Zwift has just released the schedule of events for February’s big fondo. With thousands of riders turning out, these “fun races” are always popular as we push ourselves to complete long courses together. Plus, you unlock a jersey when you complete the ride!
Schedule
- Feb 8: 11PM PST/7AM GMT (Feb 9)
- Feb 9: 1AM PST/9AM GMT
- Feb 9: 6AM PST/2PM GMT
- Feb 9: 9AM PST/5PM GMT
- Feb 9: 11AM PST/7PM GMT
Is this a Race?
Officially, no. For some riders, just completing the ride is accomplishment enough. But many riders will treat the event as a race, and only the strongest riders will be able to stay near the front of each event.
As Zwift says, in the end “It’s all about doing your best and trying to finish the toughest routes in Watopia.”
Routes
Zwift Fondo events have three categories (A, B, and C) which are open to all riders. These categories don’t refer to rider strength or speed–they refer to route length. Pick the category corresponding to the length of route you’d like to ride.
For February, the group and routes are (click for route details):
Kit Unlocks
This is a 3-month series, and each month’s fondo has its own unique kit unlock. These kits are exclusive, meaning they will never be available anywhere else in game. A true badge of honor! Here’s a shot of February’s kit:
Is this a Race?
Officially, no. For some riders, just completing the ride is accomplishment enough. But many riders will treat the event as a race, and only the strongest riders will be able to stay near the front of each event.
As Zwift says, in the end “It’s all about doing your best and trying to finish the toughest routes in Watopia.”
For the A Ride, ending on the forward EPIC KOM is gonna hurt! Looking forward to it. Eric, do you know of any Uber Pretzel group rides this winter? I did the Uber Pretzel twice last year (L’etape in July & Norseman challenge in August) and dare I say “It was fun in its own special way”. 😆
I don’t know of any Uber Pretzel rides coming up. You can filter events by route on https://zwiftpower.com/ under the “filter” button (no Uber Pretzel rides currently showing…)
Last week on Saturday, there was a Über Pretzel Ride with the Dutch Zwift NL Endurance Ride at 9.00 o’clock (+1 GMT I think)… Missed change unfortunately 🙁
With all that miles of tarmac on Watopia, I hoped that Zwift would be creative and come up with a new Fondo track. This is the same one as in January.
Right there with you, Wim. I’d love to see some new routes, with the longest one going up the Alpe!
Yeah that would be nice and it would also be nice if they made the Gran Fondo be 100km so you could unlock the Gran Fondo badge on Strava at the same time.
Eric i am a newbie and was wondering when does the sign up come out for the fondo rides are?
You can sign up now on Zwift.com, using the link in the post. The Companion app only lets you see events (I think) a week out, so you won’t be able to sign up there yet.
it looks like it is the same schedule as last month, meaning no Saturday time for PST…sad, not going to do it in the middle of the night, and have church on the Sunday times.
Me too. Yet another fondo I can’t ride. Someday I’ll get to do one of these!
I wish they would offer these more than one weekend in a month. Not that I really need any new virtual kit, but I would still like to do the ride. And if it happens to be on the one weekend in the month you are out of town, we’ll, you’re just out of luck.
Late join possible?
Yes.
Eric, I’m kind of new to this, only 300 miles so and like it a lot. I signed up for the C Fondo on 2/9. My question is how to make sure I’m in at the start? I’ll be riding to warm up a little, will it just transport me there,
Thanks for the help.
Joe
Welcome, @guest_32087!
If you’re signed up for the event, just get in early and be riding somewhere in Zwift. it should pop up an option to join the event in the lower-left when you have about 25 minutes to go. It’ll take you there automatically with about 4 minutes to go, as long as you’re in a Zwift world at that time.
Have fun!
Thank you very much and just to be sure any world on Zwift right?
Yep! It’ll take you to the right world.
Trying to sign up for the sunday feb. 9 bambino fondo… I’ve been a member for a few months and have been able to sign up for other rides… (tour de zwift, etc) but can’t figure out how to sign up for the fondo… Thanks.. Randye
Hi Eric,
I’m sort of new to Zwift, started in January and have done about 500 miles so far and loving it! I usually do a Strava Gran Fondo each month on the road (got one done in Jan), but February’s weather has been too poor to get out. Can I do the Strava Feb Gran Fondo on Zwift and get the credit for it?
A Zwift ride won’t count for the Strava February Fondo Challenge. Looking at the details of the challenge, it says “Manual entries, virtual rides, e-bike rides, or trainer rides are not eligible…”
Ok.. thanks for that 👍