The Spanish authorities will deploy 1,100 officers and 400 members of the Guardia Civil this weekend in Madrid to ensure the safety of riders in the Vuelta a España amid ongoing protests against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech in the race. 

The Governmental Delegation in Madrid announced the “extraordinary” reinforcement in a statement, which was agreed upon yesterday, according to AS. 

Saturday’s stage 20 from Robledo de Chavela to Alto de la Bola del Mundo takes on the mountains near Madrid, and will see 400 civil guards mobilised. 

On Sunday, the final stage of this year’s race from Alalpardo to Madrid will be secured by 1,100 national police officers, in what is the largest mobilisation of police since the 2022 NATO summit in Madrid.  

According to AS, the Delegation emphasised the right to protest is a fundamental right that cannot be limited, and therefore the right to peaceful demonstration will be guaranteed throughout stages 20 and 21. 

The police and Guardia Civil make up the police forces for the stages throughout La Vuelta, except for those in the Basque Country and Catalonia, where security is provided by local police. 

The regular security operation for this year’s La Vuelta has consisted of 132 civil guards and more than 70 national police officers. 

Protestors have been demonstrating at the race against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech, which is co-owned by Canadian–Israeli businessman Sylvan Adams, who is a vocal supporter of the state of Israel. 

Stephanie Adam, a campaigner for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, which called for the protests, described the team’s participation at the race as “sportswashing pure and simple”. 

Many riders have voiced concern for their safety at the race and there have been several crashes due to protests. 

Yesterday, the riders’ union voted to neutralise stage 17 if there were protests and race organisers have shortened today’s individual time trial due to planned protests.

See zwiftinsider.com/route/jarvis-seaside-sprint/

Argon 18 has launched its new Nitrogen Pro aero bike, which is designed for real-world riding rather than wind-tunnel performance at all costs.

“We’re not designing a bike for the wind tunnel – I couldn’t care less where it would rank in a wind tunnel test,” says Alexandre Côté, Argon 18’s product manager.

“It would be nice to be top of the list, and it might be close to that, but the real performance comes in [the] real world – crosswinds, headwinds, rain, crappy weather.

“We all know what we ride in, and it’s not [a] pristine tarmac-controlled, resurfaced road in the south of France for the Tour de France in July. We’re riding in real-world conditions, and we have a bike that performs well in those conditions.”

• Read more: Best aero road bike 2025 | 20 top-rated aero bikes and buyer’s guide

‘This is where most brands get it wrong’

The Canadian brand has done this by designing an aero platform from the bottom up – or rather front to back, starting with 30c tyres.

“It’s what the pros and amateurs ride up out there,” says Côte. “Why make something in the lab in isolation, where the reality is different? This is where most of the brands get it wrong at the moment – optimising for a test instead of real applications.”

Argon 18 hasn’t eschewed wind tunnels completely, and undertook three rounds of testing at the Silverstone wind tunnel during the bike’s development, but tested with a rider in place and focusing on wind-averaged drag (an average of all the yaw angles you’d experience in the real world).

In its pursuit of the perfect bike, Argon 18 seemingly left no stone unturned – including the designing of a proprietary cockpit, bottle cages and a bespoke Artech 6.A wheelset collaboration with Scope.

Although an aero platform, Côte explains that Argon 18 also wanted the Nitrogen Pro to be optimised as a complete system – meaning it’s also lightweight, with a good fit and ride feel.

The result is a frameset that comes in at 950g and a complete bike that, in its range-topping Red AXS setup, weighs 6.95kg (including power meter, bottle cages and a computer mount) in medium.

It is also 24 watts faster than the SUM Pro, making it the brand’s fastest ever bike.

Development of the bike

The Nitrogen Pro has been almost three years in the making, with the brand’s product and R&D team taking a ground-up approach to the complete bike’s design process.

Rather than coming up with a frameset in isolation and not having any control over its integration and aerodynamic interaction with components and finishing kit, Argon 18 started with “the best all-round high-performance tyre” – Vittoria’s Corsa Pro in 30c – as the first component to encounter aerodynamic resistance, and continuously analysed the downstream impact each choice would have on the next.

This philosophy is how it ended up collaborating with Scope on a bespoke version of the Dutch brand’s Artech 6.A wheelset. They weren’t optimised for a 30c Corsa Pro, which measured at 31.4mm when fitted, so the brands set to work on developing a version that was.

The result has a proprietary rim shape, 65mm-deep rims, and 3D-printed hubs that contribute to a 1,320g wheelset weight.

From here, the frame and fork were optimised to interact with the wheelset, which involved 130 different frame tube profiles and 25 fork prototypes, to find the combination that performed best.

The carbon layup was also fine-tuned to keep the weight down, with the stiffness – which is 18.5 per cent stiffer than the SUM Pro, according to Argon18 – arising from the profiles and shape.

Atten-tion to detail

Argon 18 says the componentry available on the market wasn’t up to scratch, so it decided to design its own.

“The way this industry is structured is everybody does their own thing and tries to put it together and see if it fits,” says Côte. “For us, it’s unacceptable, moving forward. It’s something we won’t be doing, if we can do better.”

The brand’s new component line is labelled Atten – the Danish word for 18 – and its most noticeable inclusion on the Nitrogen Pro is the one-piece cockpit.

Arrow-shaped to “limit the stagnation point along the leading edge”, it includes a 3° inward flair off the drops to create an ergonomically optimised setup that avoids riders needing to twist the hoods inwards.

The brand’s testing also showed that it saved 3.2 watts compared to the Vision Metron 5D ACR Evo.

The attention to detail doesn’t end there. All of the aero testing took place with bottle mounts in place – “people need to carry water, so why not optimise around that?” – and the bike is faster with bottle cages than without them as a result.

And if you only ride with one bottle on the down tube, the brand recommends keeping the seat tube one in place, with a vented design enabling air to pass through unimpeded.

All of this comes with a serious price tag – the Nitrogen Pro SRAM Red AXS will set you back £13,000 / $13,500 / €13,995 when it becomes available in February 2026. 

But the brand has also created a standard Nitrogen line-up, which features the same frame design, albeit with a different carbon layup. This starts at a more reasonable £5,200 / $5,400 / €5,995 for the 105 Di2 version. This includes the Atten cockpit, bottle cages and 42mm Atten wheels.

The riders at the Vuelta a España have voted to neutralise the race if there are further protests during today’s stage 17. 

Bahrain Victorious’s Jack Haig spoke to the media ahead of today’s stage on behalf of the riders’ union, the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA).

“We decided that if there is an incident, we would try to neutralise the race and then that would be it because in the end racing to an undefined finish line is not really fair sport,” said Haig, as reported by Cycling News. 

“Unfortunately, we’re being caught in the middle of something that maybe doesn’t even really involve us and at the moment we are kind of just the pawns in a very large chess game that unfortunately is affecting us,” the Australian said. 

Haig explained that the riders’ decision was only for stage 17, and we can expect further daily votes. 

Yesterday’s stage 16 saw pro-Palestine demonstrators blocking the course with 3km to go, with race organisers deciding to curtail the stage, which finished under the 8km-to-go banner. Egan Bernal won the stage. 

There has been ongoing concern from riders regarding their safety, and several riders have crashed due to the protests. 

Regarding stage 16, Haig said: “Yesterday it started to become a little bit uncomfortable because there were some acts to maybe deliberately try and harm the riders by cutting down trees, by putting the thumb [tacks] on the ground, to deliberately light fires.” 

Cycling journalist Daniel Friebes wrote on X that there is: “General dismay growing among riders that they are (main?) decision-makers in this process. They have no appetite to race for improvised finish-lines like yesterday’s.”

Haig added that riders want to end the race in Madrid on Sunday, but that it needs to happen in a “fair way where riders are safe”. 

The protests at La Vuelta are primarily against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech. The team is co-owned by Canadian–Israeli businessman Sylvan Adams, who has said Israel–Premier Tech’s riders are ambassadors for Israel.  

In a bid to aid safety, Israel–Premier Tech removed ‘Israel’ from its kit on Saturday.

The protests at La Vuelta were called for by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). Stephanie Adam, a campaigner for PACBI, told BikeRadar that Israel–Premier Tech’s presence at La Vuelta is “sportswashing pure and simple”.

Adam said that protests at La Vuelta will continue at La Vuelta, and until Israel–Premier Tech is excluded from UCI races and events.

See zwiftinsider.com/route/southern-coast-cruise/

Garmin has launched its new Edge 550 and 850 bike computers. Here’s what you need to know about the new computers, in brief:

• Garmin says the Edge 550 and 850 are its “brightest and smartest” compact bike computers.
• The computers are “built to help riders better prepare and train for an event or goal”. You can use them to access free Cycling Coach plans, track your cycling ability, and monitor hydration and fuelling while riding. 
• The Edge 550 and 850 now offer real-time weather updates, including wind direction.
• They also have features for mountain bikers, such as enduro and downhill ride profiles that enable more precise GPS tracking. 
• Battery life is 12 hours in “demanding use cases” and 36 hours in battery saver mode. 
• The Edge 850 has several extra features, including a touchscreen and built-in speaker, and you can use it to make contactless payments. 
• The Edge 550 costs £379.99, while the Edge 850 costs £469.99. 

Want to know more? Read our coverage of the new Garmin Edge 550 and 850 bike computers.

Last week’s Fall 2025 This Season on Zwift press release included, as the first item of business, news that a fresh version of the Zwift Click controller will begin shipping today, September 9th. Keep reading to learn all about the new Zwift Click, including my full hands-on review.

Click v2, as we’ll call it, is replacing two SKUs for Zwift. First, it replaces the original Click, a simple device with a + and – button for shifting up or down. This comes as no surprise. But the bigger news is that Click v2 is also replacing the Zwift Play controllers. (To be clear: while Zwift Play can still be used in-game, it will no longer be sold.)

Here are some images from Zwift showing the Click v2 and how they mount easily to multiple locations on drop bars, as well as flat bars and TT bars:

Zwift is not currently selling Click v2 as a standalone item, but Zwift Cog and Click upgrade kits for all Zwift Cog-compatible trainers are available at Zwift.com now for £49.99/€49.99/$49.99: 

• US Zwift Shop
• UK Zwift Shop
• EU Zwift Shop

Click v2 Capabilities and Specs

Simply put, the new Clicks do everything Zwift Play does, apart from braking. That includes:

• Virtual shifting (for compatible trainers)
• Steering
• Game menu navigation
• U-turns
• Rearview camera in events
• Power up triggering
• Ride On bombs/returns

In terms of specifications, the list is short:

• Bluetooth connectivity only
• The two units are bridged together, so they use only 1 Bluetooth connection (good news for Apple TV users)
• Claimed 100-hour battery life (CR2032 coin cell)

Hands-On Experience

Setup and Onboarding

Click v2 is quick and easy to set up. In addition to the two Click controllers, the package includes four straps and two soft pads you can place beneath the controllers to more secure mounting on rounded bars:

Clicking any button on a controller activates it, and an LED at the top of the controller will begin flashing blue. It turns solid blue once connected.

The first thing I did was open up Zwift’s Companion app and go to Zwift Hardware, where the app automatically detected the Click v2 which I had already turned on. The app then prompted me to perform a firmware update to version 1.1.0:

Once the Clicks were updated to the latest firmware, I started my Zwift session and paired the Click v2 (reminder: these are Bluetooth only):

Before riding, I was greeted with a simple tutorial walking me through their capabilities:

After finishing (or skipping) the tutorial, you’re ready to go! If you’d like, you can go to Settings>Controls and rotate the controllers, which may prove useful depending on how you decide to mount them.

Steering vs Intersection Selection

While the Click v2 does everything Zwift Play did (apart from braking), Zwift had to get a bit creative to squeeze all that functionality out of a pair of simple controllers.

Specifically, if you want to manually choose a turn at an intersection, you have to press A when the intersection option pops up, then choose your desired intersection with left/right arrows. (On-screen text reminds you how this works.)

Apart from this little quirk, steering is simple using the left/right arrows on the left controller.

Virtual Shifting

If you have a smart trainer that supports Zwift’s virtual shifting (see list of compatible trainers), Click v2 can handle the shifting duties. The – button on the left controller shifts down to an easier gear, while the + on the right controller shifts up to a harder gear. These also modify FTP bias in ERG workouts when shifting is disabled.

Shifting with Click v2 is just as responsive as with Zwift Play and the original Zwift Click, happening quickly and reliably.

I had the Zwift Plays installed on my bike, and added the Click v2 on the flats of my bars as shown above. I found I enjoyed pairing both the Plays and the Click v2 to my Zwift session, as the Clicks came in handy as satellite shifters when I was riding on the flats.

Other Notes

I’ve been using the Click v2 on my main Zwift setup since May, which means I’ve logged over 100 hours of use. I changed the battery on one controller in my “pre-release” set early on, but they haven’t needed a battery change since.

Overall, I’ve been pleased with the feel and functionality of Click v2. The buttons are a bit easier to press than the Zwift Play, which is noticeable when you’re a Ride On bomber like myself.

Zwift has packed a lot of functionality into the new Click, and in a format that works on flat and tri bars, not just dropbars like the Zwift Play. While it doesn’t matter to me personally (I’m a roadie), that’s a smart and inclusive move on Zwift’s part for sure.

Even though they’re only being sold with the Zwift Cog at this time, the price point is so low that I’d recommend them to any Zwifter with Bluetooth capabilities in their setup, as they put all the in-game menus and steering at your fingertips, even if you can’t do virtual shifting. They’re handy, reliable, and quite bomb-proof. My bet is they’ll quickly become this season’s most popular hardware add-on for Zwifters.

Buy Zwift Click v2

As already mentioned, Zwift is not currently selling Click v2 as a standalone item. Hopefully that will happen soon.

Until then, Zwift Cog + Click upgrade kits for all Zwift Cog-compatible trainers are available directly from Zwift for £49.99/€49.99/$49.99: 

• US Zwift Shop
• UK Zwift Shop
• EU Zwift Shop

(Note: buying through the affiliate links above helps support this site.)

Questions or Comments?

Got questions about the new Zwift Click? Comments about Zwift hardware? Share below…

First spotted at Unbound in May, the Specialized Diverge 4 boasts increased tyre clearance, updated geometry, bigger SWAT storage and SRAM’s UDH – and includes the latest Future Shock 3 suspension system. 

Tyre clearance across the range has been increased to 50mm, with 7mm clearance on all sides, or room for a 2.2in mountain bike tyre with 4mm of clearance.

The geometry has been tweaked to accommodate these bigger tyres, with a longer wheelbase and lower bottom bracket. 

SRAM’s latest Transmission AXS drivetrains feature heavily across the range, thanks to the updated compatibility with SRAM UDH. All the bikes ship with 1x drivetrains, but the frame can still fit a front derailleur.

The Diverge’s USP – Future Shock – has been updated to the latest 3.0 model first seen on the Roubaix SL8. Internal frame storage has also been increased in size and now also features on the E5 aluminium models.

The Specialized Diverge 4 is available from launch online and at Specialized retailers, with prices starting from £1,999.

• Spotted: New Specialized Diverge breaks cover at Unbound Gravel

What’s new?

The new Future Shock 3 boasts improved damping. 

The adjustable Future Shock 3.3, with its easily accessible dial to tune in the suspension, features on the Pro LTD and Pro models, while the Expert, Comp, Sport and alloy models use Future Shock 3.2. The latter doesn’t offer any adjustability, but comes with three different spring weights that can be fitted to offer some personalisation.

The new SWAT 4.0 storage features on the 9r carbon frame, which Specialized says has a larger, updated door with a simplified, more robust design. 

The alloy models use SWAT 3.0 – first seen on the Stumpjumper Alloy mountain bike. Specialized claims the “Diverge is the first and only alloy gravel bike with downtube storage”.

While UDH is another key update across the range, the Diverge 4 is compatible with all major gravel groupsets. 

Specialized says: ”Diverge 4 is compatible with all 1x or 2x drivetrains with wide chainlines (47.5mm). For example, Shimano GRX, SRAM XPLR/Transmission with DUB Wide Cranksets, and Campagnolo Ekar all work nicely. The frame features a UDH dropout, and is compatible with all SRAM full-mount rear derailleurs. Diverge 4 is not compatible with cranksets with a standard road chainline (43.5mm).”

The tyre clearance has also been increased to keep the Diverge in line with the trend for wider tyres on gravel bikes. The Diverge is officially rated for a 50mm tyre with 7mm clearance all round, but will also accommodate a 2.2in tyre with 4mm clearance.

Updated geometry

Specialized has slightly tweaked the geometry to “help provide a more stable and confidence inspiring ride on off-road terrain”. 

The head tube has been slackened by half a degree to increase the trail and lengthen the wheelbase, and the bottom bracket has been dropped by 5mm to offset the wider tyre capacity while keeping the “feeling of riding ‘in’ the bike, not ‘on’ the bike”.

The chainstays have been lengthened by 5mm to balance the handling with the longer front-centre and boost the tyre clearance, according to Specialized.

The range starts with the E5 Sport alloy model – priced in the UK at £1,999 / $2,099.99 / €2,299 – which utilises the new Shimano Cues U600 11-speed hydraulic groupset. Specialized quotes the weight of this model at 10.74kg in size 56cm.

Moving up to the carbon fibre models, and – perhaps surprisingly – Specialized has used the same Fact 9r carbon across the range. Prices here start at £2,999 for the Sport and top out at £8,499 for the Pro LTD, with a claimed weight of 8.01kg. Specialized’s quoted weight for a painted 9r frameset is 1,150g in a 56cm size.

However, the flagship S-Works line has been cut from the range. Specialized claims “the Pro LTD has already proved itself as our Athletes have been racing it, with great positive feedback from and showing its capabilities of performing well during races”.

There is no frameset-only option at present, either.

Despite being able to fit a front derailleur and 2x crankset, all the Diverge models ship as 1x, with a variety of groupset options from both Shimano and SRAM – with all the SRAM-equipped models utilising the latest AXS XPLR Transmission drivetrains thanks to the new UDH compatibility.

Full global pricing for the eight new Diverge models is as follows:

We’ve had the Diverge 4 Expert AXS in for testing over the last few weeks, so watch out for a full review soon.

Zwift version 1.97 begins its phased rollout today. This is a very minor update, but we’ll share the details nonetheless…

Aero Lightning Socks Visual Effect

If you’re one of the small subset of Zwifters who have already put in the work to unlock the Aero Lightning Socks, this update includes a new aero visual effect. See it here:

This effect appears at 25 km/h (16 mph), and gets stronger the faster you go. We found it to be fun for solo riders, but we aren’t sure how it’ll look if lots of riders have it in a group.

(That may never be an issue, though, as it takes a lot of work to unlock the socks, plus riders actually have to wear the socks in order to get the visual effect.)

Don’t know anything about the Aero Lightning Socks? These are unlocked after completing the extra credit portion of the Factory Tour Challenge, and give you a ~12-second advantage across 1 hour of flat riding in Zwift.

Learn all about the Aero Lightning Socks >

Momentum Sport Core Temp Fix

Zwift announced support for heart rate and body temperature from the Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds back in update v1.94, but the body temperature data wasn’t actually being recorded to our .fit files. This is now fixed, with the values being recorded to the core_temperature field.

Zwift says, “To get started, in the Pairing screen, open the Heart Rate card and select your Sennheiser MOMENTUM Sport earbuds, then configure the displayed metrics in Zwift Settings under the HUD tab.”

(Watch this space for a review of the Momentum Sport earbuds, which we’ve been using on Zwift for a few weeks now…)

Release Notes

Zwift provided notes on additional tweaks and bug fixes in this update:

• Fixed a bug that could potentially cause riders to start in the wrong location on Hilly Route in Watopia.

Discuss this update in Zwift’s forum >

Questions or Comments?

If you spotted any other changes or bugs in the update, please comment below!

SRAM is celebrating its 38th anniversary with a limited-edition run of 1,987 individually numbered polished Eagle T-Type AXS groupsets. 

Dubbed the 1987 Collection, the limited-edition groupset features a unique combination of T-Type ecosystem components, all in an exclusive polished silver finish.

Aside from the rear derailleur, which is custom for the 1987 collection, it doesn’t appear to function any differently from the regular Eagle Transmission groupset – but it certainly is eye-catching.

The limited-edition groupset will set you back £3,399 / $3,499 / €3,799, if you can get your hands on one.

• Read more: SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission review: near-flawless performance after 2,100km of testing

The 1987 Collection

The main selling point of the groupset (aside from its exclusivity) is a polished aluminium colourway, which runs through all the components. 

Eschewing the usual stealthy SRAM greys and matt blacks, this groupset will make your bike stand out at the bike park, but all this bling doesn’t come cheap.

The whole groupset retails for just under $3,500, and although it includes some tasty goodies and spares, such as a SRAM four-battery AXS charger, two chainrings and a spare AXS battery, it’s still a serious amount of money. 

It’s expensive enough to buy two whole Calibre Bossnut mountain bikes, in fact. But that’s not the point. 

SRAM is keen to stress that it is a strictly limited production run: “When they’re gone, they’re gone”.

But what’s different from the standard SRAM Eagle Transmission components you can already buy?

SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission derailleur

The 1987 derailleur combines the cage from the SRAM XX derailleur with the lighter-weight body from the XX SL derailleur.

The limited-edition silver colourway makes it stand out and shows other bike nerds that you’re shifting with something special.

SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission Flattop chain

The 1987 Collection T-Type chain is based on the XX Eagle Transmission Flattop chain, featuring hollow links, hollow pins and a Hard Chrome coating. It looks classy and under the cut-outs in the plates (like the XX SL chain).

There is room for subtle detailing carrying the handwriting of SRAM founder, Stan Day, and a unique groupset serial number.

SRAM 1987 AXS Pod Ultimate Controllers

SRAM’s 1987 AXS Pod Ultimate Controllers are functionally the same as the standard ones, with interchangeable touch points and programmability, but they include silver infinity clamps to match the rest of the 1987 groupset.

Spares

SRAM includes 32t and 34t thread-on chainrings, as well as its Threaded Chainring Removal Tool with the 1987 groupset.

There’s also a four-battery USB-C charger included. This can charge up to four AXS batteries in the same time as it would take using four individual AXS chargers.

The four-battery charger operates quicker when charging two or fewer batteries. SRAM also includes two AXS batteries so you can keep a spare charged up, just in case.

Today, Wahoo released new versions of their KICKR CORE and KICKR BIKE. And while the BIKE is essentially an iterative upgrade from the previous generation, the new KICKR CORE 2 features some significant enhancements, making the already compelling trainer much more attractive.

We’re still putting the KICKR CORE 2 through its paces here in our test lab, so watch for a review in the next week. For now, let’s look at what’s new with Wahoo’s flagship mid-budget trainer and top-tier smart bike.

The New Wahoo KICKR CORE 2

The original Wahoo KICKR CORE’s longevity and reliability have proved nothing short of startling, especially considering its price point. First released in 2018, the KICKR CORE is the “little brother” to Wahoo’s flagship KICKR trainer, and its hardware has remained unchanged since release.

It did, however, receive significant firmware updates to enable auto-calibration and Zwift virtual shifting, allowing it to become the de facto trainer paired with the Zwift Ride smart frame.

But competition in this price range is strong. Today’s release of the KICKR CORE 2 brings premium features to Wahoo’s mid-budget workhorse, updating it to the standards set by the latest smart trainers.

This is particularly big news in the world of Zwift. The KICKR CORE 2 is the trainer that ships with the Zwift Ride from today onward, making today’s upgrade from Wahoo an upgrade for all future Zwift Ride buyers!

What’s New?

New or upgraded features on the KICKR CORE 2 include:

• WiFi connectivity for fast, reliable connections and automatic firmware updates
• Race mode for near instantaneous response
• Bluetooth bridging of heart rate and other sensors to consolidate connections (great for Apple TV users)
• New flat leg design for easier, more stable setups
• Improved multicolored LEDs indicate connection and trainer status
• Redesigned flywheel lowers product weight while slightly increasing inertial load for better road feel
• Reduced setup friction and waste: easier unpacking and assembly

Key Specs

• Max Wattage: 1800W
• Max Incline: 16%
• Max Decline: -10%
• Power Accuracy: +/-2%
• Connectivity: WiFi, ANT+ FEC, ANT+ Power, Bluetooth FTMS, and Zwift Protocol
• Cassette: sold with 11-speed cassette or Zwift Cog
• Supported Hubs: 130/135mm QR, 12×142, and 12×148 Thru Axle
• KICKR CLIMB compatible
• Weight: 29.9 lbs / 13.6 kg
• Dimensions: 23.5×20.5×18.5 in / 59.7×52×47 cm
• Price: $549.99 USD, $899.99 CAD, £499.99 GBP, €549.99 Euro, $899.95 AU, ¥99,000 JPY

Buy the Zwift Ride + New KICKR CORE 2 (Price Drop!)

The KICKR CORE is the only trainer sold as a bundled product with the Zwift Ride smart frame, so today’s upgrade to the CORE 2 means the Zwift Ride bundle gets upgraded as well! Effective today, all Zwift Ride packages sold through Zwift and Wahoo will ship with the new KICKR CORE 2, giving you a top-notch feature set at an unbeatable price.

More good news: the updated Zwift Ride now costs less! Starting today, the complete setup price drops by £100 and €100 in the UK and EU, bringing the cost down to £1099.99 and €1199,99 respectively. In the US (where tariffs are making pricing an adventure), the cost of shipping has been reduced from $110 to $75.

Looking to purchase the full package of a Zwift Ride smart frame with Wahoo’s brand-new KICKR CORE 2? Click below to purchase through Zwift (your purchase through this link helps support Zwift Insider):

In Canada? Purchase Zwift Ride + KICKR CORE 2 from Wahoo >

The New Wahoo KICKR BIKE PRO

Wahoo unveiled the first edition of their KICKR BIKE at Eurobike 2019, and it certainly turned heads with its distinctive look and built-in KICKR CLIMB tilting. Then in 2022, they released the updated KICKR BIKE, making various iterative improvements while also adding WiFi connectivity and a redesigned motor for higher max wattage and quieter operation.

One year later, the KICKR BIKE SHIFT was announced, sporting a similar design and base feature set as the KICKR BIKE but at a lower price point.

Today, Zwift released the next version of KICKR BIKE, named the KICKR BIKE PRO. This replaces the KICKR BIKE Gen 2, and while mostly what you’ll see here are iterative upgrades from the Gen 2 version, that’s what you would expect in the third generation of the industry’s leading smart bike.

What’s New?

New or upgraded features on the KICKR BIKE PRO include:

• Handlebars redesigned for increased indoor comfort (now 40cm wide with 16-degree flare and Fi’zi:k Solocush bar tape)
• Upgraded saddle (Fi’zi:k Aliante R5)
• 4-button controllers on top of each hood, mimicking Zwift Play controller capabilities (these also work for navigating other indoor apps, including Wahoo SYSTM, Rouvy, TrainingPeaks Virtual, and MyWhoosh)
• Bluetooth bridging of heart rate and other sensors to consolidate connections (great for Apple TV users)
• Increased durability thanks to more robust shifter cables and oversized quick-release levers

Key Specs

• Max Wattage: 2500W
• Max Simulated Incline: 20%
• Max Simulated Decline: -15%
• Power Accuracy: +/-1%
• Connectivity: WiFi, ANT+ FEC, Bluetooth, Direct Connect
• Variable crank length (165mm, 167.5mm, 170mm, 172.5mm, 175mm)
• Configurable virtual cassettes and shifting styles
• Physical bike tilt grade simulation via integrated KICKR CLIMB
• 5-point adjustment system ensures perfect ergonomics
• Total weight: 93lbs
• Dimensions: 48x30x37 in / 121x76x95 cm (smallest configuration), 48x30x47 in / 121x76x118 cm (largest configuration)
• Price: $3,999.99 USD, $5,599.99 CAD, £3,499.99 GBP, €3,999.99 Euro, $6,299.95 AU, ¥510,000 JPY

Your Thoughts

What do you think of Wahoo’s updates to the Core and Bike, and the corresponding update to the Zwift Ride? Share your thoughts below!

Wahoo has announced the Kickr Bike Pro, an upgraded version of its highly rated smart indoor bike.

Built around the same indoor bike frame and resistance unit as the standard Kickr Bike, Wahoo says the Kickr Bike Pro features upgraded shifters alongside “premium” contact points from Fizik.

These include a Fizik Aliante R5 saddle and the Italian brand’s Solocush bar tape wrapped on a new ‘ergonomic handlebar’ that Wahoo says is “ specifically designed for indoor riding”.

The Kickr Bike Pro is available now and priced at  £3,499.99 / $3,999 / €3,999.99.

• Read more: Best indoor bikes 2025: everything you need to know about dedicated smart bikes

Zwift-inspired shifters

With interactive indoor cycling booming in recent years, we’ve seen an increasing number of video-game style ‘controllers’ such as Zwift’s Play and, more recently, Click v2.

Designed around Zwift (indoor cycling’s most popular app), these enable riders to control their avatar and navigate in-app menus without needing to reach for a keyboard and mouse while riding.

With other indoor cycling apps, such as Rouvy, adopting these systems and controllers, Wahoo has added more buttons to the tops of the shifter hoods to expand the Kickr Bike Pro’s capabilities.

The brand says these are modelled to mimic the functionality of Zwift’s Play and Click v2 controllers, but they can be used with other apps where they are supported.

Wahoo has also added the ability for the Kickr Bike Pro to act as a sensor bridge for other Bluetooth or ANT+ peripherals, such as heart rate monitors.

According to Wahoo, these make the Kickr Bike Pro “the most integrated indoor training solution available”.

Upgraded contact points

While the standard Kickr Bike came with unbranded parts – leaving riders free to spec their own parts, if preferred – Wahoo has partnered with Fizik to improve the quality of the Kickr Bike Pro’s contact points.

The saddle, for example, is the brand’s popular Aliante model. Designed for endurance road cycling, the Aliante features a curved profile and a pressure-relief channel in the middle.

Alongside this, Wahoo has specced a new ‘ergonomic’ drop handlebar. It doesn’t note exact changes compared to the bar on the standard Kickr Bike, but it appears to feature a relatively compact drop with a slight flare to the drops.

The brand says it has also refined the quick-release levers used to adjust the bike fit, for a smoother experience setting up the bike.

As before, the Kickr Bike Pro uses industry-standard saddle and stem mounting points, so riders can swap in their own favourites if preferred. Crank length is also selectable in 2.5mm increments from 165 to 175mm.

Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro spec

Beyond the upgraded shifters and contact points, the basic spec of the Kickr Bike Pro is the same as the standard Kickr Bike.

This includes a maximum power output of 2,500 watts, a claimed power accuracy rating of +/- 1 per cent and the ability to simulate gradients from -15 to 20 per cent.

It also features network connectivity via Wi-Fi or Wahoo’s own ‘direct connect’ wired standard, as well as Bluetooth and ANT+ capabilities.

Wahoo Kickr Core 2

Alongside the Kickr Bike Pro, Wahoo has announced the Kickr Core 2 – a new version of its iconic mid-range smart trainer.

As with the Kickr Bike Pro, the Kickr Core 2 is built around a similar platform to the original Kickr Core, but features upgraded legs and additional connectivity options, including Wi-Fi.

Priced at £499.99 / $549.99 / €549.99, we’ve got a unit in for testing ahead of the coming winter.

• Read more: Wahoo Kickr Core 2 First Look – Wahoo revamps its iconic mid-range smart trainer

If you’ve been following this year’s Vuelta a España, you’ll have likely seen or read about the pro-Palestine demonstrations that have disrupted the race. 

From the beginning of this year’s final Grand Tour, demonstrators have lined the roadside waving Palestinian flags, entered the course to halt the race and even engaged in a stand-off with police. 

Coverage of the protests has focused overwhelmingly on statements issued by the race organisers, the riders and the Israel–Premier Tech team, which has been the main target of the demonstrations. So we spoke directly with those behind the demonstrations.

“Sportswashing pure and simple”

In April, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement called for protests against the inclusion of Israel–Premier Tech in this year’s Grand Tours. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) is a founding member of the Palestinian-led BDS movement.  

Stephanie Adam, a campaigner for PACBI, told BikeRadar via email that Israel–Premier Tech’s presence at La Vuelta is “sportswashing pure and simple”. Sportswashing is typically described as a way to improve the reputation of a government or state, and it has become commonplace in cycling. 

She believes the team “was explicitly created to whitewash and distract from Israel’s grave crimes against Palestinians”, adding that it refers to itself as an “ambassador” for Israel.  

“The team’s backer and co-founder, billionaire Canadian-Israeli Sylvan Adams, refers to himself as an ambassador-at-large for Israel,” she explains, highlighting how Adams has said that riders understand that being on the team means being an ambassador for the country. 

Recently, former Israel–Premier Tech riders Jakob Fuglsang and Alessandro De Marchi have expressed relief at no longer riding for the team. 

Adam says: “Israel is committing what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled is plausibly genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, killing tens of thousands. Israel’s livestreamed engineered mass famine is starving Palestinians to death. It has also decimated Palestinian homes, hospitals, schools, universities, and sports facilities.”  

Israel’s war on Gaza was launched in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7 2023, where more than 1,000 Israelis were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. 

Adam contextualises Israel’s ensuing war on Gaza by saying: “This is only Israel’s latest, devastating attack on Palestinian life. As Amnesty International and others have documented, Israel has been imposing an apartheid regime on the entire Palestinian people, including refugees, for 77 years.” 

She says Palestinians and the PACBI’s progressive allies “will not stand by” as any sportwashing of Israel takes place. “How could we? Our most urgent task at hand is stopping the genocide. There can be no sports as usual,” she says. 

“Grassroots power at its finest”

Lidón Soriano has been one of the organisers of the protests at La Vuelta. In July, she was involved in launching BDS Deportivo, a platform for the boycott of Israel in sport through the BDS Movement and RESCOP, the Spanish network against the occupation of Palestine. 

She says the platform’s main objective is to expel Israel from La Vuelta and all sporting competitions. 

“We’ve achieved coordination throughout all stages, and it’s been wonderful to be able to create that common thread in terms of message, action, and objective,” she tells BikeRadar by email.

“From the first stage in Figueres to the current one in Asturias, we’ve been in contact with all the local groups, and all have carried out peaceful, nonviolent actions.

“Personally, the experience was impressive: grassroots power at its finest and a collective demand for justice for Palestine.”

While there have been protests at other races, none have been as large as those at La Vuelta, which even led to stage 11 being shortened due to the number of demonstrators at the finish line in Bilbao. 

Soriano says she thinks there are two reasons for this. “On the one hand, the Spanish population is probably the most sensitive and supportive of Palestine of all European countries. On the other hand, the Spanish government is less repressive toward demonstrations of support for Palestine,” she says.

It is not only the Spanish population that is supportive of Palestine, but parts of the government too. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, was the first senior European leader to accuse Israel of genocide. 

The government also recently announced that it will move forward with a law that, if passed, would directly impose a military embargo against Israel. And, last week, the country’s minister of foreign affairs, European Union and cooperation of Spain, José Manuel Albares, even said he supports Israel–Premier Tech leaving La Vuelta. 

UCI hypocrisy 

Albares is one of many to have called for Israel–Premier Tech to leave Spain’s Grand Tour, but the decision on whether or not they can race ultimately lies with cycling’s governing body, the UCI.

Last week, the UCI released a statement saying it “firmly condemns” the protests at La Vuelta, stressing its political neutrality. But for Adam, there is hypocrisy in the UCI’s actions. 

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UCI banned Russian teams from participating in competitions, but no similar ban was placed on Israel after it began its most recent attack on Gaza following October 7. 

Adam says this signals to Israel that “its genocide… can continue with no consequences, with total impunity”. 

Pro riders’ reactions 

Pro riders have been at the sharp end of the protests at La Vuelta. Several have crashed following protesters entering the course of the race. Some riders have acknowledged the right to peaceful protests, but expressed concerns over safety. 

Following the curtailment of stage 11, Tom Pidcock said the demonstrators’ actions were “not going to help what they’re protesting for”. Race leader Jonas Vingegaard said La Vuelta is the “wrong place” for people to protest. 

This week, the Dane expressed understanding for what’s behind the protests: “People are doing it for a reason, it’s horrible what’s happening,” he said after stage 15, but added that it was a “shame” the race was being targeted.  

In response to their comments, Soriano is appealing to riders. “I would like to ask them what they would like the world to do if their children, wives, or mothers were being murdered,” she says. 

Adam adds: “Palestinians and our progressive allies would like nothing more than for there to be no need to protest against Israel’s genocide, its apartheid rule, or its military occupation. But that is not the world we live in.” 

What happens next? 

Israel–Premier Tech has said it’s firmly committed to racing at La Vuelta. The team has also removed its name from its kit, citing safety concerns, and Sylvan Adams has said withdrawing from the race would amount to “surrender to the terrorists”.

Meanwhile, Adam and Soriano say protests will continue through the final week of La Vuelta. 

Soriano says BDS Deportivo demands the expulsion of Israel from all sporting events, and will “continue coordinating the actions that the different groups are preparing in their respective cities until governments and sports organisations fulfill their legal obligation to do everything possible to end the occupation, apartheid, and genocide in Palestine.”

Adam says protests will continue at La Vuelta, and until Israel–Premier Tech is excluded from UCI races and events. 

“Riders and teams are reportedly starting to call for UCI to do just that,” she says. “We encourage them to make their collective voice heard, to uphold sporting values and push UCI to stop tarnishing the sport.”

Garmin says the new Edge 550 and Edge 850 are its “brightest and smartest” compact bike computers yet.

Launched today, the Edge 550 (£379.99) and Edge 850 (£469.99) have a new bright and colourful 2.7in display, which is a small increase of 0.1in compared to the previous Edge 540 and Edge 840.

Garmin says the two bike computers are also highly responsive, fast and they come with a whole host of advanced training features, including free training plans. 

This extra performance also comes with a boosted battery life, which has increased from 26 hours on the Edge 540 and 840 to 36 hours. 

• Garmin’s new power meter pedals look fantastic, but the price is far too high for me
• Best bike computers 2025 – Top cycling GPS devices ridden and rated

What features do the new computers have?

One of the biggest draws of the new Edge 550 and 850 computers is the free Cycling Coach plans, which come alongside a host of other training features. 

Accessible via the Garmin Connect app, these plans are said to “adapt based on specific course demands and the rider’s training and recovery, providing recommended training adjustments.”

However, you will need a compatible power meter and heart rate monitor to make use of the training plans. 

You can also use the Edge 550 and 850 to see your cycling ability. Garmin says this can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses as a cyclist, and it tracks your progress over time.

Elsewhere, the smart fueling alerts prompt you to hydrate and refuel during your ride based on your current fitness, the course you’re riding, heat and humidity.

When paired with a smartphone and the Connect cycling app, you can use the computers to access Garmin’s new GroupRide data comparisons. This feature shows how your speed, heart rate, power output, cadence and more stack up against your fellow riders. 

If you ride with electronic gears, after your ride you can use the computers to check how much time was spent in each gear with Garmin’s new Gear Ratio Analysis. 

One particularly useful feature on the Edge 550 and 850, that doesn’t require an app or high-tech equipment, is real-time weather updates, including wind direction. 

The computers also support Garmin’s enduro and downhill profiles, which launched with the recently announced Edge MTB computer. These enable 5Hz GPS recording while descending to help you see the lines you took in greater detail.

The timing gates feature will also be of use if you ride off-road. This enables you to see splits in real time for each lap or run of your ride. 

So what’s the difference between the Edge 550 and 850?

While the new Garmin Edge 550 and Edge 850 share the same bright screen and training features, the Edge 850 has several extra features, which contributes to its higher price and brings it more in line with Garmin’s flagship Edge 1050 bike computer. 

One of the big draws of the Edge 850 over the 550 is the responsive touchscreen. As with the Edge 1050, the Edge 850’s touchscreen means you can pan or zoom on the map, swipe between data screens and even report road hazards.

The Edge 850 also has a built-in speaker like the Edge 1050, which provides you with a digital bike bell, audible turn-by-turn navigation, workout prompts and more. 

As with Garmin’s smartwatches, the Edge 850 supports contactless payments. But this feature is only supported by certain countries, payment networks and banks, which you can check on Garmin’s website. 

Another difference between the new Garmin Edge bike computers is the Edge 850 has a route creator, so you can plot out point-by-point courses directly on the device via the touchscreen. 

Safety features 

The Edge 550 and 850 also include Garmin’s core safety features, which are said to help “support cyclists’ peace of mind and awareness”.  

Both computers will alert you to road hazards reported by other Garmin users, and enable you to contribute any hazards you spot.

Your family and friends can use Garmin’s LiveTrack feature to see your location in real time. 

If an incident is detected, the computers will send a message with your location to your emergency contact. 

The computers are also compatible with Garmin’s Varia radar bike lights to audibly alert you to when a vehicle is approaching and capture footage from your ride.

New Garmin Rally pedals 

The Garmin Edge 550 and 850 have launched at the same time as the new Garmin Rally 110 and 210 power meter pedals. 

Garmin says the single- and dual-sensing power meter pedals can be swapped easily between road and off-road pedal bodies and from bike to bike. 

They have rechargeable batteries and new Pedal IQ smart calibration, which alerts you when the pedals need to be recalibrated. 

Garmin has overhauled its Rally power meter pedals, with a redesigned spindle that features an internal rechargeable battery for the first time.

According to Garmin, the new Rally pedals feature a “redesigned sensing spindle” that makes them “more responsive”, offers 90 hours of battery life and enables them to measure your power output “within 1 per cent accuracy”.

Alongside this, Garmin has redesigned the pedal bodies – paying particular attention to the off-road versions – for improved performance and easier swaps between pedal body types.

As before, Garmin will offer pedal body options for Shimano SPD-SL, Look Keo and Shimano SPD (off-road) cleat systems.

On paper, it looks as if Garmin may have finally caught up with – or even surpassed – Favero’s Assioma PRO RS and Assioma PRO MX pedals.

However, the sticking point is the cost.

With prices for dual-sided, Rally 210 pedal systems starting at £929.99 / $1,199.99 / €1,099.99, Garmin’s new Rally pedals cost significantly more than the competition.

Prices for Favero’s latest power pedals, for example, start at £599 / $759 / €750 for a dual-sided set, and with the Assioma PRO MX pedals scoring a full five stars in our review, it’s hard to see why you’d spend any more.

• Garmin’s new Edge 550 and 850 compact bike computers are its “brightest and smartest” yet
• Best power meters in 2025 | Top-rated power meters and our buyer’s guide
  

Refining a successful formula

While Favero has deservedly garnered much praise in recent years for its power meter pedals, Garmin’s own efforts have long been a dependable option too.

Although its Vector 3 pedals began life with a few battery-door related teething issues, they offered solid performance with excellent data accuracy and a long, 120-hour battery life from user-replaceable CR1/3N coin cells. 

I still use a set for benchmarking smart trainers and other power meters to this day.

When Garmin rolled out its Rally 200 in 2021, it was a first for compatibility with Shimano SPD-SL cleats, as well as offering the tantalising prospect of being able to swap between road and off-road pedal bodies.

With the new Rally 210 systems, Garmin is refining the system even further.

As noted, the big news is the move to an internal rechargeable battery, with a claimed 90 hours of run time.

Garmin also says the pedals have a ‘quick-charge’ feature that means riders can gain “up to 12 hours” of riding time from only 15 minutes of charging. It’s easy to imagine that being useful if you realise the batteries are flat just before heading out for a ride, for example.

As well as potentially offering better weather-sealing (battery doors are a common weak point on power meters), Garmin says it also makes it easier to swap the spindle between pedal bodies.

While the previous Rally pedal bodies could be swapped at home, it was a fiddly process that involved a precision screwdriver and some very small bolts. It wasn’t exactly traumatic, but equally not something you’d want to be doing before every other ride.

Garmin says this can now be accomplished using only a 15mm pedal spanner and 5Nm Allen key / hex wrench, and will be selling road pedal systems bundled with off-road pedal bodies (£1,129.99) to enable riders to enjoy the benefits of both pedal types.

Of course, we’ll reserve judgement on exactly how easy this is until we’ve had a set in to test, but Garmin says “It’s now a matter of a couple of minutes to swap pedal bodies, change from one ride type to another and move [the pedals] from bike to bike.”

Redesigned sensing spindle

When quizzed on what improvements have been made to the sensing spindle, Andrew Silver, Garmin’s lead bike product manager – engineering, told BikeRadar that the sensor design now includes a gyroscope, which enables “more instantaneous power measurement”.

According to Silver, “this allows for greater responsiveness and accuracy in short efforts as well as oval chainring support.”

These changes also help the pedals determine whether they need calibrating – a new feature that Garmin calls ‘Pedal IQ Smart Calibration’.

Smart Calibration

In what might be a first for a power meter, Garmin says the new Rally pedals can notify riders (via compatible Garmin bike computers and smartwatches) of the need to perform a zero-offset calibration.

Garmin says this isn’t simply a periodic reminder, but a ‘smart’ system based on “several factors”, including ambient temperature changes, the time since a previous calibration and whether the pedals have been swapped to a different bike.

Although Garmin doesn’t specify, I’d imagine this feature comes in addition to the auto-zero or automatic calibration the previous Rally system featured. This triggers an automatic calibration every time you wake the pedals up, provided your bike is stood still for 10 seconds.

Updated pedal bodies

One criticism of Garmin’s previous Rally XC200 pedals – the SPD-compatible off-road version – was that the pedal body itself left something to be desired.

My colleague, Tom Marvin, for example, tested those pedals and noted the stack height was fairly high.

Seeking to address this, Garmin says its new XC210 pedals feature an all-metal body with a lower stack height of 11.5mm (2mm lower than before and within 0.3mm of Favero’s Assioma PRO MX pedals).

The road pedal bodies have also been subtly redesigned, with a “carbon polymer material” contributing to a lower overall weight and improved durability.

A dual-sided set of Shimano SPD-SL-compatible Rally RS210 pedals is now claimed to weigh 312g, compared to 320g for the previous version, for example.

Garmin says all pedals have also received updated bearings for better long-term durability.

Garmin Rally 210/110 pedals claimed weights

• Rally RK210: 312g
• Rally RK110: 320g
• Rally RS210: 312g
• Rally RS110: 320g
• Rally XC210: 436g
• Rally XC110: 444g

Can the Garmin Rally 210 pedals take on Favero?

While we’ve yet to get a set of Garmin’s latest Rally pedals in to test, I’m impressed by what, on paper, looks to be a solid refinement of an already high-performing system.

The switch to a rechargeable battery is a smart one, and hopefully means Garmin will avoid any teething issues with battery doors with this release.

Likewise, the improved XC pedal bodies should please plenty of cross-country and gravel racers – a power meter pedal needs to be a good pedal first and foremost, not solely a good watt-measurement device, after all.

If the pedal bodies are easier to switch, as claimed, then that will also be worth celebrating, as will the quick-charge and smart-calibration features.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to ignore the price compared to the competition.

The base prices of £929.99 / $1,199.99 / €1,099.99 for dual-sided road pedal sets are markedly higher than Favero’s offerings, and the off-road sets are even pricier at £999.99 / $1,299.99 / €1,199.99.

Prices for single-sided sets are cheaper – £549.99 / $749.99 / €649.99 for road pedals and £629.99 / $799.99 / €749.99 for off-road sets – but still relatively expensive compared to the competition (and they only measure power output from one leg, of course).

Favero’s latest Assioma PRO MX pedals cost only £649 / $789 / €699 for dual-sided sets and £399 / $499 / €439 for single-sided sets, for example.

Meanwhile, its off-road Assioma PRO MX pedals cost even less – only £599 / $759 / €750 for a dual-sided set and £399 / $450 / €499 for single-sided sets.

Even in a best-case scenario (the most expensive dual-sided Favero pedals versus the cheapest dual-sided Garmin option), the Garmins are more than 43 per cent more expensive in the UK.

At its worst (Favero’s Assioma PRO MX versus Garmin’s Rally XC210), the difference is a whopping 66.9 per cent here in the UK.

Given Favero’s offerings are practically flawless – I awarded the Assioma PRO MX pedals a full five stars when I reviewed them, and am currently wrapping up testing of the road version (spoiler, they’re also excellent) – I’m not sure Garmin’s latest offerings can justify their price premium.

The new Castelli Perfetto 3 RoS jacket has undergone a major overhaul, dropping the Gore-Tex Infinium fabric that was synonymous with the Italian brand’s wet-weather cycling kit and moving to Polartec’s new Aircore fabric. 

Castelli worked closely with Polartec to develop the new “revolutionary” Aircore fabric. It says the fabric “ticks every box when it comes to being lightweight, highly breathable, windproof, and water repellent” and helps the Perfetto 3 redefine “what ‘breathable’ means”. 

The fabric is also completely free from PFAs-based chemicals. These toxic ‘forever chemicals’ don’t break down in the natural environment and are now banned in some parts of the world. 

Steve Smith, head of cycling at the MVC Group, which owns Castelli and Sportful, says this fabric is a “huge deal”. 

“The drive to remove PFAs from wet weather clothing has been challenging to say the least. A number of products coming out dramatically compromise breathability for the sake of waterproofing,” says Smith. 

“In so few areas of our lives is the move towards sustainability actually bringing us better performance. But here, we’re improving breathability, we’re improving water protection, we’re improving stretch and comfort, and we’re PFAs free,” he explains. 

• Read more: PFAs-free waterproof clothing is better than you think

“A big change” 

Entering an era free of PFAs, Castelli began designing the new Perfetto with a blank canvas and “a hard look” at what cyclists need. 

“We’re seeing a big change in the way cyclists are riding in cool and wet conditions. That’s partly driven by technology, but also driven by climate change,” Smith says. 

When it comes to technology, cyclists are spending more time riding indoors, which means they’re not braving the elements so often. And with more accurate weather forecasts, cyclists are adapting their rides to avoid downpours. 

On climate change, Smith says: “There’s data out there that says we’re actually getting fewer days of rain, although the total amount of rainfall is maintaining the levels it always has. It’s just increasing in intensity.”

So when we do cycle in the rain, Smith says we’re reaching for rain jackets more than the kind of mixed-conditions, wet-weather kit for which Castelli is renowned, such as the Gabba.  

These factors led Castelli to ask a question. “If we didn’t have to worry so much about water, how far could we push the breathability so that we can keep the cyclists drier on the inside across the widest range of temperatures and intensity levels?” says Smith. 

Enter Polartec Aircore 

After speaking to a range of fabric suppliers, engineers and scientists, Castelli found Polartec best understood its quest not to compromise on breathability or water protection.  

Ramesh Kesh, business manager at Polartec, says you can basically make any rain jacket shell waterproof by putting a plastic film in it. But this means the material can’t breathe, which leads to moisture build-up. 

With Polartec’s new Aircore fabric, Kesh says: “The idea is to prevent wind and moisture getting in, but at the same time, it has to get out so that you don’t feel clammy and start becoming uncomfortable.” 

This is particularly tricky with sports such as cycling due to the Clausius–Clapeyron law. Kesh explains: “For every degree increase in your body temperature, you’re going to accumulate about 7 per cent more water, which means that as you do your high aerobic activity, condensation is going to build up.”

Aircore gets around this issue thanks to a nano-fibre membrane that’s sandwiched between two layers of textile. 

The membrane is produced by a process called electrospinning, where a hydrophobic polymer is pushed through a needle that’s charged at 20,000 volts. The needle emits filaments, which are approximately 100 times smaller than a human hair and “fall like snow” to create a membrane that’s incredibly tight but still allows air to move through it. 

Smith says this airflow through the Perfetto is imperceivable: “Your perception of wearing this garment is that it is completely windproof, you don’t feel that there’s a wind chill, but yet there’s a small amount of air coming in that’s grabbing the moisture and taking it out.”

The end result is a fabric, and therefore a cycling jacket, which ventilates sweat away from your body to keep you dry and blocks out the wind and rain.

“A disservice to the industry”

When it comes to waterproofing, the new Perfetto has a water column equivalent to 5,000mm.

This is half of the 10,000mm figure that is often the legal definition of waterproofness, and Smith thinks has “really been a disservice to the industry”. 

“It got set at that because of the lobbyists for the industry, who were the earlier players that figured out how to make a product that gave that level of waterproofness,” he claims. 

“In reality, lighter rain falls with the water column equivalent of around 800mm while heavy rain falls at around 2,000mm. So when you go to 10,000mm, you have way more waterproofness than you actually need,” Smith adds.  

This means that although the new Perfetto has a high water column value, “we can’t call it waterproof in a legal sense”. Instead, Smith says Castelli promises you “effective waterproofing” with its latest jacket.

What else is new with the Castelli Perfetto 3? 

Apart from the new fabric, the Perfetto 3 (£280 / $320 / €249.95) is similar to its predecessor, with a few small tweaks. 

The jacket still has taped shoulder seams to keep any water out, but these are now reflective. There is also a new reflective strip underneath the three rear pockets, which still feature drainage holes. A drop-tail design protects you from any road spray, while the high collar keeps your neck warm. 

Suitable for temperatures ranging from 4–14˚C, the jacket now has a two-way zip and retains its two body zips, which may not be of great use. Smith says the jacket was in development over the last winter and by the time it had gone into production in spring, Castelli realised the body zips weren’t necessary thanks to the breathability of the fabric. “You may never open them,” he says.

What’s next for Aircore?

Castelli has exclusive rights to use Aircore for cycling kit, and it will soon release a range of products that use the new fabric. 

But there are currently brands outside of cycling looking at Aircore, so we can probably expect to see it crop up across the outdoor industry – and possibly elsewhere – in due course. 

Kesh says the next stage of development will be to make the Aircore membrane from recycled material, which would make the fabric 100 per cent recycled. 

“The idea is to leave the world in a better place, but not to compromise on performance,” says Kesh.

In the Fall 2025 “This Season on Zwift” press release, Zwift revealed several upcoming changes to the Zwift Racing Score system which is used to group riders for most of the races on the platform. These changes will have a significant impact on rider scores, so let’s dive into the details…

Zwift Racing Score Decay

Launching mid-September

Zwift Racing Score decay was built into the early system, but the feature was turned off in October 2024 because feedback from Zwifters indicated it wasn’t making scoring more accurate. At that time, Zwift said, “We may turn this back on later after making some improvements to the mechanism.”

Zwift has now made those improvements, and they are reintroducing decay into the ZRS system. Zwift says, “This means that if you stop racing for a while, your displayed score will very gradually drift downward (after 30 days without a race), and the system’s uncertainty about your true level goes up – so when you return, you’re matched more fairly rather than a stale high score.”

Digging a little deeper, this change involves:

• 30‑day grace period: Your score will only begin decaying after 30 days without a scored race.
• Rising Uncertainty, Fairer Returns: After the 30-day grace period, the system’s uncertainty for your score will also increase, allowing your score to adjust more rapidly once you do race again. Or to put it another way: returning racers will adjust faster to their real level.
• Decay is Capped (or better, Floored): Your score will not drift infinitely downward.
• Discourages Rating Squatting: Built-in decay means riders can’t climb to a higher score and stay there without racing. It keeps rankings fresh.

In practical terms, Zwift says this is what you can expect if you take a break from racing:

• Short break (within grace period): No change; you won’t feel penalized for a holiday or training block.
• Moderate break: Slight downward adjustment; you may see a modest score dip that encourages re-engagement.
• Long break: You settle at a conservative plateau; when you come back, early results will move you faster than before.

Rewarding Personal Bests with Instant Score Updates

Launching mid-September

ZRS is a results-based algorithm where your score changes based on your finishing position in races. But the foundational component of the ZRS algorithm is your seed score, which is based on your 90-day power personal bests.

One crucial thing your seed score provides is a ZRS floor value – the lowest your score can drop to. Your ZRS floor is 15% below your seed score.

Currently, if you set a new power PB (in a free ride, workout, race, or any Zwift activity), your ZRS is only immediately changed if the updated floor value based on your new power PB is higher than your current ZRS. This means there are plenty of scenarios where riders will hit new power PBs outside of a race, but their scores don’t change. Here’s one example of how that could work…

Example 1 (current system):

• Current ZRS: 500
• New Seed Score Based on New Power PB: 540
• New Floor Value (85% of Seed Score): 459
• New ZRS: 500 (unchanged, because it is higher than the new floor value)

With the new system, when a rider achieves a 90-day power PB, their racing score will immediately be set to the new, higher “seed” value if that seed value is higher than their current ZRS.

Example 2 (new system):

• Current ZRS: 500
• New Seed Score Based on New Power PB: 540
• New ZRS: 540 (score instantly set to new seed score, since it was higher than the rider’s current score)

In simple terms, this change will lead to ZRS increases for more riders, which should mean more riders’ scores will accurately affect their current peak fitness. To be specific:

• Active Racers will see score boosts immediately when their power PB wasn’t in a race
• Active Non-Racers who are training but not racing will get their score adjusted upwards with new PB values, helping ensure their score is accurate once they race
• Returning Users coming back to Zwift after a break will have their scores adjusted more quickly as they set power PBs in any Zwift activity

30-Day Best Score for Race Categorization

Launching late September/early October

Soon, race organizers will have the option of categorizing riders based on 30-day best ZRS, as opposed to the current ZRS that all scored races use.

Why the change? Some racers have complained that riders are purposely tanking their score by riding hard enough to bypass Zwift’s anti-tanking measures while still finishing far down in the results. This is especially prevalent among racers who naturally sit near the cutoff lines for categories.

These racers may enter a “target” race with a score that places them near the top of their category, winning the race and receiving a ZRS result that would push them out of their category and into the next highest.

They will then purposely tank a race or two (or perhaps four, via our Tiny Races), dropping their ZRS so they can once again enter the lower category in their target race.

With this change, race organizers may enable “30-Day Max Score Enforcement” for their event, meaning even if a racer purposely tanked their score across multiple events, they would still be categorized based on their highest score in the past 30 days.

Simply put, this is an additional anti-tanking measure. And I think it’s a good one that many race organizers will use.

(For our Tiny Races in particular, this feature will have the added benefit of reducing how often a rider starts the set of four Tinies in one category, then gets forced into a higher category mid-set, eliminating their chance of a high overall placing since they raced in two different categories on the day.)

Displaying Score Deltas in Results

Launching mid-September

We published a post about the ZwiftPower ZRS browser plugin just 2 weeks ago. This fun little community-created add-on for ZwiftPower adds ZRS results to ZwiftPower pages, including a delta figure showing how much each rider’s ZRS changed in that race.

In that post, I asked Zwift to add the delta figure to race results found on event pages at zwift.com. Little did I know, Zwift already had that change in the works (which explains why the delta figure was available in the API data for the ZwiftPower ZRS plugin to access in the first place).

Anyway – this is a small change, but a welcome one. The deltas will also be visible in results on Zwift Companion.

Questions or Comments

That’s a pretty significant list of changes impacting Zwift Racing Score. What do you think of the changes? Share your thoughts below!

With the 24th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, I’ve created a Zwift charity race to honor the victims of the attacks and to raise funds for the Firefighters Burn Institute, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded by Sacramento Fire Captain Cliff Haskell and the Sacramento Area Fire Fighters, Local 522 in 1973 for the purposes of:

• establishing a local burn treatment facility
• providing recovery programs for burn survivors
• promoting fire and burn prevention through public education
• funding education for medical burn team professionals, firefighters, and burn survivors
• supporting burn treatment and rehabilitation research

As a firefighter, this is a cause that is near to my heart. Thank you for your support.

Schedule and Route Details

Route and Pen Details:

• 2 laps of New York’s Gotham Grind (18.7km, 192m elevation)
• Powerups: Feather, Aero, Draft
• Staggered start scratch race using 5 ZRS pens. Lower pens start first, all riders are visible, and you are only scored against your own pen.

Two Events Available:

• 11pm PT/1p ET/6pm UTC Sign up here >
• 5pm PT/8pm ET/12am UTC Sign up here > (this race will be live streamed at http://www.youtube.com/@BRizzRacing)

Donations

This race is a fundraiser for the Firefighters Burn Institute. Donate at zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/911-race-to-remember.

Racing is not required to donate, and donating is not required to race.

Israel–Premier Tech has removed its name from its cycling kit for the Vuelta a España, citing safety reasons after the race was targeted by pro-Palestine protesters. 

While the team’s kit previously had its name across the chest, the new kit simply has its sponsor logos and monogram.

In a statement released on Saturday, Israel–Premier Tech said it had changed its kit to keep its riders and the rest of the peloton safe in light of the “dangerous” nature of some of the protests. 

“Israel–Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race. The team name remains Israel–Premier Tech but the monogram kit now aligns with the branding decisions we have previously adopted for our vehicles and casual clothing,” the team said. 

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A post shared by Israel – Premier Tech (@israelpremiertech)

The BDS Movement called for protests at this year’s Grand Tours in April against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech. The team is co-owned by Canadian–Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams, who is a vocal supporter of Israel. 

While there were demonstrations at the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, there have been more prominent demonstrations at the Vuelta. 

Protestors disrupted Israel–Premier Tech’s team time trial on 27 August, and there were more significant protests last week. 

On stage 10 of the race, demonstrators entered the course, leading to Intermarché–Wanty’s Simone Petilli crashing. 

After the incident, the riders’ union, the Cyclistes Professionels Associés (CPA), met with race organisers before stage 11 to discuss how to approach the issue. 

President of the CPA, Adam Hansen, said on Twitter: “We remind everyone that cyclists are not involved in political or social disputes – they are simply doing their job: racing. Their safety must never be put at risk.

“While we respect the right to peaceful protest, actions that endanger athletes cannot be accepted. Rider safety must remain the highest priority.”

Later that day, the race organisers cut stage 11 short by 3km and said there would be no stage winner due to protests at the finish line in Bilbao.

Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, then said it “firmly condemned” the protests and stressed the importance of political neutrality in sport. 

Following stage 11, Israel–Premier Tech said it would not withdraw from the race, saying the team “remains committed” to La Vuelta. 

Protests continued at the race through the weekend.

Israel–Premier Tech also participated in the Tour of Britain, which concluded yesterday, where its kit retained its full name.