Zwift just sent a press release announcing key new features and content (events) for the next few months. Read that full press release below, apart from a few portions we removed that discussed features or events already announced:
- New levels 61-100 and Drop Shop reorganization
- Ride streaks
- Climb Portal updates: scaling, completion tracking, and rankings
- Steering gamification events for Repack Rush and Crit City
- zFondo Series 2024
New Features
Companion App Update: Ride and Route Queuing
Coming in January
With this new update to the Zwift Companion app, it’s never been easier to plan your Zwift rides and workouts. Once live, this update will let Zwifters browse workouts and routes in the companion app and select the ones you want to do. Then, selections will be queued up on the Zwift home screen—no more searching through content options when it’s time to ride!
Avatars Get a New Look!
Coming in February!
Zwift avatars’ faces will be getting a whole new appearance in February. Our avatars haven’t been refreshed in a long time, and this change will give avatars a fresh new look.
Choose Any Avatar
Coming this Winter!
With Avatar Choice, you’ll be able to choose between all of Zwift’s available avatar types. Zwifters will no longer only see the avatars that correlate to the gender selected in your profile. Instead, cyclists can choose any avatar.
While we’re excited to let Zwifters choose any avatar they’d like, event categories will still match the gender of the rider’s profile for social events and racing, no matter which avatar is selected. Male profiles will only be able to enter male and open events. Female profiles will be able to enter female and open events, even if a woman chooses a male-presenting avatar.
Apple Watch Becomes a Heart Rate Monitor
Coming this Winter
The best heart rate monitor is the one you’re already wearing, so we’re adding Apple Watch heart rate compatibility to Zwift, making life easier for any Zwifter who already owns an Apple Watch. Pair Watch in the Zwift Companion app, as with any other heart rate monitor, and track your heart rate on-screen as you ride and run.
Events
Zwift Games
Join the Games from February to March
Zwift is transforming cycling esports with the Zwift Games. This new event will be the largest event of its kind and is designed to give any member of the community a chance to enjoy fun and challenging racing. Elite racers can qualify to compete in championships events!
Community Racing: The Zwift Games will be Zwift’s biggest-ever community racing tour, featuring three Sprint stages, an Epic stage for endurance riders, and a Climb stage for the mountain goats. Zwifters can challenge themselves by completing all five races as a stage race, or pick and choose their preferred stages throughout the month of March.
With a number of specially designed new routes and some awesome Zwift Games unlocks available, there’s truly something for everyone.
Events will be available at multiple times every day throughout March, for all categories.
Elite Racing: During the first three weekends in March, the world’s best male and female Zwifters will take on the same courses as the community in a bid to be crowned the Zwift Games Elite Sprint, Epic, and Climb champions. The best performing female and male athlete across all three events will also earn the ultimate accolade of becoming the inaugural Zwift Games All Round Champion. The eight champions will earn a share of Zwift’s biggest ever prize purse and each unlock one of Zwift’s most recognisable icons, resplendent in gold.
All championship racers will be subject to pre- and post-race performance verification and all races will be broadcast all around the world.
Information on how any top level Zwifter can qualify for the elite championships will be shared by the 15th of December.
Rapha Festive 500
December
Join the annual Festive 500 challenge and complete 500 kilometers between Christmas and New Year’s! Both Zwift and outdoor rides count toward your total, so tick off the kilometers and earn an event badge and Festive 500 kit!
Fitness Jumpstart with Coach Kristin
January – February
Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kristin Armstrong is busy. She’s a successful coach, entrepreneur, and a mom who needs to be efficient when working out. Her new training series is approachable, efficient, effective, and fun—perfect for any busy cyclist and a great way to start the new year with a commitment to your fitness.
Starting in January, the eight-week Fitness Jumpstart with Coach Kristin invites all Zwifters to start the New Year right. Program workouts are available on-demand and live to fit any schedule. Kristen will lead select sessions. Each week of the program is designed around helping riders learn about a specific aspect of training.
Plus, you can stay motivated, make friends, and ask questions in the Zwift Women’s Training Club group chat on the Zwift Companion App.
Tour de Zwift and Rebel Routes
Start the tour in January
Ride routes that are inaccessible most of the year during one of the year’s largest Zwift events, the Tour de Zwift, and earn route badges that are not otherwise available!
This year, Zwifters who complete stages or the whole tour will also unlock a new in-game kit—including Zwift’s first-ever bucket hat! Zwifters can also buy a matching real-world kit from Le Col!
l’Etape du Tour
Start Training in February
Every year, L’Etape du Tour de France hosts and organizes the biggest amateur Gran Fondo in the world on one stage of the Tour de France. As an official partner of L’Etape du Tour de France this year, Zwift is bringing all the energy, enthusiasm, and excitement of the world’s hardest amateur race into Zwift.
Starting in February, there will be monthly two-stage Fondos over weekends in February, March, April, and July. Zwift will also introduce an eight-week training program for the L’Etape du Tour and add some of the famous climbs from the route to Zwift’s Climb Portal. These climbs are a great way to prepare for this challenging one-day cycling event or just get ready for a summer of tackling the most challenging climbs in your local area.
New March Event
Join in March!
In March, Zwift will reveal an all-new event and introduce a new way to earn rewards! Look for more information in February, and get ready to take a spin to earn Zwift rewards in a whole new way.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of Zwift’s plans for the winter? Share below!
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