The latest “This Season on Zwift” press release came out last week, detailing what’s in store on the platform over the next few months. Zwifters love fresh tarmac, so one of the most exciting upcoming releases is The Grade – a new Watopia climb with some surprising functionality under the hood.
Read below for more on what’s arriving soon in Ciudad la Cumbre!
A Grade that Grades
If there’s anything I’ve learned about Zwift over the years, it’s that they love creating unique names that are infused with meaning. “The Grade” is no exception. This new climb begins from Ciudad la Cumbre (“Summit City”) on Watopia’s Southern Coast expansion and heads straight up hill for several kilometers!
“The Grade” is a straight, steady, steep climb, and it’s meant to host FTP tests. That’s where the second meaning of the name comes into play. With the rollout of The Grade, Zwift will introduce a new FTP detection algorithm. According to internal contacts, Zwift used the data from over 700,000 FTP tests on the platform to create an algorithm that accurately detects your FTP based on a max effort ranging from approximately 10-20 minutes.
This new algorithm should be in place when The Grade launches, and it should roll out to the full game eventually.
The Grade is strategically located in a place that makes it work well for FTP tests, too, since riders are required to ride at least 10 minutes or so to reach the base of the climb.
According to verbal descriptions I’ve heard, The Grade is long, straight, and steep for the FTP portion. It then levels out a bit, before continuing on in a more zig-zaggy fashion to the top of the Epic KOM. It also sounds like there will be a secondary descent option for riders who climb The Grade but don’t want to continue to the top.
New Road=New Routes
Of course, with new tarmac we’ll get some new Watopia routes. Zwift says, “The expansion will launch with several new routes available for freeride exploration, training, and racing.”
When Does It Arrive?
Zwift’s press release says The Grade is “Launching June 2024”.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of an in-game climb designed for FTP tests? And do you like the idea of an updated FTP detection algorithm that doesn’t require a full 20-minute effort? Chime in with your thoughts below!
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