The annual Zwift Academy Finals broadcast is back! Zwift has partnered with GCN to produce a four-episode series covering all the action, so this week’s top video is the first episode of the series.
The Competition To Find Cycling’s Next Superstar | Zwift Academy 2025 Ep. 1
The Zwift Academy finals are back! Join GCN as the finalists battle it out for the professional contract.
JOIN ME AT THE WAHOO x CRANK IT UP – EPIC ZWIFT EVENT IN LONDON
Cranks and Sprints Chronicles covers his recent experience at the Wahoo x Crank it Up live event.
Three months on a ROCKER PLATE | Are they worth the money?
After receiving a rocker plate a few months ago, Ryan has ridden quite a few hours with it. In his latest video, he provides a review of the rocker plate.
TrainerRoad & Zwift Integration – Brilliant or Pointless?
Everything is Photogenic covers the TrainerRoad and Zwift Integration and shares whether she thinks this is a useful integration.
CaveWorks Rivet Indoor Bike Review
Ben from The Ride with Ben Delaney provides a review of the CaveWorks Rivet indoor cycling frame and compares it to the Zwift RIDE.
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Today Zwift announced the second edition of their popular Zwift Big Spin, a prize-filled group ride series kicking off March 3!
This year’s theme is “Ride! Spin! Win! Through the Decades”, with each week’s ride and prize spinner themed after a different decade. Read on for details…
Prize Spinner
The prize spinner we usually only see atop Alpe du Zwift will make an appearance at the end of each Big Spin route:
Each time you complete a Zwift Big Spin route (in an event or on demand), the spinner will pop up to give you a prize. If it lands on a prize you’ve already won, you’ll get a healthy Drops bonus (landing on the BMX Bandit twice gives you a 40,000 Drops bonus, for example)!
The prize spinner has 6 slots, with different probabilities assigned to each. One slot, the lowest probability, is reserved for the coveted BMX Bandit Bike. Three more slots are for the Big Spin Headphones, Sticker Skater Helmet, and Groovy TT wheels.
The other two slots’ prizes will change for each stage, giving us a total of 12 possible prizes throughout the series. And Zwift tells us these prizes won’t be available in the Drop Shop any time soon (possibly never), so this is your only known chance to unlock them.
Prize List:
1970’s Kit
1970’s Bucket Hat
1980’s Kit
1980’s Paper Hat
1990’s Kit
1990’s Headphones
2000’s Kit
2000’s Sunglasses
Schedule and Route Details
Stage events will be held hourly at the half-hour mark, with each stage’s first event kicking off at 5:30pm UTC on the start dates below, and the final event happening at 3:30pm UTC on the end date below.
Pining for that sweet BMX bike? Get more spins! This year, riders can choose to complete Zwift Big Spin stages on-demand, meaning you ride the route on your own schedule, not in the official Zwift events.
(You can also organize Meetups, Club Rides, or do the route during a workout. Just make sure you finish the route in order to get credit and a spin.)
Completing a stage on demand will still get you a prize spin, but keep in mind you must wait until that stage begins before riding its route. Once the stage has begun (4pm UTC on the start dates listed above), Zwift tells us any method of completing the route will earn credit for completion plus a prize spin at the end.
On-demand stages open on the dates listed above, but do not close until the very end of the Big Spin on April 7.
Are these races?
Officially, no. Zwift Big Spin events are group rides without a stated pace. That means some riders will treat them as races, and the front of these rides will certainly be “spicy.”
Others will just spin their legs for a prize-laden recovery effort. You do you… just have fun!
Get Ready to Leapfrog: The Women’s Ladder League Has Arrived!
Last May, we were wondering if and how a women’s ladder league could launch — and now it’s finally here and thriving! We’re excited to see how this new league integrates with the mixed ladder while offering something unique to women racers. Here’s a quick rundown of what makes it stand out…
The ladder league is a unique team-based one in a ladder tournament format. Instead of using ZwiftPower categories or the newer Zwift Racing Score for categorization, teams are ranked according to the Zwiftracing.app vELO rankings. Each team can have up to 15 riders, with the requirement that no more than three vELO ranks can be represented on the roster (for example, copper, bronze, and silver).
This format adds an interesting strategic layer to the competition: teams can challenge other teams no more than 7 places above them on the team ladder. Races are structured as 5v5 events, with the challenging team selecting both the route and the powerups. Race points are awarded based on finishing positions, ranging from 10 points for 1st place down to 1 point for 10th. The team with the most points wins the race and takes over the loser’s position, causing everyone else to drop a place. Essentially, this creates a dynamic “leapfrogging” effect as teams climb the ladder.
For a more detailed breakdown of the rules and the amendments for the women’s ladder, head over to the official rulebook.
Currently, several women’s teams are participating, with a lot more set to join in the current transfer window. Stay tuned for updates!
Top 5 Cool Things About the Women’s Ladder:
Race with Teammates Across 3 vELO Categories: This is a fantastic opportunity to race with riders you wouldn’t normally get to team up with, making it even more exciting.
Short and Sweet Races: Races are shorter than ZRL events, which can sometimes be intimidating for new racers. With flexible race times that fit around training schedules, it’s a great option for beginners looking to dive into competitive racing and learn from more experienced teammates.
Tactical Races Like No Other: The strategy goes beyond just riding hard. From choosing the route and powerups to discussing tactics with your teammates based on the roster of 5 teammates and 5 opponents, it’s a true test of teamwork and adaptation.
Every Woman’s Contribution Matters: Even if you fall back during a race, the battle for 9th and 10th place can be decisive. Every point counts, and the race is never really over until the finish line!
Competitive, Evenly Matched Teams: In the Women’s ladder, teams are more evenly matched regarding their short-term power compared to competing against heavier men. This creates a level playing field, ensuring competitive fun for everyone.
BONUS: Every race feels different and exciting, even if you’re facing the same team again. With changing participants, the dynamics are always fresh and unpredictable.
And if you feel ready for a challenge, you can still compete against mixed teams too!
Are you ready to join us?Learn how to join, and don’t miss out on the ladder race commentary video below for more details and examples of women’s ladder racing:
The finals for Zwift Academy 2024 have finished, and Zwift partnered with GCN to bring you a series of four episodes documenting the process at pre-season training camps. Who will come out on top and earn a pro contract?
The first episode was released last week, and new episodes will be released for the next two Saturdays.
In episode 2, our finalists take on the ultimate bike-handling test at a karting track to see if their Zwift fitness truly translates to the roads. With Mathieu van der Poel and Zoe Bäckstedt setting benchmark lap times, do our finalists have the bike skills to push their limits without crashing? Will they learn from the pros’ line choices and find the perfect balance between technique and speed?
Watch Episode 2:
(As a reminder, there are 8 finalists this year. To learn a bit about each rider, see this post.)
Up Next
Watch this space for episode 3, premiering March 1 at 5pm UTC/12pm ET/9am PT.
How did you get into cycling? I originally was a marathon runner but had back pain when I was pregnant that prevented me from running so I swam and biked on an “old school” trainer. After I had my two daughters, I was able to run again, so decided to give triathlon a go. The bike became my favorite leg… I loved the speed of it!
How many years have you been racing on Zwift? Four years. During 2020, I had 2 bike crashes on the road within 2 months and the doctor said I couldn’t afford another concussion, so I bought a smart trainer and started Zwifting. The triathlon team I was on IRL had a ZRL team. I was added to the team, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Fun fact… we were 5 women (The Spice Girls was our team name) from all over North America. We had never met IRL but became very close. In 2021, we met up in Maui to celebrate the wedding of one of the girls!
Are you part of a Virtual team? I am a member of Level Esports Racing. It is an amazing team that is always looking to introduce women to racing! In September, I was fortunate enough to meet up with some of the team members in Mallorca for 5 days of cycling led by Richy Howell, the team manager.
What do you love most about racing? The camaraderie. I have made amazing friends from participating on the teams. But what I love even more is taking part in a race series and seeing the same names that you race against. Women you never knew before start cheering for you. I love how the women can be so intensely competitive but so supportive and encouraging at the same time. It really is an amazing community.
What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? TTT. Hands down. Working together with teammates to be the best we can be is just inspiring.
What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Honestly, I haven’t done a series I didn’t like. I have done WTRL, ZRL, FRR, Zwift Ladies Series, Tour de Boudicca, et al, and have enjoyed them all!
What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH?Outside – Ironman World Championships Kona 2010… my first time qualifying and competing. My parents and my two daughters were there, and I placed 5th in my age group and 11th amateur female overall. The island during Kona week is just magical! Inside – I recently raced the Tour of Brittania FRR stage race. In the final race we had five Level Esports teammates all working together to help me hold my place in the GC and my teammate to win the green jersey!
What is your favourite food to eat post race? Chocolate milk and potato chips!
What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? There are categories for every level so never say you aren’t good enough to race. Get in the pen early and have everything ready to go at least 15 minutes before the race starts to decrease any pre-race stress. Start pedaling with 3 seconds to go. The race will start fast but then settle in.
No matter how you do, be proud that you did it! Now you have a starting point and can work to get stronger. Celebrate every little improvement. Finally, feel free to message others and cheer them on. It’s a great way to “meet” fellow cyclists!
Any upcoming race you are looking forward to? I always love ZRL season. I ride for Level Wasps and Level Hornets.
Where can people follow your racing adventures? Kristin White is my Strava cyclist profile, or find me @trimomkw on Insta.
Tour de Zwift wraps up this weekend, so be sure to finish that final stage if needed. We’re also featuring two creative race events and two group rides held on new routes just released for the upcoming Zwift Games!
Tour de Zwift, the biggest ride series on the platform, is almost wrapped up. This weekend is your last chance to ride TdZ events, with makeup stages held every half hour. Cross of any missing stages, or go big and finish up the TdZ Ultimate Challenge!
Women’s Mini Races (3 races in an hour) happen each Sunday, but the ULTIMATE Mini Races are a bigger monthly event organized by Vinnette Powell of Team eSRT. If you’re looking for some punchy women-only racing, check out these events.
This Sunday’s races arehilly and held on custom-length versions of the Hilly Route, Sea to Tree, and Oh Hill No routes. Two time zones are available.
Grab some elevation toward your Tron bike challenge with this “keep-together” group ride on one of Watopia’s newest routes: ZG25 Queen! At 45km with 896m of elevation, this route has some climbing. Fear not, though: you’ll be accompanied by friends from the Phoenix Rising team, and as long as you keep pedaling, you’ll stay in the pack, no matter how hard you push.
Enjoy a chill ride with the WYN Republic Racing team and friends on the new Downtown Eruption route (19.9km, 274m) in Watopia. Get the route badge and do some Zwift Games recon while you’re at it!
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!
The second edition of Zwift Games, a massively popular 5-stage race series for community and elite racers, has just been announced for March 2025. Last year’s inaugural Games broke all the records for previous Zwift race events, and this year could be even bigger! Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about indoor cycling’s premier race festival.
Table of Contents
New This Year
Zwift’s learnings from last year’s Games have been applied to this year’s events, leading to a swath of improvements including:
Zwift Racing Score Categorization: community races are categorized into Racing Score bands for a fresh level of competition.
Web-Based Leaderboards: a new interface is launching at zwift.com to browse community race results and filter leaderboards based on various criteria (see below for details).
In-Pen Powerups, 1 Powerup Per Race: racers will receive just one powerup per race, and it will be given at the very start of the event. Use it wherever you’d like! (See below for details on which powerups are given for each race.)
New Unlocks: unlock new sunnies, shoes, a helmet, and the ZG 25 kit as you finish each stage (see images below).
Fresh Routes: five new routes have been added to the game to host the 5 Games stages (see below for details).
Route Chaser Challenge: earn an extra 1000XP by completing the new Route Chaser: Zwift Games mini-challenge featuring the new routes. Do it as part of the games, or do it beforehand as race recon!
No Split Events: everyone at every level will take on the same courses, unlike like year where A/B racers were on longer routes than C/D for some stages.
Modified Elite Race Structure: a revamped prize and overall race structure incentivizes hard racing throughout for all elite riders (see below for details).
Elite Races Broadcast by GCN: this is the big time! GCN has 3.6 million followers on YouTube. Smile for the camera!
Community Races
Stage Details
This year, Zwift Games is an escalating challenge! Stages get progressively more difficult, with each route longer and more climby than the one before:
The largest Zwift Games fields will be found in the standard (mixed) Community races which will be held hourly, 24x daily, at 10 minutes past the hour. Like recent ZRacing events, these races will alternate each hour between two different Racing Score ranges:
The two range options give racers a choice between a stronger category that may help them get a faster course time (great for the GC competition) or a slightly weaker category that gives them a better shot at a race win. They also effectively give racers 10 category ranges compared to last year’s 4, which should make for much more competitive racing.
Advanced Race Schedule
Racers with a racing score of 650+ can jump into the Advanced Races held 10-11x daily at 15 minutes past the hour. (These races are open to riders with lower racing scores as well, but be ready to go hard!)
These races happen every two hours on a schedule that shifts by one hour each day, to help riders find a time that fits into their plans. The only timeslots that will not feature advanced races are 17:15, 18:15, and 19:15 UTC.
Women-only community races will be held 5x daily to increase field sizes. These races will use their own Racing Score-based bands: 0-199 | 200-299 | 300-399 | 400-499 | 500+.
There are two noteworthy rules which apply to community and elite racers:
Neutralized Equipment: like last year’s Games, Zwift has set up all the Zwift Games events so frame and wheel performance is neutralized, just like the Elite races. This means you can ride any road bike frame or wheels from your garage (even the Buffalo or Safety Bike!) and it will perform the same as everyone else’s frames and wheels.
Steering and Braking Disabled: all riders will be steered automatically, including riders with steering devices such as Zwift Play connected.
New GC Leaderboards
For the first time ever, Zwift Games race results will be delivered via a new section of Zwift’s website! Final results will live here, and not on ZwiftPower.
This new interface includes:
Global leaderboards for 4 classifications:
Overall
Sprint (Stages 1 and 2)
Climb (Stages 3 and 4)
Epic (Stage 5)
Results broken down by stage
See your filtered ranking by Gender, Racing Score band (buckets of 100), and Country. These filters can be used in combination.
A total of four in-game unlocks are available to all Zwifters:
Any one stage: Oakley Velo Kato Glasses
Any two stages: Nimble Shoes
Any three stages: Oakley Velo Mach Helmet
All five stages: Zwift Games 25 Kit (and if you sign up for the Route Chaser: Zwift Games mini-challenge you’ll also receive a 1000XP bonus for completing all 5 stages)
How to Register
No special registration is required – simply join any Zwift Games event to participate. Registration is live on February 24th, at which time events will be available for signup and we’ll have more info on features like the new web leaderboards.
The world’s best racers have to meet strict criteria to qualify for the Zwift Games Elite Championships. (Final qualifiers are being held on February 22nd, and we will publish the final start lists here once they are shared.)
The Elite Championships will take place on three consecutive Saturdays at 5pm UTC:
Elite men and women will be awarded equal prize purses, making for a total prize purse of $112,700. That’s Zwift’s biggest prize pot ever! Prizes will be awarded thus:
Per Championship: prize money for the top 3 in the Sprint, Climb, and Epic Championships, plus each championship winner will also receive a Gold Concept Z1 (Tron) bike in game.
Overall Individual: prize money down to 30th place, and winner receives Gold Concept Z1 (Tron) bike in game.
The overall men’s and women’s first-place winners will be determined by points earned based on finishing positions in each of the 5 stages. Each race awards 70 points to 1st, 69 points for 2nd, down to 1 point for 70th.
Race Broadcast
The Zwift Games Elite Championships will be broadcast live by GCN on YouTube.
The popular Iceni Women’s Series is back, celebrating Women’s History Month with a 4-week series of scratch races starting March 4th! Here are the details…
About the Name
The Iceni tribe was ‘peacefully annexed’ by the Roman Empire at some point before 47 AD, though it was allowed some autonomy. When the king died and Boudicca I became High Queen of Iceni, the Roman Empire saw her unfit to rule and invaded the region. Iceni led a revolt against the Roman Empire and regained its independence, along with the independence of several other tribes. This led to the subsequent formation of the Comhairle, an alliance of the British tribes. Iceni had a major say in Comhairle affairs and became an important center of trade, military, and leadership.
Schedule and Route Details
There are two time slots to choose from:
Slot 1: 6:30pm UTC/1:30pm ET/10:30am PT
Slot 2: 11:30pm UTC/6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT
* note that daylight savings time happens in the US on March 9, so these times will shift to 1 hour later starting with the March 11th race
Riders will receive points based on their finishing position in their category for each race: 100, 80, 70, 65, 62, 60, 59, 58, 57, 56, down to 1 point. The overall series ranking is based on your points total for the series.
Each time slot will have its own league on ZwiftPower. If you’re going for the overall series competition, you’ll need to finish all four races in the same timeslot.
Sign Up
Want to race the series? Start by signing up for the race events! Numbers attract numbers, so women are encouraged to sign up early.
