“Neokyo Nights” ZRacing November 2023 Series Details
Zwift’s “ZRacing” is the platform’s most popular ongoing race series, and in November it’s all about Neokyo, Makuri Islands‘ neon-infused permanight urban center. To keep with the neon theme, everyone gets to ride a Tron bike this month!
Read on for details about race routes, the overall monthly GC competition, and more.
Neokyo Nights – November’s Route Schedule
Here are the routes we’ll be racing in November (click route for more details).
In keeping with the neon-themed look of Neokyo, event planners at Zwift have assigned the Tron bike to all racers this month. So even if you haven’t earned your Tron bike quite yet, you can take it for a test drive!
Nathan Guerra at Zwift Community Live is providing commentary and a live stream of each Monday’s 5pm UTC/1pm Eastern/10am Pacific race. Here’s the first race, and you can also click here for the playlist of upcoming ZRacing broadcasts.
Series Structure
The ZRacing series consists of monthly sets of weekly races. Each race is scheduled for seven days (beginning 1:10am UTC on Monday and running through to the next Sunday). Timeslots are consistent week to week and month to month.
Races are scheduled ~15 times each day, so there are plenty of available times to find a race.
Each monthly series includes a time-based GC (general classification) tracking riders’ best finishing times for each week’s race. The overall winners in each category for the month are the riders with the lowest overall time for that month’s set of races.
With over 100 weekly timeslots available, riders can race each week’s event multiple times and try to better their finishing time. Tip: the fastest times usually come from the largest race fields!
You must use a heart rate monitor and be on a smart trainer, smart bike, or power meter to show up in ZwiftPower results for this series.
Each month’s ZRacing series has a unique achievement badge, which you can unlock by finishing every stage for the month.
There are no makeup events, so if you miss a stage, you miss out on the badge and competing in the GC.
One and Done
Zwift has planned these events to deliver a solid 1-hour workout, so each race should only take around 1 hour to complete, including your warmup and cooldown.
Tiny Race Series – November 4 Routes and Last Week’s Results
Our popular Tiny Races happen every Saturday, and they’re all about getting a hard, fun work done in 1 hour. You race all 4 races back-to-back, with each lasting just 5-10 minutes, giving you a short break in between.
Watch Twitch Streamer GeneralElost take on the Zone 2 C category last week (24 TSS for 9 minutes?):
Got a great YouTube video of your Tiny Race experience? Post it in the comments and we may feature it on Zwift Insider!
Riders in the UK and EU will note that the Tiny Races have shifted by 1 hour, since they change with America’s time changes, which will happen this weekend.
This Week’s Routes: Hard Start and a Spicy Finish
Four races on four different maps this week, and three of the races include substantial climbs. You’ll have to fight to the very end if you want a shot at the podium!
Approaching Ven-Top finishJust after Ven-Top finishApproaching Island Hopper finishIsland Hopper finish
Race 1: Ven-Top (3.1km, ends about 100m past intersection with Petit KOM road) We begin with the longest climb of the day, turning right from the pens and heading straight up France’s Ventoux KOM.
Powerup: Feather (1x)
Race 2: Classique Reverse (7.43km, lead-in only) Covering only the lead-in from the pens to The Mall Sprint banner, this route is quite flat apart from the quick Northumberland Ave climb to Trafalgar Square.
Powerup: (Draft Boost 1x)
Race 3: Muir and the Mountain (5.1km, ends at Titans Grove Reverse KOM arch) This will be a topsy-turvy start through the uphill rollercoaster of Titans Grove which includes a ride-through tree and Jarvis the perenially unlucky bear. It will all come down to the final ~90-second climb up the KOM, though.
Powerup: none
Race 4: Island Hopper (7.35km, ending at bridge atop Mech Island dirt climb) We’ve put our longest race of the day last, just in case the D’s need a bit more time. This one ends at the bridge atop the Mech Isle Loop climb.
Zwift displays preliminary race results in game when you cross the line, but points are computed after all four races are finished, with final results on ZwiftPower. (We have to do some data processing on our side to compute results, so if your rankings don’t show up right away, be patient.)
Riders will earn points based on finish position in each of the 4 Tiny Races. The category winner of each week’s series is the rider with the most points across their timezone’s 4 races. Here are the links for each timezone’s results on ZwiftPower:
Tiny Race rules are simple, but still every week 6-8% of registered ZwiftPower racers get disqualified and removed from the final results. Don’t let that be you! Four races, four rules:
You must have a ZwiftPower account, because final results are processed by ZwiftPower (learn how to sign up)
No skipping then returning. These races are meant to be raced as a set of 4. If you need to leave early, that’s fine… but once you miss a race in your hour’s set of 4, don’t come back and race another or you’ll be disqualified from that race since you rested while others were racing! (Example: racing only races 1 and 2 is fine. Racing 1, 2, and 4 is not – you will be DQ from race 4. And if you race 2, 3, and 4, you’ll be DQ from all those races, since you skipped race 1!)
Heart rate monitors are required.
Smart trainer/smart bike or power meter required. ZPower/Virtual power is not allowed.
Join a Chat & Chill Cooldown
Immediately following each hour’s racing, we’ve scheduled 30-minute “Chat & Chill” events where riders from all categories can spin their legs together and chat about how it all went down. Find them at zwift.com/events/tag/tinyraces.
Zwift Insider Kit Unlock
Finish any Tiny Race or a Chat & Chill ride and unlock the Zwift Insider “Ride Smarter // Ride Harder” in-game kit.
This week we’re in a new world every race, and we’re also alternating between races that end with a short climb (all about the W/kg) and races that end in a flat sprint (all about the pure watts). Who will win on the day?
Approaching the Bigger Loop finishBigger Loop finish lineApproaching Island Hopper finishIsland Hopper finish
Race 1: Richmond UCI Worlds (7.727km, ends at Broad Street sprint banner) The flattest race is held in Richmond, Zwift’s first UCI Worlds route. Who can hold the power to the line for Sagan-esque glory? Powerup: Aero Boost
Race 2: Everything Bagel (4.076km, ends at KOM banner) This one’s for the punchy climbers. Begin on NYC’s paved roads then quickly transition to the glass roads and attack the NYC KQOM Reverse. First person to the top wins! Powerup: Feather
Race 3: Bigger Loop (6.75km, ends at rock underpass heading into the Ghost Town) Ride into the desert from downtown Watopia, then pick up your ghost powerup at the rock arch and sprint for the custom finish line beneath the huge rocks as you enter the Ghost Town. Powerup: Ghost
Race 4: Island Hopper (7.35km, ends on bridge atop Mech Isle climb) We’ve put our longest race of the day last, just in case the D’s need a bit more time. This one ends at the bridge atop the Mech Isle Loop climb. Powerup: Steamroller
Our innovative Tiny Race format features four short back-to-back races within one hour. Each race is usually 4-7km long, so expect a big VO2 workout!
A single powerup is given as you start each race, and you earn points based on your finishing position in each race. The overall win goes to whoever earns the most points across all four races.
Zwift displays the finish order in game when you cross the line, but points are computed after all four races are finished, with final results on ZwiftPower. (We have to do some data processing on our side to compute results, so if your rankings don’t show up right away, be patient.)
Riders earn points based on finish position in each of the 4 Tiny Races. The category winner of each week is the rider with the most points across their zone’s 4 races. Here are the links for each zone’s latest results on ZwiftPower:
Tiny Race rules are simple, but still every week ~10% of our racers get disqualified. Don’t let that be you! Three simple rules:
You must have a ZwiftPower account, because final results are processed by ZwiftPower (learn how to sign up)
No skipping then returning. These races are meant to be raced as a set of 4. If you need to leave early, that’s fine… but once you miss a race in your hour’s set of 4, don’t come back and race another or you’ll be disqualified from that race since you rested while others were racing! (Example: racing only races 1 and 2 is fine. Racing 1, 2, and 4 is not – you will be DQ from race 4.)
Smart trainer/smart bike or power meter required. ZPower/Virtual power is not allowed.
Enjoy the Cooldown
Immediately following each final race, you’ll be taken into a 10-minute cooldown where you can chat with fellow racers and spin out those legs.
Zwift Insider Kit Unlock
Finish any Tiny Race and unlock the Zwift Insider “Ride Smarter // Ride Harder” in-game kit.
Mega Pretzel Epic Race This Weekend + Breakaway/The Feed Partnerships
With our Epic Series well underway, this weekend finds us on Watopia’s “The Mega Pretzel” for the third Epic Race of the series. We have six timeslots spread across Saturday and Sunday, so find one that works for you and get a long ride in!
The Breakaway + The Feed Partnerships
The Epic Series has partnered with The Breakaway app and The Feed to give you access to smarter training and fueling – both important concerns when taking on Epic rides.
The Breakaway is an app that serves as your personal performance coach. One of their newer features lets you set up a target event, which the app’s AI Coach then helps you train toward.
All of the Epic Series events are now included as target events in The Breakaway, so you can choose one and work toward performing your best! Here’s what I did to set up The Uber Pretzel Epic Race (on December 30-31) as my target event:
That that target event in place, The Breakaway’s AI Coach gives me a basic ride plan for every day of my week, and that plan auto-adjusts as I complete my actual rides. Indoors, outdoors. It. Just. Works.
First, you’ll receive an $80 TheFeed.com credit on your annual subscription to The Breakaway. Additionally, we’ve set up a direct discount with The Feed for Zwift Insider readers good for 20% off one product through the end of 2023. Code: FeedZwift20.
Mega Pretzel This Weekend!
We’ve already had some tough rides in the Epic Series, but this week is a big step up as we tackle The Mega Pretzel.
When this route was launched it was the longest route in Watopia, covering every part of the map except the Radio Tower climb. In fact, it covered nearly all roads in both directions!
This was before Alpe du Zwift was launched… or several other Watopia expansions. So this route is going to keep you in the Epic KOM, Jungle, Volcano, and Watopia proper areas for a ride distance of ~110km with 1642 meters of climbing.
To help ensure all riders have company as they race the long route, we’ve set up the event so all categories start together and are visible to each other.
Epic Race Rules
Each Epic Series race event is a standalone event (no series GC) using the following rules:
Only Feathers: only feather powerups will be given. Because mountains.
Enter our giveaway to win Wahoo’s new KICKR MOVE + CLIMB with base adapter!
UPDATE December 1, 2023: Congrats to winner Stephane M. from Quebec, Canada!
Wahoo recently announced the latest version of their KICKR smart trainer, named the KICKR MOVE. Now we get to give one away along with Wahoo’s CLIMB + base adapter. One lucky winner is about to receive a fully immersive, premium indoor riding experience!
Now through November 22, enter the giveaway below for your chance to win. You can enter once every 24 hours. You may also grab extra entries by referring friends or visiting us on social media.
More About Wahoo’s KICKR MOVE + CLIMB
The KICKR MOVE builds on the industry-leading features of Wahoo’s KICKR trainer, including:
2200W max power
+/-1% accuracy
20% max gradient simulation
Multiperipheral Bluetooth (up to 3 connections)
WiFi connectivity
Race mode
and more!
But the aptly named MOVE adds movement to the standard KICKR, with mechanisms enabling extensive fore/aft movement and a small amount of side-to-side movement. You can see this nicely in Wahoo’s promo video:
Wahoo’s CLIMB device attaches to your front forks to raise and lower your bike, creating a physical simulation of on-screen gradients. With real-time grade changes up to 20% incline and -10% decline, you’ll find yourself more immersed in the indoor riding experience than ever before!
The included CLIMB base adapter allows the CLIMB to rock naturally with the fore/aft movement of the KICKR MOVE.
Note: giveaway includes only the KICKR MOVE and CLIMB + base adapter shown above. It does not include the trainer table, Headwind fan, or mat. You’ll also need to supply your own bike and legs!
This detailed poster was created by myself with input from the Zwift community, and it continues to evolve as Zwift expands Watopia. I hope you’ll find it to be a useful reference that looks great hanging in the pain cave!
This page, and the map itself, continues to be updated as I enhance the map and Zwift updates Watopia.
Change Log
v2.3, 12/6/2024: added Jarvis Island expansion and various new routes (13 ridable routes, 4 run-only routes), added several KOM segments, re-sorted KOM list by title, modified and added spawn points.
v2.2, 6/17/2024: added The Grade expansion and associated routes, plus additional routes added in the past several months. Added the Radio Tower KOM, and Level 10+ gates at entrances to southern coast road.
v2.16, 10/30/23: added southern coast road and 8 new routes, the Climb Portal, and updated Repack Ridge to Repack Rush. Made various small additions including downtown lighthouse, sloth, and Yeti.
v2.15, 8/29/22: added new routes, updated their distances and elevations to match in-game data. Named the Dirty Sorpresa, created spawn point #12.
Removed the intersection labels and point-to-point distance table, to declutter the overall layout
Added Jungle Start Pens (which aren’t operational yet, but should be soon)
Colored all dirt roads brown, since these roll slower on road tires and riders may wish to plan out their races accordingly
Labeled Jungle Rope Bridge
Expanded routes list to include all in-game routes, updated spawn points to reflect what is currently in game
Reduced overall size of info tables (legend, KOMs, routes)
Lots of general cleanup and visual tweaks to polish things up nicely
Switched to full-saturation background, changed text to white
Added Jarvis the bear, a brontosaurus, and more…
v2.05, 11/1/18: fixed Volcano Climb elevation
v2.04, 10/2/18: added run-only paths from Oct 1 2018 update, renamed some areas to match Zwift’s naming, added KOM table, updated the blimp.
v2.02, 9/11/18: various fixes thanks to feedback from Zwift Riders. Fixed biodome, distance table, level barrier to Jungle. Also corrected and numbered spawn points and added them to routes table so you can see where each route spawns.
v2.01, 9/10/18: massive update! Added Jungle and Alpe sections. Used Zwift’s background image for increased accuracy and visual appeal. Reformatted routes table to accommodate increasing number of routes. Added additional spawn points. Renamed “Zwift Alps” to “Col du Zwift” for obvious reasons. Rotated the entire map 90 degrees to accommodate all the new roads.
v1.11, 3/8/17: added Volcano KOM, updated routes and distance tables
v1.02, 5/20/16: updated routes to reflect changes from v1.0.11783 release (“The Pretzel” and “Mountain 8” routes changed substantially).
v1.01, 5/5/16: Added new Mountain route which arrived with v1.0.11783 release, deleted “Mountain Route” road title. Changed roads leading from Watopia Pier to standard roads since group features are now live. Removed “course map” from main title. Moved version/date to bottom-left re-arranged elements. Standardized font sizes (enlarged smallest fonts). Also made these changes at the request of Zwift HQ: removed Zwift logo, added permission tagline in footer, changed “Carnival & Staging” to “Watopia Pier”, “Mini Jarvis” to “The Biodome” (Jarvis is more than that iconic tree tunnel), added the name of the bridge by The Esses – JWB (there’s actually a plate on the bridge with these initials).
v1.0, 5/2/16: Added course profiles to routes, added snow/fog area icon, moved/resized elements for better poster layout.
v0.9, 5/2/16: Upgraded graphics for blimp, hot air balloons, Hank’s, Scotty’s condo and the drive-through university. Enlarged distance points for ease of reading. Added graphics (Zwift logo used by permission and epic KOM ibex). Added text titles for Zwift Alps, Ski Lifts, German Village, Italian Village, and Scotty’s Hillside Condo. Changed bridge tower sizes to reflect game scale where middle is much larger. Changed “Redwood Island” to “Mini Jarvis”. Removed “Observatory Island” title.
v0.8, 4/28/16: Added snow line on mountain section, elevation signs, incline/decline road overlays (arrows always point downhill), bridge near waterfall, concrete ring around Redwood Island, island west of Redwood Island. Fixed mileage for B-C, changed Epic KOM elevation to match 373m sign nearby. Made various terrain adjustments to better match game terrain and “best guesses” for mountain sections to the south which cannot be seen.
v0.7, 4/22/16: added bridge at end of Ocean Blvd, marina and docks on and near Ocean Blvd, hillside condo before statues, waterfall on Observatory Island, fixed reverse KOM start location, added building next to radio tower, added route details/diagrams.
v0.6, 4/14/16: added carnival/group staging pier, distance points, city, and small planes near Spruce Goose.
v0.5, 4/11/16: added tunnels and covered pass, Hank’s, bridge spires and updated statues
v0.4, 4/8/16: fixed village location, added bridge indicators, spawn point, named Observatory Island, modified land/water contrast for improved, black and white printing.
v0.3, 4/7/16: added buildings, changed the sprint banner to checkers for clarity, changed start/finish to orange to match jersey, modified airplane shape to real Spruce Goose.
v0.2, 3/31/16: added water and land, distance scale, blimp and hot air balloons, underwater tunnel, KOM elevations, airplane.
Zwift has rolled out a fresh Mission for November, and it’s all about climbing. See below for details!
Note: signups opened this week, but the Mission doesn’t begin until November 6.
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
To complete the mission and earn the achievement badge, climb the combined elevation of all the KOMs in Watopia: 2,188 meters (7,178 feet)!
This climbing must be done between November 6 @16:00 UTC and December 4 @ 00:59 UTC.
Go Big
For many serious Zwifters, 2,188 meters in a month isn’t much of a challenge. Want to go big? Try finishing this mission by climbing all eight Watopia KOMs in one long ride. Our KOMonster Rebel Route will get you there!
Registration opens today for Zwift Academy 2023 (sign up in game, online signup available soon). Now in its 8th year, Zwift Academy continues evolving to be one of the most popular events on Zwift and a testing program for all riders. This year’s program incorporate races for the first time since 2018, and there a few other changes as well, including the pro contracts for winners.
For those unfamiliar, Zwift Academy is an annual event that serves two purposes. First, it’s a global training program for cyclists of all levels. Secondly, it’s a worldwide talent ID competition that has placed multiple riders onto WorldTour teams.
While the talent ID competition is fun to watch, the vast majority of ZA Road participants are “everyday” riders looking for a fun way to gain fitness. Zwift says, “Zwift Academy workouts are a great introduction to structured training which will help Zwifters boost fitness and increase cycling strength.”
New for 2023
Each year Zwift Academy evolves as Zwift tweaks the structure to improve everyone’s experience. This year’s Academy is a lot like 2022’s, except for the addition of races, longer workouts, and a change to the pro contract awarded.
Races Required
For the first time since Zwift Academy 2018, riders are required to finish races in order to graduate. Specifically, two different Zwift Academy races will be held, and you must complete each one. Details below….
Longer Workouts
Like last year, this year’s six required workouts come in both short and long options. But this year both the workouts have gotten a bit longer. In fact, some of the long workout options are ~90 minutes long!
Development Program Contracts
In past years, women’s winners have earned a contract for CANYON//SRAM’s World Tour team, while men’s winners in recent years have earned a contract for Alpecin-Deceuninck’s development team.
This year it’s the same for the men, but for the first time the ladies winner will get a contract for CANYON//SRAM’s development squad instead of the World Tour team, providing a formal and sensible training/testing pathway to the World Tour for both the men’s and women’s winners.
Workout Details
Zwift Academy’s six workouts will be available on-demand in your workout folder, but will also be available as group workouts on the hour daily on this schedule:
Workout 1: Nov 6-12
Workout 2: Nov 13-19
Workout 3: Nov 20-26
Workout 4: Nov 27-Dec 3
Workout 5: Dec 4-10
Workout 6: Dec 11-17
Zwift says, “Workouts range from explosive anaerobic workouts that will strengthen your sprinting skills through to endurance-focused workouts that will help improve your aerobic efficiency – ideal for tackling those hills.”
Here are the details of each workout:
Workout 1: Explosive 30s
Ignite your engine to sharpen your explosive speed and build your stamina for race-winning moves. This dynamic workout focuses on two critical power durations, 30-second and 2-minute. 30-second efforts mimic attack covering and punchy courses, while 2-minute efforts simulate late-race attacks and final climbs.
Long: 79 minutes // Short: 42 minutes
Workout 2: Fatigue Fighter
Take exhaustion head-on in a session that tests your aerobic endurance. In this workout, you’ll conquer 8-minute efforts that will push you over your FTP after you’ve already built up some fatigue. Teaching your body to be resilient against fatigue is the key to success for long, hard rides and races.
Long: 82 minutes // Short: 44 minutes
Workout 3: The Finisher
Get a glimpse of what the real-world demands of race-winning sprints are in professional racing. With a workout that simulates end-of-race conditions by inducing fatigue, and then challenging you to deliver high-intensity efforts when it matters most, you’ll soon be practicing your winning salute.
Long: 91 minutes // Short: 42 minutes
Workout 4: Fast Twitch HIIT
In racing, being able to adapt to pace changes is often what separates the champions from the rest. Hone your muscular coordination and pace-change readiness to follow attacks or punch up hills, and push your limits with some challenging VO2 max efforts in this high-intensity session.
Long: 65 minutes // Short: 37 minutes
Workout 5: The Steady State
Heart rate precisely shows the stress your body experiences during training and racing. In this extended, steady-state workout, target a consistent heart rate to boost your Time to Exhaustion and optimize your aerobic engine. Remember, these prolonged sessions can be tough both physically and mentally. So, pick your favorite playlist and dive in!
Long: 81 minutes // Short: 49 minutes
Workout 6: All-Out Burn
Push your limits with a 5-minute all-out effort in this workout. It’s crafted to gauge your max VO2 capacity after fatigue kicks in. By assessing your 5-minute effort post-intensity, you’ll be testing your peak aerobic capacity—reflecting real-world competition scenarios.
Long: 82 minutes // Short: 45 minutes
Race Details
Races will use Zwift’s standard category enforcement, and events will be available multiple times daily from November 20-December 17 (see schedule).
The best place to track your ZA Road progress and gains is via Zwift’s Companion app. Here you’ll find the results of your races as well as a progress meter showing which workouts you have left to complete!
Additionally, the Companion app is very useful when completing workouts in Zwift. Did you know you can adjust your FTP bias via the app if the workout is too difficult? Get 5 Companion app workout tips from Shane Miller >
Graduation Requirements
To complete Zwift Academy 2023, participants must complete a total of 8 rides:
All 6 Zwift Academy workouts (group workouts or individual, your choice)
Both Zwift Academy Races
Riders pursuing the pro contract will need to put in some extra work. See below for details.
Key Dates/Schedule
October 30: Zwift Academy registration opens online and in game
November 6: Zwift Academy begins
December 17: Zwift Academy ends
Unlocks
Riders will unlock new kit as they progress through the program:
1 events: unlock ZA kit
3 events: unlock ZA cap
Any race completion: unlock ZA aero helmet
All 8 activities: unlock Zwift Academy 2023 paint job for Canyon Aeroad 2021 frame (you’ll need to buy the frame, though!)
Pro Contract Competition
In this year’s Zwift Academy women will be vying for a 1-year pro contract with the CANYON//SRAM development team and men will be chasing a spot on the Alpecin-Deceuninck development team.
If you want a shot at the pro contract you have to jump (ride?) through some additional hoops. Here are the key rules for all riders who want to be considered for the pro contract:
Important Rules
Pro contract contenders must meet the following requirements:
Be aged 18 years or older as of January 1, 2024.
Graduate Zwift Academy 2023
Complete the long version of all six structured workouts and both races.
Ensure your height and weight are accurately entered into Zwift before you begin the program.
Use a heart rate monitor for all Zwift Academy events.
Use a smart trainer or smart bike with +/- 2.5% accuracy.
Returning again this year are ZA Road coaches Stephen Gallagher and Dan Fleeman. Both are experienced and strong bike racers, indoors and out!
Stephen is a lifelong racer who’s represented Ireland at Worlds and European Championships. He designed the structured workouts as a journey—one that educates and asks you to push yourself on the bike. Read his bio on DigDeepCoaching.com >
Practically born on a mountain bike, Dan’s medal-winning history as a Brit racer speaks for itself. He brings a rich knowledge of training and structure for a program that’s as tough as it is smart. Read his bio on DigDeepCoaching.com >
