Roll with Castelli – August Epic

Fresh from a cycling adventure in Girona, Spain (the hotbed of cycling in Europe and a location where Zwift actually owns a place of residence) Richard Lovelock, Castelli Brand Ambassador, will be leading the Castelli Epic Group Ride on 24th August at 19:25 CEST/18:25 BST/13:25 EDT/10:25 PDT.

This month’s group ride will tackle the Alpe du Zwift at a pace of 2.6-3.0 w/kg, taking roughly 80 minutes to complete the ascent.  On this ride, you will get to wear the Castelli Maglia Rosa jersey, which is what the leaders/winner of the Giro d’Italia earn.  (Unfortunately, you won’t get to keep it as it’s reserved for the Grand Tour winners.)

An epic ride up the Alpe deserves an epic reward, and one lucky person will get the chance to win an absolutely incredible bit of Castelli kit, the Idro 3 Jacket.

To win the jacket, be sure to stay close to the beacon and be present when a snapshot is taken, as always – the closest to the beacon will win the prize, which is announced on Catelli’s Strava Club site, which riders are welcome to join.

Details and sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2251713

About the Idro 3 Jacket

If you live in the UK, this is probably a “must-have” item given the constantly changing weather in the space of a two-hour ride.  This is more than just a rain jacket, and is ideal to have for keeping you comfortable on the bone-chilling descents from long climbs.  It’s easy to carry and packs down to fit in half your rear pocket.

Idro actually means “hydro” in Italian. The jacket is designed to keep water out, but at the same time let sweat escape.  This is the 3rd iteration of the product and differs from the previous because the back has a large high-stretch GORE-TEX® panel that allows the jacket a trim fit (i.e., no flapping fabric).

There are reflective panels and wrist closures with a new internal gaiter. It weighs less than many jerseys and stashes away to occupy only half a jersey pocket.

The only point to note is that the fabric is so lightweight that it is a little bit fragile, so be extra careful.

This is a premium product and that it is reflected in its price tag of €269.95/$299.99/£320. It can be purchased via the Castelli website.

Castelli and the Team

Be sure to join Richard and the Castelli Team on Tuesday for a mass assault up the Alpe. With probably over 300 riders all dressed in pink, it’s going to be a spectacle!

Don’t worry if you think the pace might be a little strong, Alvin Nordell will be acting as a sweep to help those at the back.  Alvin is based in Colorado, USA.  His local area has been hit with forest fires, meaning he hasn’t been riding outside as much as he normally would, and instead has been clocking up the km’s on Zwift – so he will certainly have good form to assist those who might need a wheel.  

These rides are always fun and well supported and this certainly looks to be another hit.

Details and sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2251713

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In the northern hemisphere, it is noticeable that the long summer days are slipping away. I am already thinking ahead to the frantic racing that is undoubtedly going to happen on Zwift, with the FFR Tour Series commencing in September, along with ZRL Season 4 signups.

It also means we’re at that time of the year where we will also focus on our training. So to kick us into gear, I am going to be highlighting events that many of us will be struggling through in an attempt to improve our cycling/running.

Zwift Academy Road grows popular every year. When I caught up with Zwift CEO Eric Min this week for a chat about Zwift and all things cycling-related, he was keen to highlight that the Academy was launching and noted that last year there were 200,000 participants!  I expect similar numbers again this year, especially as Zwift expands.

These new “Zwift Academy Orientation Rides” give you an opportunity to learn all about this year’s program whilst simultaneously enjoying a nice 26-minute spin with fellow Zwifters on the Sand and Sequoias route in Watopia.

Multiple dates and times. See all orientation rides on ZwiftHacks >

I fully appreciate that this event is rather early for Europeans, however, I thought this would make a great Friday evening training ride for our friends in the US, and would be a good morning training ride for those in the Southern Hemisphere.

Rapha Women’s 100 Workout #1 is designed to help improve your ability to produce high power over short durations. This workout is useful for short, steep climbs. With brief bursts of power at 100% of your FTP, it will push you to surge through corners and to stay close to other riders’ wheels on race day.

For completing the ride, you get to unlock a special in-game Women’s kit the moment you cross the finish line, which can also be purchased in real life.

Designed by Dani Rowe née King, one of the most decorated British cyclists of all time. A three-time World Champion, two-time European Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, and the World Record holder for the 3km Team Pursuit, Rowe was an absolute beast in the saddle. 

Saturday August 21 @ 4:30am CEST/3:30am BST/Friday 10:30pm EDT/7:30pm PDT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2236556

TBR Power Up with WonderBoy is an hour-long interval session with ride leader Charlie Randall. There are two Intervals at approximately 3.0 watts/kg and one open watts interval. The group rests for 10 minutes between each interval.

The group rolls out at 1.8-2.0 w/kg to group up. Interval 1 is 7.5 minutes at 3.0 w/kg. Interval 2 is 10 minutes at 3.0 w/kg. The final interval is The Wild Goose Race with no w/kg limit for 10 minutes to really test your mettle.

Sunday August 22 @ 9pm CEST/8pm BST/3pm EDT/12pm PDT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2245868

Runners who may be thinking about targeting an autumn event: training starts now and this event is a good start.  The Adidas BASE BUILD events are easy training runs designed to improve running economy, overall fitness, and recovery.

Multiple dates and times, see all upcoming Take It Forward events at ZwiftHacks >

Anyone that has cycled 100,000km on Zwift deserves respect.  To get anywhere near that is a magnificent undertaking.  Join Drew Beswick as he achieves a massive 100,000 kilometers on Zwift.  (Currently he is on 99,878km.)
 
 The ride will hold a steady pace (2.5-3.0w/kg) and be hosted on Tempus Fugit, in Watopia.

Saturday, August 21 @ 11pm BST/10pm BST/5pm EDT/2pm PDT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2251359

Your Thoughts

Got other events that stand out this weekend? Share below in the comments!

FRR Tour Series Races Announced

There is one constant in Zwift and no, it’s not me always being beaten in sprint finishes. I am talking about how Zwift and its community are constantly evolving.  There are new worlds, new routes, and new races. (A good example is my Monday’s Mountain Massif TT, which was created as part of an article but is now a permanent feature in the calendar and is now running twice weekly.)

Today I want to share the details of a new race series that I am excited about it.  Seriously excited, because it’s like nothing I have seen on Zwift to date. It’s called the FRR Tour Series.

What is the FRR Tour Series?

“FRR” stands for Flamme Rouge Racing. The FRR Tour Series is a brand new team-based series starting September 4 with registration closing August 30 (midnight GMT).

This is a multi-stage team event starting on a Saturday and concluding the following Sunday, with events taking place on consecutive days on the roads of France, including a Prologue to kick-off and a finish with a classic mountain stage in the form of an ascent of Ven-Top billed as the queen stage.

What Makes It Special?

What makes this racing series exciting is that it looks to strip back some of the gamified features of Zwift which can sometimes create an unfair racing experience. The FRR Tour Series will try to level the racing field by using some real-life racing controls, including placing everyone on the same bike. We all know that this isn’t an easy task to achieve, however by encouraging riders to race in the right category for their ability and adding team penalty points into the equation, it’s a start. 

Like real-life stage races, this event will have time limits per stage. So if you get dropped from the bunch, be sure to keep pushing to finish within the time cut!

The rules of the event are exciting and these are highlighted in more detail later, but first it’s worth showcasing the courses which get my seal of approval for being a little different from the norm. In particular, note the Prologue and Stage 2 running consecutively on the same day – so save some energy or use your team wisely.       

Some important points to note:

• Season 1 will operate in a single time zone (17:00/18:00 BST)
• All events are private by pre-registration
• Limited to 30 teams per category
• Teams can register 3 race teams per category

Stage	Course	Difficulty	Comments
Stage 1 4 Sept, Saturday 1800/1810 BST	Champs-Elysees Lead in + 6.6km. 1 lap	Level 1	TTT Prologue, no intermediates
Stage 2 4 Sept, Saturday 1845/1855 BST	Tire Bouchon Lead in + 64km. 1 lap	Level 3	Rolling hilly KOM x3 Sprints x6
Stage 3 5 Sept, Sunday 1700/1710 BST	Petit Boucle Lead in + 62km, 1 lap	Level 4	Rolling hilly KOM x3 Sprints x6
Stage 4 8 Sept, Wednesday 1800/1810 BST	Douce France Lead in + 49km, 2 laps	Level 2	Flat – Transition KOM x2 Sprints x6
Stage 5 10 Sept, Friday 1800/1810 BST	Roule Ma Poule Lead in + 50km, 2 laps	Level 3	Rolling KOM x2 Sprints x4
Stage 6 12 Sept, Sunday 1700/1710 BST	Ven-Top Lead in + 21km	Level 5	Mountain – queen stage KOM x1

Event Registration

You must register with Flamme Rouge Racing to take part in the event.  Each team must pre-register using the race management website at flammerougeracing.com before the closing date of midnight August 30 (GMT).

FRR can be emailed at [email protected] for further information, but everything can be found on the registration page.

To help with the registration, FRR have created a portal referred to as “Team Management”.  This portal allows you to first register your team’s interest and then once registered, to create and manage your race team(s) and obtain all the relevant event and information plus results and tables.

There is also a “Club Race Team” management side, allowing teams to manage their global race teams for popular events like TTT and ZRL. This section is currently Zwift focused, with the intention to expand to other virtual racing platforms and sports – contact FRR for more information.

Richard Vale, the architect of all this, is keen to emphasize that the platform is Release 1 so very much a “work in progress” and accepts it has some “rough edges.” Richard explained that he is undertaking this work in his spare time with no prior web development knowledge and he has emphasized that this “has been quite a challenge.”  However, with support and input from Race3R, the platform and the first race series has been launched. 

Personally, I am impressed with the innovative approach and I can look past the “rough edges” to see the bigger picture that he is working on.  Like Zwift and all things indoor cycling, it’s developing.  

The Rules of the Series

What excites me about this series is not just the courses but the rules which are designed to level the racing field by making the riders and team managers more accountable for their own actions.

• All Events will run A to D categories for mixed riders and ladies only – refer to rider restrictions and recommendations on roster setup
  • Note: FRR are assessing this based on registration, lower mixed Categories and ladies only may be combined to ensure there is a sufficient number teams to keep the competition level high
• Events will enforce the same bike (Specialized Venge S-Works). Riders can select their own wheels.
• Each Tour consists of 6 stages
• Each stage may use different riders from the team squad
• Teams must be associated with registered ZwiftPower Teams
• Team managers can register multiple teams
• Each team can register up to 8 riders per team to form their team roster with up to 6 to ride each stage
  • ‘A’ category teams can register two A+ riders of which only ONE can ride a stage at a time
• All Team riders must have a ZwiftPower account
• Riders compete for intermediate, KOM and finishing position points to ultimately rank their team for team points
  • FASTEST through an intermediate (FTS)
  • FIRST through an intermediate (FAL)
  • Stage finishing position (FIN)
• All full intermediate sections on a course will count each lap, SPRINT and KOM – as defined and tracked by the results platform ZwiftPower
• Riders who are disqualified will have all points deducted from their team final race score plus penalty points
  • While ZwiftPower will take into account the rider w/kg boundaries, the official results platform will not.  If a riders’ 95% 20min w/kg qualifies them as an ‘A’ they should race as an ‘A’ or risk DQ and penalties
• Stages are rated on difficulty and riders must complete them within a given time limit of the winner or the broom wagon will sweep your result up and remove your points

A full list of the rules and points available can be found here.

The View from FRR

Richard stated that the motivation for the event series is the Grand Tours, which many of us watch and would love to actually attempt. However, very few of us have the time to cycle 5hrs for 21 days, so each FRR Tour Series is set over 9 days (Saturday to the following Sunday) providing as Richard states “A week’s worth of competitive, fair racing, where riders are competing in the right category.”

Furthermore, the Series works around the popular events of Zwift, (this includes not racing on a Monday so you can attend Monday’s Mountain Massiff TT ;-)).

Looking ahead, Richard expects to increase the next event, Tour Britannia, forecast for mid-November, to incorporate an APAC time Zone as there are some great teams looking to get involved.  At the moment, this first series is the pilot event.

Summing Up

Zwift provides a fantastic platform and Richard recognizes that we are currently only scratching at the surface of its potential. In speaking with him, it’s clear Richard has other interesting and different events in the pipeline.

With a dozen teams already signed up, it is evident that this is going to be a good addition to the racing calendar, and with more events scheduled it will only grow thanks to its intriguing concentrated multi-stage race concept.

Questions or Comments?

Share below!

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All About Zwift Academy Road 2021

Registration is now live for Zwift Academy Road 2021 (sign up here)! We asked Zwift Senior Content Manager Kate Veronneau (an avid cyclist and senior member of Zwift’s team) to give us her take on what makes Zwift Academy (ZA) special. In particular, we wanted to get her perspective on ZA’s evolution and what’s most exciting about this year’s program.

Here’s what Kate had to say, along with complete details on ZA Road 2021.

Intro to Zwift Academy Road

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 which has placed multiple riders onto WorldTour teams.

A Bit of ZA History

When it all began in 2016, the community that developed from the program (which was for women only) was an unexpected surprise. Kate says, “I love thinking back to that first year, in 2016, when we set out with CANYON//SRAM to host a worldwide talent ID competition to find the next pro. We inadvertently did something bigger… we formed the first real global women’s training community! So many friends were made in that first group of 1100 riders. It’s the foundation for the incredible community of women on Zwift.”

Zwift leaned into the community aspect of ZA after that first year, launching an Academy for the men as well in 2017 and making the program more accessible to all comers. Additionally, Zwift launched academies for tri and run, giving all Zwift athletes an academy they could embrace.

Participation has increased each year, and Kate told us, “We expect over 400,000 participants this year.” Wow!

While ZA itself has become more and more inclusive over the years, the talent ID side of things has only become more competitive as the pool of pro contenders grows. Who would have guessed 20 years ago that WorldTour pros would get their start by being discovered via an indoor training platform? “Can you imagine being invited to an NBA talent ID camp?” Kate says, “Last year’s ZA Road participants were all training with 2 future WorldTour riders, one that is currently racing the Vuelta (Jay Vine). This program is so unique and exciting in the world of sport.”

New for 2021

Each year ZA evolves to improve on its dual goals of building an inclusive training community and spotting talented pro contenders. Here’s what’s new for ZA Road in 2021:

Combined Road Programs

In past years, the men’s and women’s ZA Road programs have been separate. This year they are combined, although there will still be one woman and one man chosen as the overall winners.

For those women who prefer to hang with the ladies rather than with a mixed group, Road events will still offer a women’s only category.

Orientation Workouts

These nonrequired events are designed especially for new Zwifters and/or first-time Academy participants. Kate describes them as, “A light, 26 min workout that walks you through the details of this year’s program.” Orientation workouts will be on the schedule starting August 18th as a group workout, but also available (along with all Zwift Academy workouts) in the 2021 Zwift Academy Road folder in the workout menu to be done on-demand.

Baseline + Finish Line “Progress Rides” – on New Routes!

Understanding your progress over time is a key aspect of training effectively. It also inspires us to greater fitness!

The ZA Road program will begin and end with special benchmarking events which test your power over three different in-game segments (short, medium, and long duration) so you can set your baseline numbers at the start, then see progress after completing the Academy.

Kate explains, “Instead of starting with a workout, you’ll start with a group ride on a new route with 3 known Zwift segments. In this Baseline group ride, you’ll ride easy, then blast the segments to set your base fitness: a sprint, medium climb, and climb (Volcano or Epic KOM). I think we all go faster when we have riders to chase!”

Baseline and Finish Line rides will take place on brand-new event-only Watopia routes, called “Climber’s Gambit” and “Legends and Lava”. These events will have four categories to choose from:

• A: advanced course (“Climber’s Gambit”) – open to all
• B: advanced course (“Climber’s Gambit”) – women only
• C: standard course (“Legends and Lava”) – open to all
• D: standard course (“Legends and Lava”) – women only

Legends and Lava begins in Fuego Flats and includes the Titans Grove Reverse KOM, Sprint Forward, and Volcano KOM as benchmarking segments. Climber’s Gambit starts on Watopia Pier and includes Sprint Reverse, Titans Grove Reverse KOM, and the Epic KOM Reverse.

You’ll want to choose your category carefully! Whatever one you do for your Baseline is what you should also do for your Finish Line ride to get the best view of your progress.

Baseline rides will be scheduled on Zwift’s calendar from August 30-September 27, while Finish Line rides will be scheduled from September 27-October 24th. Both events will be scheduled every other hour during their respective time periods.

For more info on Baseline and Finish Line rides, see the Zwift Academy Baseline Ride FAQ and First Look: Completing a Zwift Academy Baseline Ride.

Two Workout Blocks

The eight weeks of Zwift Academy training will be divided into two four-week blocks, like many traditional training programs. The first block is VO2-focused, while the second block is more threshold (FTP) focused. Each block contains three workouts and a social/recovery ride.

Block 1

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Block 2

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In addition to the three workouts + recovery ride in each block, you are expected to include a Baseline ride in your first workout block (ideally at the very beginning), and a Finish Line ride in your second workout block (ideally at the very end).

Progress Tracking in Companion App

New features in Zwift’s Companion app will let you track your overall Academy progress, as well as stats on your PRs for the short, medium, and long-duration efforts for the Baseline and Finish Line rides.

Key Dates/Schedule

• ZA Road online and in-game registration opens August 17 (online registration for ZA Run and ZA Tri also opens)
• ZA Road orientation group workouts available August 18-29
• ZA Road begins August 30
• ZA Road Workout Block 1 August 30-September 19
• ZA Road Workout Block 2 September 20-October 10
• ZA Road registration closes September 25
• Makeup events October 11-October 24 (all events of the program will be available this week)
• ZA Road ends October 24
• ZA Run program begins October 4 (in-game registration will open on 9/20)
• ZA Tri program begins October 18 (In-game registration opens 10/4)

Graduation Requirements

To complete Zwift Academy Road 2021, participants must complete a total of 10 rides:

• 1 Baseline Ride event
• 6 Zwift Academy workouts (group workouts or individual, your choice)
• 2 Zwift Academy recovery ride events
• 1 Finish Line Ride event

Riders pursuing the pro contract will need to put in some extra work, as Kate explains: “We designed the pro pathway differently this year. Aspiring pros will do the main program, plus a TT up the Alpe and an additional ZA Road Pro Contender workout. This allows us to put them through a few extra paces without making the main program too intense. All riders are welcome to test themselves on the extra events, but they are only required for pro contenders.”

Unlocks

Riders will unlock new kit as they progress through the program:

• 2 events: unlock ZA cap
• 5 events: unlock ZA socks
• 7 events: unlock ZA kit
• 10 events: unlock purple paint job for Canyon Aeroad 2021 frame (you’ll need to buy the frame, though!)

Pro Contract Competition

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This year’s “grand prizes” will be the same as ZA Road 2020: women will be vying for a 1-year pro contract with the CANYON//SRAM team, and men will be chasing a spot on the Alpecin-Fenix team. These competitions are open to all riders 18 years and older.

Along with completing the Pro Contender TT Race and Pro Contender Workout already noted above, riders vying for the contracts must also:

• Wear a heart rate monitor
• Be paired to the game with a smart trainer or power meter
• Connect their account with Today’s Plan
• Complete the ‘Advanced’ Baseline and Finish Line ride events

See all the details on competing for a pro contract >

What will the competition look like for the finalists this year? That’s all a bit up in the air, thanks to Covid-related challenges. Zwift tells us that the final competitions may or may not be done in person – they simply don’t know at this time. (Last year’s finals competitions were done from riders’ homes, but previous years saw finalists flown to team camps where the pro teams and coaches could see the finalists ride and evaluate them in person.)

Coaches

This year’s ZA Road coaches were first introduced last year. Stephen and Dan are experienced and strong bike racers, both indoors and out.

Ready to Get Started?

Sign up in-game, or do it online at zwift.com/academy.

Looking Forward

“The sky’s the limit for Zwift Academy,” Kate says. “Each year, the program doubles in size and the talent pool gets deeper and deeper. Zwift Academy is integral to building the community that is Zwift, and it reinforces how we can change the sport for the good.”

Ride on, Kate. We’re looking forward to seeing how ZA Road 2021 unfolds!

Questions or Comments?

Post below! We’ll do our best to answer any questions, and may reach out to Zwift HQ if you have queries we can’t answer.

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