All About Zwift Academy 2024

Intro to Zwift Academy

For those unfamiliar, Zwift Academy is an annual event that serves two purposes.

First, it’s a worldwide talent ID competition that has placed multiple riders onto World Tour teams. Zwift Academy activities qualify top riders for additional rounds of testing, with one woman and one man being selected for pro contracts for the upcoming cycling season.

Second, it’s a global training program for cyclists. All Zwifters are invited to take on the Zwift Academy workouts and races. You’ll build fitness and push yourself to the limit racing against others, even if you’re not a pro contender!

New for 2024

All of this year’s changes are centered around Zwift Academy 2024 being much more focused on the talent ID side.

No Short Workouts

Zwift Academy 2024 has the same graduation requirements as 2023 (6 workouts and 2 races), but there are no short workouts. This means every graduate will have completed the initial qualification requirements for the pro contract contest!

Zwift says, “This year’s Zwift Academy is focusing on uncovering the best talent and the in-game content reflects that. The tests and challenges truly measure athletic capacity and will find the undiscovered talent that the Academy is famous for. And for those who aren’t quite ready to turn Pro, the tests and challenges offer an unparalleled opportunity to experience World Tour level testing, giving everyone an insight into their fitness levels and abilities.”

On-Demand Workouts Only

Past Academies have allowed participants to finish workouts as group events or on their own schedule (on demand). This year, workouts will be on-demand only.

UPDATE: Zwift added group workouts to the schedule. See upcoming group workouts at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftacademy2024.

Date Changes

Last year’s Academy began on November 6 and ended on December 17. This year, it begins much earlier (August 5) and runs through November 3. Zwift hopes this much larger window (three months) gives riders the flexibility needed to participate in the talent ID competition at peak fitness.

Canyon Aeroad Bike Giveaway

This year, one random Zwift Academy graduate will win a Canyon Aeroad bike, painted in Zwift Academy 2024 colors! (We’ll post an image here once we have it.)

Workout Details

Zwift Academy’s six workouts will be available on-demand in your workout folder.

• Pro Potential Prologue (58 minutes)
  • Purpose: Combined effort with free ride to test if participants are candidates to be “pro level” 
  • Data points: 30 seconds, 1 minute, 15 minute free ride segments
• Power Push (70 minutes)
  • Purpose: Challenge Zwifters’ sprinting power and measure their glycolytic capacity by replicating a real-world bunch sprint.
  • Data points: x3 30 seconds free ride segments
• Fatigue Factor (59 minutes)
  • Purpose: Challenge Zwifters’ max aerobic power in both fresh state and fatigued state.
  • Data points: 3-minute and 5-minute free ride blocks
• FTP Overload (58 minutes)
  • Purpose: Challenge Zwifters’ physical tolerance with efforts over and under their FTP. No free ride segment.
  • Data points: Heart Rate variability
• Breakaway Blitz (64 minutes)
  • Purpose: An attack replication to challenge Zwifters’ glycolytic capacity and identify riders with high sprint power who can punch and recover quickly. 
  • Data points: x3 20 seconds and x3 40 seconds free ride segments
• Grand Finale (66 minutes)
  • Purpose: Challenge Zwifters’ sustained aerobic power with induced fatigue and identify those who can still finish with a strong finish line sprint.
  • Data points: 10 minutes and 2 minutes free ride segments

In a late addition to the Academy, group workouts are also available. See upcoming group workouts at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftacademy2024.

Race Details

Race 1: Hill Climb Challenge

• Route: Ven-Top
• Dates: Aug 30-Sep 8 (make-up events Oct 28-Nov 3)
• Length: 30 minutes, no drafting
• Purpose: Simulate a climbing TT race to identify riders who can finish a high-intensity 30-minute climbing effort.
• See upcoming Race 1 events >

Race 2: Summit Sprint Showdown

• Route: Duchy Estate (28.7km, 395m elevation)
• Dates: Oct 4-13 (make-up events Oct 28-Nov 3)
• Length: 9 Laps
• Purpose: Identify riders who can survive some hills with short recovery and still have high sprint power at the finish.
• See upcoming Race 2 events >

Graduation Requirements

To complete Zwift Academy 2024, participants must complete a total of 8 rides:

• All 6 Zwift Academy workouts
• Both Zwift Academy Races

Riders pursuing the pro contract will need to put in some extra work. See below for details.

Key Dates/Schedule

• July 15: Zwift Academy registration opens online and in game
• August 5: Zwift Academy begins
• November 3: Zwift Academy ends
• December 2024-January 2025: Finals produced
• February-March 2025: Finals broadcast

Unlocks

This year’s Academy has just two levels of unlocks:

• Finish 2 activities: unlock Zwift Academy 2024 kit
• Finish all 8 activities:
  • Unlock Zwift Academy 2024 paint job for Canyon Aeroad frame (you’ll need to buy the frame, though!)
  • Get entered into a giveaway for a Zwift Academy painted Canyon Aeroad bike

Pro Contract Competition

In this year’s Zwift Academy, women will compete for a one-year pro contract with the CANYON//SRAM development team, and men will chase a spot on the Alpecin-Deceuninck development team.

If you want a shot at the pro contract you have to jump (ride?) through some additional hoops. Here are the key rules for all riders who want to be considered for the pro contract:

Important Rules

Pro contract contenders must meet the following requirements:

• Be aged 18 years or older as of January 1, 2025.
• Graduate Zwift Academy 2024
• Ensure your height and weight are accurately entered into Zwift before you begin the program.
• Use a heart rate monitor for all Zwift Academy events.
• Use a smart trainer or smart bike with +/- 2.5% accuracy.

See the full list of requirements here.

Ready to Get Started?

Sign up in-game, or do it online at zwift.com/academy.

See all upcoming Zwift Academy events at zwift.com/events/tag/zwiftacademy2024

Questions or Comments?

Post below! We’ll do our best to answer any questions, and may reach out to Zwift HQ if you have queries we can’t answer.