Zwift has just announced the first events in a 3-month fondo series for 2020. Details are still being finalized, but January’s events are on Sunday, January 5th and route lengths vary from ~30 to ~45 to ~60 miles.
January 5th Fondo Schedule
- 1AM PST/9AM GMT
- 6AM PST/2PM GMT
- 9AM PST/5PM GMT
- 11AM PST/7PM GMT
See all upcoming Zwift Fondo Series events on Zwift.com >
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 January’s kit:
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.
For January, the group routes are (click for route details):
Is this a Race?
Officially, no. But thousands of riders will turn out for these popular “fun race” events, and the front of each category will certainly be filled with strong riders going all out. And that’s perfectly fine!
As Zwift says, in the end “It’s all about doing your best and trying to finish the toughest routes in Watopia.”
There’s a Hincapie Sportswear Power Hour Workout to prep for a “Gran Fondo Hincapie Event”.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=283592
Wednesday December 25th 19:20
Also, check out Le Col New Year’s Century Rides on January 1st.
So North Americans who ride in the evening are just out of luck then?
How do you unlock these kits after you earn them ?? I completed the Tour of London yesterday, and don’t see any new kit in my Garage.
Yes, and for people who don’t ride on Sundays 🙁 Out of luck. Lame! I did one Fondo Series event in 2019 that ended up being late one Saturday evening MST
Yep, the times are cr*p for Australians, too. My rudimentary maths tells me that the very best time of this lot starts at 8pm on Sunday night.
#Zwiftfail
And these routes don’t have XP badges correct?
Nope.
Can you swap bikes mid Fondo? Eg swap to gravel bike around road to ruins and the back to road bike? Or will it be best to do the whole on one bike?
Sure, you can. I did it here: https://zwiftinsider.com/le-col-metric/
Done the bike change yesterday during the Fondo, works great. 🙂
When does Zwift announce the Feb 9 Gran Fondo route?