorby
The McCarthy Special
The Volcano
The Wringer
Threshold Development
VO2 Capacity
As shown in Companion app:
Over 60 Minutes
Alphabetical List:
2×20 FTP Intervals
Aerobic Threshold Development
Anaerobic Resilience
Capacity Reloaded
Endurance Stimulation
Endurance Strength Development
Extensive Anaerobic 1min
High Intensity Recovery
Mat Hayman Paris-Roubaix
Over Ones
SST (Med)
Strength Reloaded
VO2 Development
As shown in Companion app:
Ramp Tests
Creating a Group Workout Event for Your Club
Creating a workout event for your Club is easy and intuitive, much like creating a non-workout event. At a minimum it requires four easy steps:
Tap “Group Workout” on the initial Create Event screen
Tap the workout template you want to use
Fill in the event details (everything is pre-filled except for date/time, but you’ll probably want to customize the title and event description, among other things)
Tap “Publish Event”
Tap “Group Workout”Select your desired workout templateChoose your date/time and further customize the eventAdditional settings
In practice, creating an engaging and high-quality group workout event will require a bit more work:
Tap “Group Workout” on the initial Create Event screen
Tap the workout template you want to use
Fill in the event details (everything is pre-filled except for date/time, but you’ll probably want to customize the title and event description as well)
Tap “Change Route” to change which route the event uses. Each workout template is attached to a particular route by default.
Select a ride leader if desired
Tap “Change settings” at the bottom and turn off Late Join (see below for more on this). You may also want to make the event visible to anyone with the event link.
Tap “Publish Event”
Notify your Club members of the new event, by whatever means you’d like
Note: rubber-banding (“keep together mode”) is enabled for all Club Workout events at this time, and cannot be disabled.
Next Steps
The Clubs workout library has expanded nicely beyond its initial launch, but there are several ways workouts for Clubs could still be improved. Here are my ideas:
Disable Late Join by Default: Late Join is currently enabled for Club Workouts by default. But late joining a workout is probably not an ideal experience, as it places you in the middle of the workout, wherever everyone else is at! (An especially terrible idea for a Ramp Test.) My recommendation: disable it by default, but let event organizers enable it for those odd workouts where it may make sense.
Toggle keep-together mode: keep together mode is enabled for all Club Workouts by default, and cannot be disabled. It’s possible, though, that Club owners may want to host workouts where riders aren’t rubber-banded together. Give them that option.
More workouts: give Club owners more options for workouts to host from the on-demand library. Of course, if Zwift is going to make its full workout library available then a search/filtering interface will need to be developed to help Club owners comb through the hundreds of available workouts.
Custom workouts: this will be a common request, especially from Clubs centered around a coach who puts together team workouts. But implementing this feature will be a more involved project than just adding additional on-demand workouts, due to the way Zwift stores custom workouts on a per-individual basis.
Group metrics: this idea is more of a stretch than the others, but how cool would it be if we could see metrics (real-time or after the event) showing how many group riders finished each interval, who had the highest wattage or w/kg, how many riders started vs finished, which interval riders failed the most, how many riders adjusted their FTP bias mid-event, total group calories burned, etc. (This would be interesting for all group workouts, not just Club events.)
Rapha’s Festive 500 began in 2010 as a simple challenge: brave the winter elements and ride 500 kilometers between December 24-31. Since then, riders have covered over 290 million Festive kilometers, including many virtual kilometers after Covid lockdowns opened the Festive 500 challenge to virtual rides.
This year, as in years past, Zwift is working with Rapha to host events and give unlocks to finishers. Here are all the details!
The Challenge
Your task is to ride 500 kilometers (310.7 miles) in eight days, from December 24-31, 2023. Outdoor bike and handcycle rides count toward the total, and so do virtual rides, as long as you upload them to Strava.
This is all tracked through Strava, so you’ll need to sign up for the Strava Challenge and upload your rides to Strava if you want to be considered an official finisher.
RoboPacer-Led Festive 500 Events
Any miles you do on Zwift count toward the Festive 500 challenge, but Zwift is spinning up RoboPacer-led events to encourage riders to go the distance. Events are scheduled every two hours, and each event includes five category options, each led by a pace partner:
A: 3.2 w/kg Pace Partner
B: 2.6 w/kg Pace Partner
C: 2.2 w/kg Pace Partner
D: 1.8 w/kg Pace Partner
E 2.2 w/kg Pace Partner (Women Only)
Events will be held on one lap of the following routes on the following dates:
Entry into the prize draw to win a brand new Cannondale road bike (pictured below, specs not provided) and a US$1,000 Rapha voucher
A digital roundel for your Strava Trophy Case
A 20% off code to spend at Rapha
The chance to win more prizes in the Rapha Spirit of the Festive 500 awards
More Events from the Community
Community teams always create special events (group rides and even races) to help riders hit the Festive 500km goal. In fact, at least one crazy group has done the entire 500km in one event!
Check out the ride calendar in Zwift Companion to find more fun Festive 500 rides.
Questions or Comments?
Are you up for the challenge? I know I’m in, just like last year. Share below!
Round 5 of the 2023/2024 Zwift Grand Prix featured one of the longest team time trials (TTTs) in Zwift GP history, with 36.3km on Triple Flat Loops in Watopia. This was the final time that the 2023/2024 Zwift Grand Prix featured the same race as the Zwift Racing League – those of you reading this have your chance to take on the Triple Flat Loops TTT on Tuesday, December 19th.
Watch the Livestream
In the TTT, a team’s time is taken on the rear wheel of the 3rd rider across the line, and big points on offer for the win. Triple Flat Loops isn’t as pan-flat as it sounds, and teams would have to contend with the undulations while staying in TTT formation.
As the Zwift Grand Prix Series leaders, Coalition Alpha was the last team to start, and it wasn’t long before they got into the ideal TTT formation.
Zwift’s broadcast had live timings on the screen, plus the speed, leader, and gap between one team and another. It was fascinating to watch the gaps unfold in real time, and soon there were a few teams who were about to get caught. Wahoo Le Col had a strong start to the TTT, and they were right on the heels of two other teams near the halfway point of the race.
Aeonian held a narrow lead over Coalition Alpha with 18km to go, and Wahoo Le Col wasn’t far behind. A few kilometers later, Coalition Alpha moved into the lead…and a few kilometers later, Aeonian took the lead back. Then, Wahoo Le Col moved into the mix, less than a second off of the lead.
As the kilometers ticked down, the first few teams arrived at the finish, and it was ABUS – Synergy who took an early lead ahead of Beastmode p/b Rose and NeXT eSports pb Enshored. However, the fastest teams were still out on the road, and there were less than two seconds between Aeonian and Wahoo Le Col in the fight for the victory.
Wahoo Le Col was down to three riders in the closing kilometers, flying towards the finish with Z. Langham, E. Gallegos, and J. Patterson. The trio crossed the line shoulder to shoulder and set the new fastest time of 49:42.
Aeonian was next on course, and they were absolutely flying. With one final push, Aeonian crossed the line with a time of 49:36 to beat Wahoo Le Col by only six seconds.
Instead of dropping riders with a few kilometers to go, Coalition Alpha opted to keep all five riders together, and they came flying into the finish looking to challenge for the podium. With the series lead on the line, Coalition Alpha crossed the line with a time of 49:54, beating 4th place Virginia Blue Ridge TWENTY24 by nearly a minute.
When the dust finally settled, Aeonian solidified their name at the top of the leaderboard ahead of Wahoo Le Col in second, and Coalition Alpha in third. It looked like there was going to be a big shakeup in the Zwift Grand Prix Series standings as Hexagone finished down in 8th place, more than two minutes slower than Aeonian.
After two round wins in a row, Coalition Alpha lost a chunk of their lead to Aeonian in the Zwift Grand Prix Series standings. Hexagone maintained third overall, while Wahoo Le Col climbed one step closer to the podium by moving up to 4th. With only two rounds remaining, Coalition Alpha continues to lead the Zwift Grand Prix with a nine-point gap on Aeonian.
Coming Up Next
The 2023/2024 Zwift Grand Prix goes on holiday for a few weeks, returning on January 11th, 2024. Round 6 of the Zwift Grand Prix will see both the men’s and women’s pelotons taking on the longest race in Grand Prix history: 69.7km on the PRL Half in London, featuring four ascents of Box Hill.
This Epic Points Race features a time cutoff, just like Round 2 of the 2023/2024 Zwift Grand Prix on Alpe du Zwift. There are also four intermediate sprints and points on offer for every rider who finishes within the time cutoff.
As we head into winter we’re seeing bigger signup numbers for events, and this weekend is no exception. Lots of folks already signed up to finish their Zwift Academy requirements, plus lots of riders committed to the RAD RACE and BMTR Flat 100 (Miles) rides. See our picks for the weekend below!
✅ Popular Event ✅ Cool Unlocks ✅ Highly Competitive
Zwift Academy Road 2023 ends Sunday, December 17! If you’ve still got a workout or race to finish, you’ve only got a few days left to do so. (Don’t worry, you’re not alone: lots of folks are already signed up for races or group workouts this weekend!)
✅ Popular Event ✅ Endurance Challenge✅ Achievement Badge✅ Jersey Unlock
With way more signups than any other event this weekend, RAD RACE must be doing something right! This is a 25-lap ride of the Volcano Circuit, so you can grab those Volcano badges with the help of a group draft while going just over 100km. Pace will be 2.2-2.5w/kg, and the event will be livestreamed on the PLATTFUß PODCAST.
Bike MS is holding its monthly Global Rides this Sunday. Two events are being scheduled, the first on Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop and the second on Watopia’s Waistband. Each event includes 40km and 60km options, and finishing either event will unlock both Bike MS kits! That’s right… a double jersey unlock!
Come learn about multiple sclerosis and hear stories from MS warriors. Rumor is there will be random trivia at the earlier ride with a prize for those in the US!
Once a month, Team Velos gathers to take on one of Zwift’s harder routes in a “Route Bagger Challenge.” Ride leaders hold a steady pace of 1.9-2.1w/kg, and participants get to enjoy friendly banter and helpful wheels!
This month the group is taking on the Shorelines and Summits course which goes over the Epic KOM, including the Radio Tower climb.
One of our most commonly-featured events, for good reason. The BMTR Flat 100 consistently gets big turnouts because it offers four different pace groups on flatter, distance-friendly routes. Be sure to read the event description for details!
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!
Your Thoughts
Got other events that stand out this weekend? Share below in the comments!
Review: Pain Cave Indoor Cycling Kit from Verge Sport
In late August 2023, former Zwift events exec Charlie Issendorf contacted me from his new position as VP of Sales & Marketing at Verge Sport. He told me his first priority was to get an indoor kit developed for Verge, and in the course of our conversation I offered to work with them to make it happen.
I saw it as a win-win. I’ve tested nearly every indoor kit on the market, and could offer valuable guidance to Verge. In return, if everything went well, I would end up with the ultimate indoor kit for use across many hours of Zwifting!
Developing the Ultimate Indoor Kit
A few days later I was on a Zoom call with Charlie and the founders of Verge: Michael Magur and his wife Karolina. Together we talked through what I felt was crucial in an indoor kit: breathability, durability, style, maximal cooling. Then Verge’s team went to work, and in early October I was wearing the first prototype on a Zwift ride.
After riding the prototype for a few Zwift sessions I sent feedback to Charlie and his team. This process repeated itself, and each time a new package arrived from Verge the kit felt a bit more dialed in and one step closer to prime time.
I don’t even remember all the feedback I gave, but here are just a few items from my message history with Charlie:
“Issue I noticed yesterday. Only my second time wearing the demo bibs, but some of the holes are already enlarging/tearing.” Verge’s team found a better fabric that has held up to riding rigors quite nicely.
“Jersey sleeves could be shorter, for indoor (we don’t need sun protection).” Subsequent jerseys had shorter sleeves.
“I like the mesh back pockets, that is sensible.”
“The chest panel material is breathable and light, but not as breathable and light as other indoor jerseys I have.” We switched to a lighter mesh.
“I like the new short design with the mesh ending a bit sooner up on the hip. Feels like a good balance.”
“Is there any way to clean up the seams on the shoulders of the jersey, so they don’t show some of the white? Just looks a bit rough.” Prototyping issue. Seams are now nice and clean!
“Wondering if there’s a way to adjust the jersey fit somewhat–it just feels too long in the front.” Front shortened so it doesn’t bunch up when bent over in a typical riding positioning.
Overall I found the process to be fun and easy. Verge was super responsive, and their textile experts (headed up by Karolina) certainly know what they’re doing!
In late November, Verge announced their new Pain Cave line, using the Zwift Insider kit on the model. So fun!
And here we are. Having spent upwards of 75 hours riding on Zwift in various iterations of Verge’s Pain Cave kit, today I want to share my review of the final Pain Cave bib shorts and jersey, and invite you to order a Zwift Insider kit or custom team kit of your own!
Review: Pain Cave Bib Shorts from Verge Sport
Priced at $140USD, Verge’s new Pain Cave bibs are the product of many conversations, iterations, and test rides as Verge worked with me to develop their indoor line. I’m very happy with the result.
These bib shorts are purpose-built with breathability in mind, so it’s no surprise that when you turn your fan on, you feel it! The long side panels use the same material as the jersey sleeves – a super light mesh that picks up your sweat so it can quickly evaporate. (Note: this mesh is semi-opaque (see pics above) – you probably wouldn’t want to wear the shorts outside in a group ride.)
Everything here is as breathable as possible. The bib straps include perforations for increased air flow and their material doesn’t cover a large portion of your stomach. The wide leg grippers are also a lightweight mesh, and even the chamois pad is thinner than normal to encourage breathability.
One downside to lightweight indoor kits is that lighter mesh fabrics are more prone to damage/tearing/premature wear than “normal” kits. That said, after years of using indoor kits I’ve found I can avoid premature damage by being a bit more careful when pulling them on (especially if my legs are sticky with PR Lotion) and making sure I don’t launder them with gloves that have spiky velcro.
The Pain Cave bibs use lighter fabrics, but they are shored up with quality stitching that has held its own through these first few months of heavy use.
One of Verge’s cool distinctive is there ability to create custom kit with varying chamois thickness. I’ve always preferred thinner chamois, especially indoors where sweat is an issue and rough roads are not! So we went with Verge’s thinnest chamois, which I think feels perfect. Just enough padding for comfort, without any extra to soak up sweat or create increased perineal pressure.
I ordered the medium bibs based on Verge’s sizing (40″ chest, 33″ waist, 35″ hips, 32.5″ inseam), and the leg length feels just right. Technically the Pain Cave shorts use Verge’s men’s “long” pattern, but these days long is the style most male riders prefer. I don’t like my shorts to be super long, but I also like them longer than what we all wore 20 years ago! See pics above for reference.
These shorts don’t have a lot of “bling” features like fancy logos or custom grippers, but they’re very well made. Quality stitching, no loose threads, and every panel selected to meet the goal of creating the ultimate indoor bib short.
Review: Pain Cave Jersey from Verge Sport
Priced at $125USD, Verge’s new Pain Cave jersey is the lightest jersey I’ve ever owned! Developed like the bib shorts over multiple conversations, iterations, and test rides, I’ve found no better jersey when looking for something that keeps me as cool/dry as possible while still looking great.
I ordered the medium jersey based on the numbers I put into Verge’s size finder (40″ chest, 33″ waist, 35″ hips, 32.5″ inseam). Sizing is an excellent “race fit,” which I prefer when riding indoors and out since tighter fabric is more aero, doesn’t flap, and stays on the skin to wick sweat so it can be evaporated.
This jersey is made for indoor comfort: the small collar with large neck opening is roomy, the sleeves are a bit shorter than typical “pro” jerseys, and the shorter front section doesn’t bunch up when you’re in the typical riding posture.
This is the most breathable jersey I’ve worn yet. My previous gold standard was Castelli’s Insider jersey, but Verge’s Pain Cave is even lighter, with slightly shorter sleeves and a roomier neck opening. The back pockets use the same super light mesh as the sleeves, giving you a place to put stuff without adding a sweaty layer of cloth.
Like I’ve already said, lightweight mesh and durability don’t go together well. That said, this is a well-made jersey, and it has held up just fine to the past few months of repeated wearings and washings. Just don’t wash it with stuff that could snag the jersey’s mesh!
Just like the shorts, the Pain Cave jersey doesn’t include many fancy touches. But it doesn’t need to! My goal in working with Verge was to develop the ultimate indoor jersey, and to have it be affordable as well. This is a purpose-built, well-made piece of kit with quality stitching and thoughtful design.
Custom Team Kits
One thing that sets Verge Sport apart is that they don’t require you to do the typical “ordering window” thing. Most kit manufacturers will have you open your custom team store (hosted on their site) until a particular date. Then the store closes, and only then does the manufacturer begin creating the custom kits.
The system works, but it’s rather restrictive. And it typically takes 6-10 weeks from the day your store opens to the day you receive your kit.
With Verge Sport, your store is open year-round, and there are no minimum orders. Once you’ve opened your store, your team members can visit and place orders whenever they’d like. Orders typically arrive within 3-4 weeks.
Visit the Verge Sport Pain Cave page to learn about ordering your team’s custom kit from Verge. As a small bonus, Verge Sport includes a free headband and towel, in your team design, with every Pain Cave kit order (jersey and bib short).
Order Zwift Insider Kit
Want to own the ultimate indoor kit? I may be a bit biased, but I think Verge Sport’s Pain Cave kit is hard to beat. The Zwift Insider store is now open for orders worldwide, and includes Verge Sport’s Strike jersey and bib shorts if you’re looking for a regular kit that works great outdoors as well.
The sixth and final race of Zwift Racing League 2023/24 Round 2 happens Tuesday, December 19, and we’re in Watopia for a flat team time trial that’s a bit longer than we’re used to. Pace yourselves!
Let’s dig into crucial route sections, bike choice, and more.
Looking at the Route: Triple Flat Loops
We’ve never raced Triple Flat Loops as a TTT in ZRL, but the roads here will be familiar to experienced Zwifters. As the name implies, this former Rebel Route is a fairly flat course, with just a few rollers/punches that may require special attention.
The route totals 36.3km and 162 meters of climbing including the lead-in, and all categories will race the same distance.
Flat sections are typically easy for TTT teams who have pre-planned their pacing and rotation. But it’s your team’s execution of slower sections (climbs and dirt) that can really affect your overall result. Part of a winning strategy involves knowing when to increase your power to keep speeds high, and when to ease up and grab some recovery.
Here are the key sections of this course where you’ll want to have a plan of attack:
9.8km: Col du Saddle Springs (900m): the first real rise on this course, you must hit it hard to keep your speed up and avoid losing seconds. Recovery awaits on the other side!
16.4km: rise from Downtown + the Esses (2km): power up on the rise, then keep your eyes open and your power modulating on The Esses to keep your team together.
21.5km: Volcano Bumps (400m): attack this short double-bump to keep speeds high!
23.9: the Esses again (1.4km): once again, keep your eyes open and your power modulating to keep your team together.
26.3km: rise up from Italian Villas (400m): keep those watts high to keep those speeds high. You’ve got a bit of recovery just around the corner!
28.8km: dirty Marina (700m): the Marina dirt sections will slow you down. Treat it like a climb and bump up your power to keep speeds high.
32.3km: Rise to Fuego Flats (1km): hammer your way up the false flat. You’re almost there!
35.8km: 500m Sprint Marker: now it’s time to go all-in. Empty the tank.
This week, bike choice is easy: grab your most aero TT setup! The CADEX Tri is the fastest frame in game, and the DT Swiss disc wheels are the fastest wheels. If you don’t have access to that setup (level 40+) then see this post to determine the fastest TT setup available at your level.
CADEX TriCanyon Speedmax Disc
Whatever you do, do not use a road frame. Even a “slow” TT frame is faster than a road frame, so now that we’re able to use TT frames and get a draft in TTT events, you’ll want to take advantage of that!
More Route Recons
Many recon rides are held each week on the upcoming ZRL route. If you’re unfamiliar with this course, jump into an event and do some recon.
Si Bradeley
Zwift Grand Prix
Preview the race by watching the world’s top women take it on!
TTTips
Team Time Trialing on Zwift is a challenging mixture of teamwork, physical strength, proper pacing, and Zwift minutiae like picking a fast bike and understanding drafting.
Like the first TTT of this round, this week’s course will give valuable seconds to teams who can keep their speeds high over the rollers and rises that pepper the course. Staying in formation while surging your power for these rises is a challenge, especially if riders use various Trainer Difficulty settings. For a flat course like this, we recommend your team uses a high trainer difficulty (75-100%) so you feel the inclines and can automatically boost power accordingly.
Your goal in this week’s TTT is to get four riders across the line in the shortest time possible. That means every team’s pace plan will be different, based on the abilities of each rider. We highly recommend having an experienced DS on Discord directing your team, especially if your team contains some inexperienced TTT riders.
Virtual Velo Podcast, Episode 35: Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Cycling Esports’ First World Champion and Role Model
In episode 35 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris and Si chat with Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio. She took time away from training camp with her UCI Women’s Continental AG INSURANCE – SOUDAL TEAM (AGS – BEL) to share what being the first UCI Cycling Esports World Champion on Zwift still and always will mean to her.
Ashleigh is a purpose-driven athlete with goals and objectives that transcend cycling despite having a palmares longer than your arm. She embraces her role model status as a pioneer in the space to empower female cyclists and forge a connection between the community and elite racers in the virtual and real world through the Rocacorba Collective.
She shares her perspective on the turning point for women’s cycling following her victory in the queen stage of the Virtual Tour de France, the momentous cycling esports moment that paved the way for parity in real-world road racing, and her unfinished business at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Plus Cycling Shorts, a complete rundown of cycling esports headlines, insider information, investigative reporting, and industry trends. Another way that the Virtual Velo Network is your Central Source For Cycling Esports!
Follow the Virtual Velo Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Castbox, RadioPublic, or Podbean.
