Today, Zwift made some noticeable changes to their RoboPacer setup.
First, they added a 10th cycling RoboPacer named “Sofia” at 0.8 W/kg (63 watts), “designed for new and lower-FTP users.”
Next, they’ve modified and expanded the list of routes used by RoboPacers “to include more pacer-friendly routes from our recent world expansions.” This means you can expect to see a much wider variety of routes, especially on maps with lots of routes like Watopia, Makuri Islands, and New York. And you can expect to see newer routes in the rotation, especially on recently-updated maps like France and New York.
See the current RoboPacer schedule >
As an example, here are the routes Zwift was formerly rotating through in Watopia, and the routes being used this week:
This is an entirely fresh set of routes, although it appears that we’ll be seeing the old routes rotated in as well. So instead of Watopia’s RoboPacers just rotating through the same 9 routes (changing weekly), they will be rotating through, perhaps, 15-20 routes.
Another good example is France, where RoboPacers are now mostly on routes that include the new cobbled roads from the April 2025 expansion:
While three of the routes on France’s new rotation were included in the old rotation as well, I have a hunch we’ll see this and other maps’ rotations change in the coming weeks as Zwift tightens up their route selections based on user feedback and metrics.
What do you think?
What do you think of Zwift’s RoboPacer changes? Share your thoughts below!
could’ve really used a 2.0 w/kg pacer as well, but pretty sweet with more routes in the rotation
I agree. Put in another pacer or two that just narrows the range slightly. Where they have 10, put in another 2 so that instead of 30w jumps, it’s more like 20w.
Yes! Or just have the pace rotate up 0.2w/kg for a week and then back down to normal so we get more variety and don’t split the group size with more pacers to choose from
And I’d really like a 2.4 w/kg, so we are on the same path here. it will be good to add some new routes as well. I really enjoy the long flatter routes around the back side of the island.
With the draft and an aero bike, Coco is practically a 2.4 w/kg. I’ve had to step up to the next bot to hold 2.6 in z2.
Despite people downvoting your comment, I looked at my last ride with coco and I averaged 2.42wkg at 76kg.
Agree, I’m also missing a 2.0 W/kg one
Yes we need a 2.0 w/kg pacer bot. 🙂
Why?
Well since bike upgrades launched we want to ride the bike we are upgrading as much as possible so the old workaround of choosing a slower bike to hit our w/kg target is not a desirable option.
Also, even ZI’s route completion estimates have a 2.0 estimate 😉
That said the mid level pacer bots are the most popular and Zwift will likely use their standard “we want everyone together” excuse to avoid breaking the bigger groups into smaller ones. 🙁
Does this mean that there will no longer be pacers on any of the routes listed in “Old Watopia” and “Old France” routes? If so, that’s really a mistake.People love the pacer bots on flat routes. In fact, you will always (always, always, without fail) find the largest crowd of people pacing with whatever pacer bot is on Tempus Fugit.
Looks like a lot of the “old” routes will still be in the rotation. It’s just that they’ve expanded the list, so each route on the list will be used less often.
But I agree: I think people want flat routes, and Zwift is going to hear some complaints or get reduced engagement on new hillier route selections.
If a thing is a challenge it is therefore a need in your cycling toolkit, right? A weakness you don’t want. So…
I think if you get off Tempus Fugit and chase the pacer though Richmond or NYC rolling terrain (or now Croissant in France) you’ll find it a challenge to go up and down the humps and bumps and stick right on the pacer.
I have ZERO urge to chase Coco to Radio Tower but Cobbled Climbs in Richmond is a good 90 minutes for your legs. ✌
Depends on what sort of rider you are. As a very light, 72 year old lady I get dropped immediately on many rides even though I have a good FTP. This is extremely demotivating. I perform better on flat rides and will avoid many of the new robochaser routes.
I usually do the pace bot routes when Zwift runs out of challenges/events to distract me. I do prefer the flatter routes because the hills can be hard to pace with the bots. The benefit though of the pacer bots is when you need to go at an easier pace and you lack the discipline to not race/go hard in the events/workouts. Can you foresee more special events/challenges scheduled in the future to distract from the pacer bot attraction?
yup Fugit is a fav route
this change is silly
pacer groups on hilly routes are usually small packs
It would be interesting to watch Taylor lead Four Horsemen.
Zwift newbie: “I like horses, this should be fun.”
[On the Epic KOM]. “OMG. This is a night-mare.”
[Last newbie remaining after finishing the Radio Tower]. “I’ve fallen and I can’t giddyup!”
I see what you did there. Time to rein in the puns, methinks…
Totally agree!
I actually think the groups are smaller on the hills because of the error they made a while ago, increasing the output of the pacer in the hills.
I’d love them to keep the pacer doing the same power on the whole route like it used to be.
Reducing pacer power variation would be perfect – I never choose pacers on hillier routes because I specifically use the pacers for the “set it and forget it” bulk z2 time. I need to be able to pick a pacer and know that the power won’t vary much. With draft on the flats but increased power on the hills the variation to stay with group is usually a bit larger than I want, so I end up just doing Tempus on my own (for higher speeds) or free riding a TdZwift route solo (and steady…)
Uphill, yes. The issue with this was on the downhill sections, where it became really tricky to keep up with the Bot.
Totally agree! I just posted a similar comment.
Really welcome change in my opinion. Love pacer rides for getting my z2 in and knowing there will be a big crowd and some chat. That said, it can be dull going back on Flat Route for the 10000000th time.
This. This. And this. Z2, steady state, social, and blob.
Really want to see Zwift keep the flatter routes like Tempus Fugit and Tick Tock in the rotation. It’s noticeable how many more riders there are with the Pacers when they’re riding more approachable routes.
100% agree
I agree I like the idea of always having TF in the rotation regardless. It’s just such a staple and the population on that route dwarves any other route.
TF is very nice, but it might be nicer to have TF “alternates” to keep things more interesting. How about having all of the easiest 8 loop routes on Zwift be part of the mix? Think it would be good to have some seriously flat routes in worlds other than Watopia as well. I like diversity when I’m in a lazy mood.
Easiest Zwft Looping Routes by meters rise/km from zwifthacks.com/app/routes/
1.5 Tempus Fugit
3.1 Tick Tock
3.5 Big Flat 8
3.7 Watopia’s Waistband
3.8 Beach Island Loop
3.8 Going Coastal
4.0 Volcano Flat, VF Reverse
Some of the new routes may indeed be a bit steep for many riders. The new routes are steeper than than I initially thought.
NEW WATOPIA
03.5 Big Flat 8
04.7 Waisted 8
05.4 Magnificent 8
——————————
07.6 The Classic
07.6 Jarvis Seaside Sprint
08.2 Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop
08.7 Sand and Sequoias
09.1 Triple Twist
11.4 Two Bridges Loop
11.6 Loop de Loop
NEW FRANCE
05.3 Croissant
05.5 Three Musketeers
05.6 Sacre Bleu
06.0 Lutece Express
06.6 Knights of the Roundabout
06.8 Casse-Pattes
06.8 Roule Ma Poule
——————————
08.0 Petit Boucle
10.5 Gentil 8
14.0 Petite Douleur
The previous most steep old routes were:
7.5 Sugar Cookie [W]
7.9 Tire-Bouchon [F]
Dashed line represents the former steepest route.
Totally agree!
Me: decided to spend the whole week with Coco at Tempus Fugit
Zwift HQ: Lol. We won’t let you do that again. Next time you try something like that, we’ll shoot you in the knee.
Questionable choice of new routes but really like the addition of SaS. Loop de Loop and Two Bridges Loop are basically the same route and that area is also covered by Triple Twist so rather repetitive there. No one wants to do Jarvis repeats, especially not the longer way up it. And I don’t forsee Ocean Lava Cliffside being a popular choice- the climb up to Epic Bypass Road was tolerable on Sugar Cookie because it was a longer route but you’ll be hitting it rather frequently doing OLC. I’d basically eliminate all of those (The Classic, Two Bridges, LdL, and OLC) and instead include Southern Coast Cruise and maybe Navig8 or Watts of the Wild if they feel they need to add variety. Definitely need to keep Tempus, Waistband, Triple Flat and Tick Tock.
They should add a random route RoboPacer that makes a random choice every time it reaches a junction.
Agreed!
👏
I have no idea how people can cycle at 0.8w/kg, if I were to ride out side at that pace I suspect I’d lose balance and fall off.
I start my season with Taylor once before ramping up quick to Bernie and Miguel – and eventually Maria if i’m in need for some challenge. But still, I do respect Zwift and adding Sofia make some sense for some riders.
same here
also flat routes make it easier to step up to next harder pacer
I am a 200kg guy and will enjoy rolling right over you lying on the flat road pushing 160w in the pedals
Issue is RoboPacer are also lighter than you, so you’ll probably have to ride around 0.4 w/kg to follow Sofia
Issue is RoboPacer are also lighter than you, so you’ll probably have to ride around 0.4 w/kg to follow Sofia.
Bestest comment in a while. Crushing it!
Some riders have lower FTPs, while others apparently have a hard time balancing their bikes. 😉
Purfection.
there are billions of more people in the world than you
you need to expand your mind – it ain’t all about you
This comment is funny based on all your negative comments and only wanting flat routes.
stop making stuff up
If you’d lose balance going 0.8w/kg you might have taken your stabiliser wheels off a bit too early. There’s no shame in asking your parents to put them back on for you.
Was a bit of confusion today, and it is quite human to react with initial skepticism towards changes,so lets see how this works out before we trash the idea, but I do agree with those in the comments that mention popular fast and rather flat routes, especially for those that do Z2 km targets with a pacer. Variety can be good, but don’t throw out the winners with the water in the tub (or however that saying goes). =)
A bit of variation is definitely good. If I never have to do another lap on the Volcano circuit with Coco, I’ll be a happy man. Jarvis loop is a bit small by itself, but at least it’s outside and has a KOM and a sprint. I think it works much better as a pacer route as part of something like waisted 8 which I did for an hour this evening. I also admit to being partial to a mindless hour or so of Tempus or Tick Tock. Any of the Southern coast routes are also good for pacers, but please, no more Volcano!
At this time of the year, my motivation is LOW…these new routes are a very welcome change!
I was riding with Maria today (930am pacific time), 45 minutes into a Z2 ride on the waistband, when Maria said “I’m going on a break in 10 minutes” and 10 minutes later said “I’m on break” and took off at 6w/kg. The group of 200+ were all shocked. We all thought Maria was kidding. I guess Maria was rushing home before getting back to work on a new, unfamiliar route! So if you ever see a robopacer talk, know they don’t have enough of a sense of humor for sarcasm!
“Break” definitely means two different things in cycling! 😆
A bit strange that, unless I’m mistaken, none of the new routes use the southern coast. Especially when there were a couple great options. Glad there are new routes. I’m just not sure why some of them were chosen while others were not.
Agreed. That area would be fresh and interesting, and it’s relatively flat. I don’t ride with the bots when they’re on hilly routes, because the effort level escalates too much.
Yup, just yesterday I was on Southern Coast Cruise and thinking how it would be an ideal flat pacer route in the rotation.
good idea, also for handbikers or newbies. Could zwift introduce a plusminus 25% function similar to workouts, making a robopacer feeling a bit harder or easier just for yourself, then everyone could pick one and adjust to perfect speed. or, need a small relaxation inbetween, fearing to fall behind > minus 25%, feeling great and want to push harder without changing your pacer > plus 25%
@Eric Schlange I think they should reevaluate the +10% and -20% robopacer power variation in lieu of the recent fix making it easier for smaller riders to draft downhill. I think a lot of the reason that the community preferred the current setup in testing was because of that bug. Would love to see them halve the range and see how it goes. It’s still a 15% variation if they do so. I can still get dropped by and drop the very same robopacer when holding a constant power.
yup with the move to hillier routes I’m out as soon as the pacer increases power to current level
i use pacers for steady zone riding and working my way up in power output
go ride with groups or in races if you want varied pace
Came here to say this, too. I also think the range shouldn’t be a percentage, but just an absolute number. I’d love for all the pace bots to go no more than 0.2 wkg over their baseline. If the point is to have a steady pace, then that’s what it should be!
The reason it is the way it is, is to help make it steady for the rider. For me, I have to add more than 0.2 on a decent just to keep up. And sometimes, I have to actually ease up on the climbs so I don’t shoot ahead, and that’s with the bot going harder. When the bots didn’t change at all, it was impossible to stay with them if it wasn’t perfectly flat. Now it is easier because they fluctuate so I don’t have to fluctuate as much.
I would love a 1.3 or 1.4w/kg,
Bernie at 1.5 is just over my zone2, good for a 30mn, after that I start to hit zone 3.
Maybe give them some basic AI chat to told jokes or basic go go go messages 🙂
A custom ghost robopacer would be nice too.
Last year during events the pacers would advertise the event. It got old real fast
I’d love to see a 1.3 w/kg robopacer for Zone 2 rides!
Taylor (1.1) is too easy for everything but hills and Bernie (1.5) is okay on the flats, but anything with hills takes me out of Zone 2. Since they have Miguel at 1.8, 1.3 would be very reasonable.
Why can’t they have a dedicated 2.0 pacer on Tempus. That’s what they really need.
yes
Brilliant idea!
I would prefer it rotates too..but yes.
Tempus is the best route specifically for robopacers, because hills cause problems for both light and heavy riders.
So true!
There should be a permanent subset of pacers on Tempus Fugit, besides the regular other routes. Maybe not all 10 of them, I’d say Sofia, Bernie, Maria, Coco and Yumi would be enough.
Going to miss those Zone 2 miles with Coco on Tempus Fugit 😭.
Me too!😞🤬
I wish there was a way to disable the bots in settings so that the HUD doesn’t change to encourage you to follow them. It’s a little annoying.
Just make it simple…
No need for all the extra routes.
For Watopia…have robo pacers on Tempus for flat…or….on Alpe for climb. 2 routes with all robo pacers on each. No rotation needed.
Folks can aspire to make the transition from one pacer to another at a higher w/kg either thru speed and/or strength.
Just a thought….
I am very happy to see new routes. As a D rider I am so tired of volcano circuits and Fuego flats so these new routes are appreciated.
We just need some dedicated mountain pacer bots now.
This would be harder to do from a drop in ride perspective but I imagine those with creative minds could figure it out.
Perhaps once an hour launch bots up each mountain routeor have the bots focus on 1 mountain on the weekends? The non mountain pacer bots have the ability to broadcast in game notifications so they could advertise to the populace the routes/time that bot would go.
.just throwing stuff out to the universe.
More bots at various fitness levels is a great thing and extra routes is an even better thing.
Just bring back Danny Diesel and make an achievement badge for anyone who manages to beat him down Alpe du Zwift:).
They should add another Red pace partner and more small routes in rotation.
Castle Crit
Times Square Circuit
Bell lap / downtown titans
Glasgow Crit Circuit / reverse
Dusty Estate
Avon Flyer
Rooftop Rendezvous
Wow, I was just wishing for more pacer routes earlier today!
You can’t please all the people all the time. I see lots of comments about sticking to flatter routes but for myself I would love to see more on hills… anything to help pace me up the Alpe to get closer to 60mins would be much appreciated
I hope and wonder if they fixed the corner on the Classique loop where pacers don’t auto-brake (whereas riders do). With Genie and Constance you really have to sprint to get back on before they drop you. “Murder Corner” is my name for it.
Great to have the change and no problem on hillier routes.
Unrelated, but could please Zwift stop rolling down my socks!
The last update with the Triathlete sock mod is annoying, agreed 🙁
Good god, yes!
As someone who is making my way back from a near death medical event (ICU, ventilator, learned to walk again etc) I am thankful for Sophia for when I just want to ride with a group but cannot even hold 1 watt/kg anymore.
Is it me or can we not teleport beyond the bot we’re riding with anymore? I only saw Yumi w no option to teleport up or down. Boo
I was on this morning bouncing around to the different pacers and new routes and had no issues.
Hi Eric. I am 97 lbs and 5′ tall and love using the pacers for interval training at times. I a stay with Constance for 5 minutes or so when I want to really push myself. I have always wondered, why isn’t there a harder pacer than Constance for the big boys (and girls lol) who want to push themselves the same way I do at times?
I like the addition of another pacer for warm ups, recovery, injury, new riders, etc and having more routes in the rotation is great and keeps it fresh and less boring. I also think there are some routes that should always be available with pacers mainly Tempus Fugit just based on how many ride that one. I wouldn’t mind seeing two pacers riding TF every day actually and rotating all the other routes in the current list for the Watopia daily pacers. It would also be great to include a south coast route such as Southern Coast Crusie to the rotation.
About time! The existing robots pacer routes have been around for years.
I’ve wanted some kind of changes, but not to more climbs. This is bad for the Z2 rides many of us want. I wanted longer rides (sorry, but Volcano Circuit was the worst). I did not want Hilly KOM reverse.
Frankly, as someone heavier than the robo pacer (which is probably most of us), the added watts and watts/kilo on climbs is much greater than how the pacers are advertised.
Does Zwift want me to weight dope so I can continue doing Z2 rides with the robo pacers?
I just loaded up Yumi in Watopia – half as many riders as were on Yumi in Tempus Fugit same time last week. I hope they’ll pay attention to what this does to rider numbers.
Yeah, the flatter the route, the more it’s a level effort for everyone. As another heavier-than-the-pacers rider, the change to push on climbs/let up on downhills was bad enough, but I also understand that it sucks for light riders to have to sprint on downhills (which is going to feel really weird psychologically).
Little rollers that are easy to sprint back on, great, but as much as I love Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop and often pick it for workouts, that climb is too long and the downhill on the other side also too long.
Would have been nice to have a pacer between the 1.1 and 1.5w/kg
Would have been nice to have a pacer between the 1.1 and 1.5w/kg
I would like to see Zwift remove the people using BOTs. Roy Liu was on all weekend at over 450 watts and 750 miles. Reporting does nothing.
Big need feature: Allow transporter to current robopacer rides in different worlds. This is important if you want to mix W/kg, because you often can’t bump up or down one effort level unless you’re in Watopia.
Huge mistake especially the Watopia options!! There are a lot of us who ride 50+ miles a day with the bots, and an option like Loop da loop with Maria today is 6000+ feet for 100 miles. I like the idea of moving around the second option, but if you look at the flatter routes on Watopia they are the most popular with the majority of people who use them with the bots. Today for example there were 35 people on Loop da loop with Maria, and the other day on Waistband over 200.
A pacer-related thought: The list of pacers on the home screen is currently ordered low to high. While this is probably good for many riders, it’s a little annoying for those using the higher-powered pacers to have to scroll along the list to find the pacer that they need. It would be nice if the pacer list was ‘smarter’, showing you the pacers that you’re most likely to use first.
A couple of potential ways to do this: Allow users to select their favourite pacers to be shown first, or show FTP-appropriate pacers first (e.g. pacers between 60% and 100% of the rider’s FTP).
Not essential, obviously, and a lower priority than some of the issues mentioned in previous comments, but it would be a nice ‘quality of life’ improvement.
Your most recently used pacers are first on the left under “Robopacers”, no scrolling necessary, at least for me. Your most recent pacer is also under “For you”, but after “My list” entries and some other suggested routes.
In my experience, it’s the last two pacers that you’ve encountered while riding that appear at the start of the list, which isn’t all that useful – passing/being passed by a pacer during a free ride, even if the contact is only for a few seconds, overrides the pacer that you’ve ridden with multiple times.
Really looking forward to a 6.0 w/kg pacer. (not for me I just want to see one)
Maybe they need to have a 10w/kg robo pacer for the weight dopers . . Run what you brung!
Sugar Cookie was my personal favorite. And to drop Tempus Fugit? That’s just dumb. Massive ride. France expansion is good.
I very much like your new slower pacer. At 77 years old I find I can’t generate the same wattage I used to. This will give me a chance to actually enjoy riding with a pacer
I love they’ve added Sophia! Now I can do a recovery pace partner ride.
I’m in my 70’s. I’d LOVE to see a Robopacer @ 1.3 w/kg. For a low/moderate effort ride, Taylor is a bit too easy, Bernie a bit too hard.
I just weight dope up or down to tune the pacer to my preference
Thanks! I never thought of that.
the new routes will definitely make riding with the robo pacers more fun
I have joined Coco yesterday for 100 km on the BRAEk-fast Crits and Grits route in Scotland and have to say that uphill the pacer is too slow but downhill way too fast.Our group needed 3 – 4 w/kg to stay with Coco on the descent. That’s actually not what you want to do downhill after already 1.000 hm in your legs.
Gain some weight. 😉
Mega happy with the rotation & introduced new routes however I would have definitely kept Tempus Fugit!
Hopefully this will not be the end of PacerBot rotations.. I would love the bots like Genie or Constance to do the EPIC KOM for example (& test myself by hanging on)
People choose pacer bots rides to maintain some constant pacing which is much more accurate on flat roads! Zwift please don’t send bots to hilly routes, that won’t work really :// In my opinion tempus fugit should be available every day with every bot for those wanting to work on some training goals like staying full in Z2/Z3/Z4 etc. with no any spikes.
I would like to have a robopacer where I can set the power in watts myself.
You can create a custom workout to have you hold the pace you’d like with erg mode. Not quite the same, but in the neighborhood