Considerable research and development has gone into Revo’s first clipless pedals since we first saw the prototypes at COREbike in February 2024. Now both models are finally available.
Renthal says the design it has settled on for the Revo-DHC and Revo-TRC prioritises durability, easy servicing and feel.
The brand says that in the case of the Revo-DHCs, it was aiming for a flat-pedal-like feel, but has gone about this in an unorthodox way.
Renthal says the binding is the same distance from the crank as on most clipless pedals. Scott Windsor / Our Media
Aimed at downhill racers, the Revo-DHC pedals look striking because the mechanism is heavily offset inboard within the flat-pedal-esque platform.
It sits the same distance from the crank arm (circa 55mm) as on most clipless designs, but unlike traditional pedals, there is increased additional outboard support for the shoe sole.
Adjustable-height pins mean traction can be tailored to your preference. Scott Windsor / Our Media
The Revo-DHCs share their silhouette with Renthal’s Revo-F flat pedals, launched in 2024, and use the same adjustable-height (1.5 to 5.5mm) pins.
The idea is that these should be set to a length that enables ‘float’ between shoe and pedal for easy engagement, but permits them to bite into the sole when you load the pedal, giving a planted feel.
A proprietary binding mechanism is compatible with Shimano SPD system cleats. Scott Windsor / Our Media
The Revo-DHCs’ large platform contains eight pins per side, so when you unclip, there should be plenty of support available until you can clip in again.
“The front pins are set to clear the front of the shoe as close as possible when clipping in, the rear pins are set to clear the shoe by the same margin when clipped in,” says Renthal.
At 620g a pair, the DHCs aren’t light, but Renthal says “we didn’t want to sacrifice that flat-pedal feel just to save a few grams”.
The platform is made from CNC-machined 6061 aluminium alloy and spins on a chromoly steel axle, supported by an inboard IGUS bush and three outboard cartridge bearings.
The platform on Renthal’s DHC pedal is made from CNC-machined 6061 aluminium alloy and spins on a chromoly steel axle. Scott Windsor / Our Media
The binding mechanism used on both models of Revo pedal is proprietary, but compatible with Shimano’s ubiquitous SPD cleats.
Renthal’s TRC pedals are smaller and lighter than the DHC model. Scott Windsor / Our Media
For riders concerned about weight, the UK brand also has the Revo-TRCs, which it claims weigh 394g. Aimed at trail and enduro riders, they feature the same materials and mechanism as the DHCs, but have a smaller platform, no pins and a more conventional look; the binding sits centrally within the cage.
Renthal moved the three sealed cartridge bearings to the centre of the TRC pedals because load is concentrated there. Scott Windsor / Our Media
Unusually, the three cartridge bearings have been moved to the middle of the body on this design.
Renthal’s Ian Collins says pedals with a smaller platform are less prone to rock strikes, and therefore loads more often go through the centre of the pedals, so this arrangement provides the best bearing longevity.
Both models of Revo pedal are designed to be easily serviceable by home mechanics. Scott Windsor / Our Media
Both pedals are designed for easy servicing without specialist tools, thanks mainly to Renthal’s proprietory patent-pending axle design, where the axle itself doubles as a bushing installation and extraction tool.
Both pedals are available in either anodised black or Renthal’s AluGold signature colourway. Scott Windsor / Our Media
They are available either in black or Renthal’s signature ‘AluGold’ colourways.
I’ve been messing around with lots of different Watopia Rebel Route ideas lately, but this may be my favorite. It uses Watopia’s most classic roads in a combination that would work well for an easy short ride, a warmup + lap-jersey-grabbing ride, or (hopefully some day) an official Zwift race with a flatter start and a punchy and strategic second half.
This route is simply a combination of two well-known Watopia circuits: Volcano Circuit and Hilly Route. We begin with the Volcano Circuit – the “big ring” that is flat and fast. Then we hit the inner “little ring” of the Hilly Route with its namesake KOM.
One other tidbit: this is the first time I’ve created a “reverse” version of a Rebel Route, because I think the Big Ring/Little Ring Reverse makes a great course as well. The Strava segment is linked at the bottom of this post, and I’ll be including the reverse version in the Veloviewer Leaderboards.
About Rebel Routes
“Rebel Routes” are Zwift rides not available on Zwift’s routes list, thus requiring manual navigation.
The reward for your rebel ride? Exploring a new route, knowing you’ve gone where few Zwifters have gone before. And a Strava segment rank in the tens or hundreds instead of the thousands! Rebel Routes are also included as a separate category on our Veloviewer Route Hunter leaderboard.
Route Description
You can set yourself up for an easy first 11km of navigating by selecting the Volcano Flat route to begin your ride.
A note about the Strava segment’s start point: it begins at the white line on Ocean Boulevard which acts as the official start line for some newer Watopia routes. This allows future events as well as free rides to match the Strava segment.
The first loop of this route – the “Big Ring” portion – is the Volcano Flat route. That means you’ll travel through the Ocean Blvd tunnel, the marina, down the Dirty Sorpressa and across the land bridge to the Volcano, then back into downtown Watopia. That’s the “Big Ring” done.
Next, instead of turning onto Ocean Blvd again, we go straight to head up the Hilly KOM for the spicy “Little Ring” portion. This is Watopia’s classic “Hilly Route” which takes you over the KOM, down through the Italian Villas, onto the JWB Sprint, then up the ramp and into The Esses before a fast finish at the downtown lap arch.
Turn By Turn Directions
Begin by choosing the Volcano Flat route, which starts you in downtown Watopia and routes you correctly until you need to turn right to hit the KOM after completing the Volcano Flat route (turn #12 below).
Giant Bicycles founder King Liu “passed away peacefully” on Monday at the age of 93.
“To Giant Group, Mr. Liu was not only our Founder, but a leader who consistently guided the organization forward while remaining attentive to the people around him,” Giant said in a statement released yesterday.
“Through a strong commitment to quality and a clear long-term vision, he led the company onto the global stage and helped the world recognize the strength and capability of Taiwan’s bicycle industry,” the statement continued.
Liu founded Giant Group in 1972 in his hometown of Taichung, Taiwan, making bikes for overseas brands such as Schwinn.
Liu graduated from a technical high school before working in several professions, across transportation, chemicals, food imports and hardware. After the loss of his previous venture, an eel farm, Liu decided to build a bicycle factory in 1972 when he was 38.
Giant initially made bicycles for overseas brands, before beginning production of its own bicycles in 1981. It is now the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world, producing an estimated 6.6 million bikes annually.
In 2013, Liu told the New York Times that he had a “mission” to make Taiwan the “capital of cycling”.
Liu took to cycling seriously in his 70s. He reignited his passion for cycling in 2007 by riding 575 miles through Taiwan in 17 days. Two years later, he rode more than 1,000 miles from Taiwan to China to promote the positive benefits of the bicycle.
“Throughout his life, Mr. Liu devoted himself to bicycles, believing they represented not merely a business, but a meaningful way of life. He was widely respected as a lifelong advocate for cycling culture and remained a deeply influential figure to colleagues, partners, and riders across generations,” Giant said.
The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) has launched a new report, titled Broken Locks, Broken Promises. It excoriates the Metropolitan Police for its lack of action on stolen bicycles in London.
LCC surveyed 1,924 London cyclists, to gauge their experience and attitudes to bike theft. It estimates that a total of 40,000 bikes are stolen annually in London, with 74% of respondents to its latest survey reporting that a member of their family had had a bike stolen. 51% of thefts occurred on-street.
79% of those reporting loss of a bike said the Met Police had taken no action and 69% considered the police response inadequate. Only 2% of stolen bikes are recovered, according to the LCC, one of the lowest percentages of any UK police force.
Earlier this year, we reported that the British Transport Police had reversed its policy in which it stated that it would not investigate theft of cycles left outside a train station for more than two hours. There’s been a call from the Liberal Democrats for the setting of “bait bikes” fitted with a concealed tracker to help identify bike thieves and bring them to justice.
54% of respondents reported using Sold Secure Gold or Diamond-rated locks.
The new report quotes one respondent to the LCC’s survey, who said: “Reported, have the person on CCTV, yet the police did nothing. Not important to them, but it meant the world to me.”
Another respondent reported: “I received a letter from the police that was dated the same day as the theft saying they were closing the investigation due to a lack of evidence. They hadn’t even requested CCTV.”
Then there was the respondent who told the LCC: “I found someone riding my stolen bike, followed them, watched them lock up the bike and leave. Called the police. Two policemen came.
“I had frame number and photo of the bike with distinctive customisations. Even when standing next to my stolen bike they would do nothing. They said we should leave a note for the guy who was riding it to contact the police when he came back.”
LCC claims that many cycle thefts aren’t reported because the police’s response is so poor. Perversely, this enables the police to claim rates of cycle theft are falling in the capital.
Another effect cited by LCC is that victims of theft reduce or abandon their cycling, potentially adding to traffic, pollution and the risk of road traffic accidents.
What to do?
The report calls for more secure parking provision at stations and elsewhere. Transport for London
Rather than just hand-wringing and finger-pointing, LCC makes a range of recommendations for action by the Met Police and the Mayor of London.
Its top three recommendations are:
That the mayor reinstates the cycle theft task force and commits to a 10% annual reduction in cycle theft.
That the Met Police tracks bicycle theft properly and enforces effectively both on the street and online.
That councils, TfL and Network Rail install secure cycle parking at stations and elsewhere.
That bike retailers and online marketplaces teach people about bike security via online and in-shop campaigns.
A petition has been launched to accompany the new report, which calls on the deputy major for policing and crime, and the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to implement its recommendations. You can sign the petition here.
Continental has added a 35mm width to its Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyre range, riding the trend for ever-wider tyres for road use.
The new tyre joins the existing range, which offered 25mm, 28mm, 30mm and 32mm widths with black or transparent sidewalls.
Conti isn’t the only tyre brand to go wider. In 2024, Pirelli launched a 40mm width for its P Zero Race TLR range, which also includes a 35mm option. It is pitching the increased widths at cobbled races such as Paris-Roubaix, as well as the burgeoning all-road market.
Pirelli added a 40mm-width option for its P Zero Race TLR tyre in 2024. Scott Windsor / Our Media
Switch to Pirelli’s Cinturato tyre and there is a 40mm, 50mm and even a 55mm width.
Other brands with extra-wide road-oriented tyres include WTB, which sells the Exposure tyre in 38mm width and René Herse, whose semi-slick tyres span the all-road/gravel boundary with widths up to 55mm.
Tyres continue to get wider
Many race bikes still don’t offer clearance for tyres much over 35mm. Felix Smith / Our Media
As Simon von Bromley discussed in his post-Roubaix wrap-up on tyre widths last year, road tyres will continue to expand in width for the foreseeable future, both for the pros and for general users.
Mathieu van der Poel won Paris-Roubaix on 32mm tyres in 2024 and 2025, while Tadej Pogačar, who was runner-up in last year’s race, also on 32mm rubber, regularly rides 30mm-width tyres in non-cobbled races.
Simon reckons most amateurs should be riding wider tyres. The issue isn’t the availability of wide tyres, though, as the examples above show. It’s bikes’ tyre clearance. Although this has increased significantly with the switch from rim to disc brakes, it still lags behind the capability of tyre makers to produce ever-wider tyres.
This is particularly true for road race bikes, where the extra length to the chainstays needed to accommodate wider/taller tyres and the associated increased wheelbase can potentially dull the bike’s handling.
The Trek Madone has official clearance of only 32mm. Getty Images
Nevertheless, when we asked Glen Leven, team support manager at Lidl-Trek if the team wanted more clearance, he told us space for tyres up to 38mm or 40mm was on its wish list from Trek for the next-generation Madone.
The appetite for wider tyres was more mixed among 13 pros we polled at last year’s Paris-Roubaix, with many reckoning around 32mm was the sweetspot and one team even switching from 32s to 30s. Many suggested they’d go narrower for non-cobbled races.
The UCI also gets in on the act, with its wheel-plus-tyre diameter regulations, which would be contravened by a 40mm tyre on a 700c rim.
Plus, there’s the additional weight of a wider tyre, which is often beefed up by the tyre maker, with a thicker tread adding to the extra material from the additional width. The increased frontal profile potentially affects the bike’s aerodynamics as well.
Plus new 30mm Continental time trial tyre width
We measured the nominally 28mm Continental GP5000 TT TR tyre on Tadej Pogačar’s Colnago V4Rs at 32.2mm before the 2023 Tour de France Grand Depart. George Scott / Our Media
In addition, Continental has added a 30mm width to its lightweight Grand Prix 5000 TT TR tyre range, which was previously offered only in 25mm and 28mm widths. Again, that’s likely to be a response to the increased clearance offered by the latest generation of time trial/triathlon bike frames.
But pros including Pogačar have used time trial tyres in road races, rather than the slightly heavier road tyres, so the increased width for the TT TR offers a lighter-weight alternative for road racing too, helping to offset the added weight of a wider tyre.
MAAP and fashion label Perks and Mini (P.A.M) has released its fourth capsule collection, which encourages you to “push beyond the familiar until the earth morphs with alien vitality”.
The ‘Outer Terrestrial Space Travel’ collection is said to bring P.A.M’s “signature psy-activated graphic language and free-wheeling aesthetic” to MAAP’s high-performance cycling kit and “alt-cycling ethos”.
MAAP and P.A.M first collaborated in 2021, with a more casual collection released in early 2022. That was followed later in the year by the trippy Club Ciclistico Amatiorale capsule, which was said to be “at the intersection of earth meets urban sunshine sonnets”.
The fourth PAAM collection is for “those in pursuit of cosmic elevation” and “outer terrestrial” adventures. But here on the earth, you can buy a range of on- and off-bike clothing.
MAAP’s Pro Air Jersey 3.0 is available in Violet Cosmos or Black and Glow Lime, while its Team Bib Evo Cargo shorts are decorated with reflective MAAP x P.A.M graphics. The collection also contains MAAP’s new Wind Jacket and its Air Mesh LS Tee.
For when you’re not riding, MAAP has put out a hoodie and casual shorts, alongside two T-shirts in the same colours as the special-edition cycling jersey. There are also caps, socks, musettes and water bottles available.
Alongside P.A.M, MAAP has teamed up with other fashion and sports brands in recent years. In 2022, it released an Alt_Road collection with New York’s outerwear brand The Arrivals and last year it collaborated with Hoka.
The MAAP x P.A.M Pro Air Jersey 3.0. MAAP
The collection includes casual clothing, such as this T-shirt. MAAP
MAAP’s Air Mesh LS Tee. MAAP
The drop includes MAAP’s new Wind Jacket in green. MAAP
Ever wondered how much fitness you can gain in a few months? In this week’s top video, one Zwifter tests their FTP to see how much progress they have made over the last 5 months.
Also included in this week’s picks: getting started on Zwift, tough Zwift races, climbing Alpe du Zwift as a heavier rider, and a pain cave tour.
After 147 days of Zwift, I retested my FTP
Over the last few months, Liam Shaw has been on a mission to go from category E to category A. In his latest video, watch as he tackles an FTP test.
If I Started Zwift Today, I’d Do This Differently
As an experienced indoor cyclist, Chad Rides shares how he would get started with Zwift if he were to do it all again.
Can I Survive a Zwift Race After a Long Endurance Training Ride?
In an attempt to build resistance to fatigue, Tom Bowers Cycling attempts a Zwift race after a long zone 2 effort.
How a HEAVY Rider Climbs Alpe Du Zwift (relatively quickly)
Ryan Condon climbs Alpe du Zwift for stage 5 of the Tour de Zwift. How close can he get to his previous times?
Zwift Pain Cave + Home Gym Setup (Then I Race)
Ben Simpkin gives riders a walkthrough of his pain cave setup before tackling a Zwift race.
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
I moved to a top-floor flat in February 2025, with no access to a hose or mains power, forcing lazy old me to buy a cordless pressure washer to clean my bikes. Fast forward to today and… well, I’m really tight and have toiled with a sponge and bucket since moving.
But the green layer growing on my balcony floor and my delicate editor’s hands, grown weary of bathing my bikes after a truly disgusting winter, have forced action.
At checkout, I was pleasantly surprised to find I’d saved another 10 per cent off using the automatically applied discount code HEART10. This time-limited code expires on 16 February 2026 at 11.59pm and brings the price down further to £80.99, with free postage.
Even without the discount code, that’s a great deal when you consider it’s £149 on Amazon. At the time of writing, there are some Amazon Resale options available for as little as £97.20, but that’s still more expensive than the brand-new option from eBay.
The washer includes a bucket, cleaning accessories, one battery plus charger, and a helpfully long 6m hose – a generous suite of bundled bits compared to the comparatively frugal offering of something such as this Titan pressure washer from Screwfix.
Why the Worx?
POV: you’re a bottom bracket that’s about to have every bit of grease blasted out of it. Worx
Full disclosure: I only slapped down my 80 big ones last night, so I’m yet to receive the pressure washer, so I can’t vouch for its efficacy.
However, based on the enthusiastic endorsements of mud-slinging, shred-sledding colleague Tom Marvin, alongside former colleague and good friend Matthew Loveridge, I have no reason to doubt it will be up to the task.
In addition, our 4.5-star 2018 review of the similar Worx Max Hydroshot heaped praise on its quality and power. User reviews on Amazon are also, generally, very positive.
Worx definitely won’t approve of me using one of these, but I’m too tight to buy into a new battery system. eBay
I was also drawn to the washer for one extremely niche reason.
I’m an enthusiastic advocate of Lidl’s house tool brand, Parkside, and have a decent stash of its 20v batteries.
Alas, despite waiting patiently for one of its well-liked cordless washers to go on sale, the middle aisle gods have not looked kindly upon my soggy soul.
However, 3D-printed adaptors enabling you to use Parkside batteries on Worx tools (and other brands) are widely available. Because they are both 20v systems, these adaptors are simpler than others that must switch/convert voltage.
Worx will, doubtless, take a dim view of these (I expect it will invalidate your warranty, so proceed with caution), but many online reports suggest these work perfectly well.
If you’re looking for a pressure washer, this is about as good a deal as you’re going to find – just act quickly if you want to use that discount code.
In 2019, Caroline Pasedach thought it was all over. An experienced German competitive cyclist and a doctor at a big university clinic, she was also on the German National Team for 4X (a discipline between Downhill and BMX) and was the World Champion of a 24-hour mountain bike race (24h-MTB-Indoor World Championship in Freistadt, Austria). Then she went paragliding for the first time. And fell from the sky.
“You will never ride again.”
The accident happened shortly after the start of her flight. She and her pilot barely got off the ground when the wind gusted from an unexpected direction and folded the glider. They crashed back on the grass. HARD. Her pilot fell on top of her, and she damaged both wrists.
“My wrist was badly broken, and I also suffered a nerve injury to the hand,” she recalls.
This caused a condition called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). It is a chronic illness for which there is no cure. She had to undergo surgery.
“The doctors told me I would never cycle again. I told them that they don’t know me!”
“My life was miserable.” She ate too much and became overweight. She was very unhappy with her life. Her life became a nightmare. This was not the way she wanted to live.
“They didn’t know me.”
Then one day she woke up, feeling fat and disgusted, and said to herself, “I am a doctor. I’ve dealt with many obstacles in my life. Why!? Why am I doing this to myself?” It was time to meet this challenge head-on. She would change her life.
Since she couldn’t work with her injury, she quit her job.
In the first two years after her accident, she focused on regaining normal hand function. Due to a broken tendon, she had to undergo a second surgery almost a year after the first one. The operation made the pain syndrome worse, and she had to be treated in a special clinic for six weeks to regain movement of her fingers. Cycling was not possible at all.
Since she was unable to hold the handlebars properly and outside riding would have been too dangerous, she turned to Zwift. She put some books under the front wheel of her indoor bicycle to reduce the pressure on my hands.
Zwift gave her strength and confidence.
Zwift helped her lose weight.
Zwift turned her life around.
“The doctors were wrong.”
She could ride. She could race. The doctors were wrong.
Now she trains almost entirely on Zwift. She loves it. It helped her get and stay in shape. Thanks to Zwift and better eating habits, she lost over 100 pounds, and is in the best shape of her life.
“Zwift helped me realize I was more than a long-distance cyclist.”
During her Zwift training, she started to snag a bunch of green sprinter jerseys, and she was really flying around the routes. She was fast! Faster than she thought she could ever go. This gave her the confidence to sign up for a European Championship Vintage Time Trial race in 2024.
“I used the Zwift Time trial training plan and won that race! I couldn’t believe it! Zwift made me a better cyclist.”
After the success at the European Championship, she competed at the Vintage World Championship for Road Cycling – and won again!
In 2025, she cycled across the Australian outback from Brisbane to Perth – 5,000 miles.
“I made the impossible possible.”
Read Her Upcoming Book and Support Her Next Big Adventure
“I wanted to give all the patients with complex regional pain syndrome hope that they can reach their goals, like I did.” To that end, you’ll be able to read about her comeback as she kept daily notes on her experience and is now writing a book about her experience: “I don’t know how many people will read it because everything I write is the truth and it is not always nice and shiny. But the world is exactly like that. I want to write about the ups and downs, because that’s how life is.”
Coming up for 2026, she plans to cross the United States twice. “I am signed in for the Transam Team for Bike the US for MS from June to August. After that I want to do the Southern Tier.”
Are you a Zwifter with a great story? Can we share it?
At Zwift Insider, we’re always looking for personal stories from the Zwift community that inspire, educate, or amaze. Email eric@zwiftinsider.com with a quick summary of your story to get started!
Utah-based bikemaker Ventum has launched the third generation of its NS1 road bike, replacing the 2023 second generation with a new frameset featuring updated geometry.
The new frame is claimed to be 200g lighter and takes advantage of the current UCI frame-dimension rules to include a revised head tube and fork legs.
Originally launched in 2019, the NS1 was Ventum’s first road bike, with the brand focusing on triathlon bikes since its founding in 2014. At its launch, Ventum claimed the original NS1 was one of the lightest and strongest road frames available.
Deeper, narrower head tube
Ventum has extended the head tube and added a waist on the third-generation frame.
The reshaped head tube is both deeper and sharper at its leading edge, which extends ahead of the steerer, as per the Specialized Tarmac SL8 and a host of other recent road bikes. The waisted head tube shape is a feature of many of the current crop of lightweight-aero bikes, such as the Factor Ostro VAM, and is designed to reduce the frame’s frontal area.
The fork legs are now deeper for a claimed improvement in aerodynamics and increased stiffness, again mirroring the Ostro VAM’s 2024 update.
Another feature shared with many recent road bikes is an increase in stack, which is 13mm higher in a size M/L. Ventum says this should help riders maintain an aero ride position for longer. It’s a trend that Ollie Smith highlighted last year in his piece on five ways race bikes will improve in 2026.
The reach remains largely the same as for the previous-generation bike. The wheelbase has been changed slightly, increasing by 6mm for the M/L, but less for other sizes, which Ventum claims makes the bike more settled at speed, while still offering a responsive ride feel.
Lower frame weight
Ventum claims to have shaved 203g off the frame weight, reducing it to 852g for a size M/L – effectively the same as removing the down tube and half the head tube from the Gen 2 NS1. It has changed the carbon layup and production process, and the redesign has reduced the mass of the frame’s front end and seatstays.
Despite the weight loss, Ventum claims an 11.9% increase in stiffness at the bottom bracket and 7.7% at the head tube. The frame is specced for a T47 bottom bracket and Universal Derailleur Hanger, and offers 35mm tyre clearance. It comes fitted with a 10mm-offset seatpost.
Frameset-only and five build options
Full builds include three SRAM and two Shimano options, all with Zipp wheels.
The new NS1 frameset is available in three colours, priced at $3,599.
Full SRAM builds include SRAM Rival AXS with Zipp 303 S wheels and Zipp two-piece cockpit, priced at $5,499; SRAM Force AXS with Zipp 303 SW wheels and a Ventum one-piece cockpit, priced at $7,599; and SRAM Red AXS with Zipp 353 NSW wheels and Ventum cockpit, priced at $10,999.
Shimano options include Ultegra with Zipp 303 SW wheels and one-piece Ventum cockpit, priced at $7,899; and Dura-Ace with Zipp 353 NSW wheels and Ventum cockpit, priced at $11,299.
Ventum sells direct to consumers and via dealers. Its range now includes the GS1 gravel bike and the ES1-G electric gravel bike, alongside the NS1 and its tri and time-trial framesets.
Tuesday was the last race of Zwift Racing League Round 3, and we were in London for a two-lapper of the classic London Loop. That meant 30km of racing but, more importantly, two trips up Box Hill! This was going to hurt…
Planning and Warmup
Heading into the race, we were scrambling to line up enough riders. We brought on a new Coalition teammate, Neale, and Captain Neil signed on to race even though he was going to be racing an earlier edition with another Coalition team that was short on riders. So our starting lineup was:
Captain Neil
Enrico
Dylan
Neale
Fabian
Myself
I pulled my S-Works Aethos out of the garage and installed the ENVE 4.5 wheels, because I wanted every advantage I could get on Box Hill. I got out on course early, so I could take my time with a 20-30 minute warmup. Then I signed onto Discord, downed a SIS gel, and got ready to rumble!
Lap 1
63 riders rolled out of the pens to begin the first of two London Loops. We all got feather powerups at the lap arch, and we all tucked them away for safekeeping. We knew what was coming up the road.
The first little effort of the race was short climb (Northumberland Avenue) you hit when you turn a hard right away from the Thames 3.5km into lap one. It wasn’t bad, though – just 30 seconds of slightly higher effort. The feathers still weren’t flying, and none of us was brave enough to attack in earnest this early.
An average of just 250W brought me (and all 63 starters) from the start of the race to the bottom of Box Hill. That’s where the action began.
While I know Box Hill is a ~7-minute effort for me, I don’t think of it that way. Rather, I mentally break it into a few sections:
The Lead-In: The bit before we turn a hard right and the climb gets steep. Nobody pushes hard this early.
The Steep Bit: The first long stretch averages 7-8% until it eases a bit before the left hairpin. This is where the pack quickly separates and elastic snaps, and it’s where I’ve been dropped in the past. I used my feather to help me hold a good position near the front. Sauce showed the front group had shrunk to 44 by the end of this section.
The Middle: When we “zag” back to the left, the pack tends to ease a bit, and the road even flattens momentarily, although it pitches back up and ends up averaging around 5%. Things often come back together a bit in here, but not for long.
The Long Haul: Turn a hard right and hit the white painted roads – this is the long final haul to the top. Some riders held their feathers for the end of this bit, which made me work harder than anticipated. I was close to being on my limit, but I also knew what was up the road, so I knew I could push hard here since recovery was waiting. Sauce showed 32 riders left at the top of this section.
The Flat Finish: Turn right at the top of the Long Haul, and you’ve got a flattish final 600 meters to the KOM banner. If I’m still in touch with the group at this point, I know I’ve survived the climb. And I was still in touch! Sauce showed 26 left in the group as we went through. This was the selection. This group of 26 would stay together to the end of the race.
Using my feather on the steep bitOn the middleThe Long Haul90-day Box Hill PR (7:13)!
Instead of the promised anvil powerup at the KOM arch, I saw the standard powerup animation pop up through the KOM arch, flipping between Draft, Aero, and Feather. I got a feather, which I used on the short kicker that comes just before the long descent of Fox Hill.
We all took a big breath as we flew down Fox, put in a quick dig to get up and out of The Underground, then spun our way to the finish of the first lap.
26 riders had survived in the front group… but only 2 of us (Enrico and myself) were Coalition. Clearly, this wasn’t going to be a team win for us, but if I could hang on over the second Box Hill, I would have a shot at the podium. That became my only goal.
Continuing the powerup weirdness, we all got feathers at the end of Tower Bridge (there’s a white line on the road there that acts as a sort of “invisible arch” marking the start of some routes). I could have used my feather right there for a bit of relief, but I wasn’t convinced there was another one waiting for me at the lap banner, and I knew I wanted one for Box Hill. So I just held onto the feather I had.
Lap 2
The lead into Box Hill #2 was unremarkable, with some riders putting in harder pulls on the front, but never hard enough to drop any riders. All 26 of us arrived at the bottom of Box Hill, ready for the next big battle.
This time around, I decided to hold onto my feather until the end of the climb, unless I felt like I was getting dropped. It seemed like everyone else had the same idea: I only saw a couple of feathers fly before we reached the final stretch of The Long Haul near the top of Box Hill.
Even though the second climb was a bit slower (7:25 at 326W average vs the first lap’s 7:13 at 340W average), this second Box Hill effort was tougher than the first. I could feel that I was even closer to being on the limit, but I also knew everyone was suffering. This is bike racing, after all. So I kept digging, and eventually the road flattened, and I was still in the wheels. I’d made it! Hurray!
The powerup spinner at the top gave me a feather, which was not ideal (more on that later). I decided to hold onto it for use on the ramp out of The Underground.
Everyone lit it up on that ramp, so the feather helped. I found myself in 2nd position, in fact, chasing on to a long attack from Allois (TSE). I quickly decided that was a bad idea, though, as my legs needed a break. So I sat up, getting in the wheels, and waited to time my final effort.
As we left the Tower Bridge, we got another feather powerup. I used it right away, hoping it would give me a bit of relief, because I figured it wouldn’t be much help on the downhill finish. I was sitting in 6th in a strung-out group, and Allois was 2 seconds up the road.
With a few hundred meters left, the road tilted down a bit, and the powerups started to fly. First the feathers and the draft boost vans. The near the end, the aero boost helmets. I hammered with all my tired legs had, and came across the line in 8th.
While the on-screen results showed me in 8th, ZwiftPower (and WTRL’s final results) show me in 9th.
In the grand scheme of things, this doesn’t matter much at all. But it could have been a really big deal, because:
My team tied with another team (ART) in total points for this race, meaning it goes to whoever had the highest finishing points (not counting podium bonus points). That means ART beats us. But had I finished in 8th, we would have beat ART.
It turns out, we held onto 2nd place for Round 3. But just barely (by 2 points).
Look, we all know that, if Zwift wants to be taken seriously in the e-racing space, they need to solidify the finishing position experience. It’s been an issue for a long time. But this particular issue is a weird one I haven’t seen before: how is the game showing one result, while ZwiftPower/WTRL are showing another? That shouldn’t be possible, right? Aren’t both of those based on the same server-side system?
Powerup Madness
Can we talk about powerups… again?
If you watch the finish of this race (video above), you’ll see that nearly all (or possibly all, it’s hard to tell) of the riders who finished ahead of me had draft or aero boost powerups. (Reminder: I had a feather.)
Let me remind you: we were all supposed to get anvils at the KOM arch. Everyone was supposed to get the same powerup, and therefore have the same advantage in the finish.
But that wasn’t the case. A bug/misconfiguration of all the races on the day meant we got a random pick of three powerups at the KOM. I, unfortunately, got a feather. Had I landed a draft or aero boost, I can promise you I would have held onto it for the finish, used it wisely, and finished higher than 8/9th place.
This is the second time in Round 3 that my ZRL result was affected negatively by how powerups were handed out in the race (read about the first time here). And while I’m happy to take the blame for a poor race result, it’s irritating and demotivating to know that the finishes to these races were, in some part, determined by the “luck of the draw.” It shouldn’t work that way.
My opinion: powerups shouldn’t be randomly assigned, unless it’s an event like a Crit City race, where you’ve got lots of chances to get powerups, and thus the choice to use or hold them becomes a strategy in itself.
Personal Performance
I’m happy I survived in the front group in this race, as that was far from a foregone conclusion. Could I have played my cards better for a better result? Probably. Easing a bit more out of The Underground on lap 2, then saving my feather for the final 30 seconds may have gained me a few places.
Apart from that, I’m not sure if I’d change anything else about how I raced this one.
Final Team Result for Round 3
Despite an unimpressive 7th-place finish on the day, my team managed to hold onto 2nd place overall for Round 3. Congrats to TSE, who beat us once again, just like Round 2:
We finished off the round with our traditional team Discord photo:
It was good racing with you lads. See you in Round 4!
What about you?
How did your last race of Round 3 go? Did you win at powerup roulette? Share below!
Scottish mountain bike brand Deviate Cycles is back online after the previous company was forced to liquidate last year.
The brand is planning a “careful return“ and has reopened its global online store.
Co-founder Ben Jones confirmed Deviate will honour lifetime warranties on bikes that were purchased prior to liquidation.
Back on course
Deviate has announced that its global online store is open again. James Vincent / Deviate Cycles
Deviate explained in a press release that: “Over recent months, work has taken place quietly behind the scenes to secure the brand, its designs, and the future of its current platforms.”
“The last period has been incredibly difficult for everyone connected to Deviate – our team, our partners, and especially the riders who believed in what we were building,” said co-founder Ben Jones.
The global web store has stocks of frames, complete bikes and spare parts. Deviate says it will provide technical guidance and support to existing customers.
The short-term plan is to ensure availability of existing models while the company finds its feet again.
Lifetime warranties honoured
Deviate will honour lifetime warranties on bikes bought from the now-liquidated former company. Ian Linton / Our Media
Deviate has confirmed that lifetime frame-warranty support (for original owners) is still valid on bikes purchased before the liquidation. It includes cover for all Deviate carbon frames against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship.
Although legally the warranties issued by the now-liquidated former company did not transfer over to the reborn Deviate Cycles, the relaunched business has chosen to extend equivalent lifetime support to original owners as a voluntary commitment.
“We wanted to stand behind the riders who have trusted Deviate over the years while building a company that can do that properly for the long term,” said Jones.
Kurgan on hold
Deviate plans to pause the release of the new Kurgan eMTB while the company focuses on rebuilding its operational foundations. James Vincent / Deviate Cycles
Deviate’s statement explained: “While the release of the Kurgan remains an exciting part of the brand’s future, the immediate priority is stability and dependable rider support.”
Therefore, Deviate plans to “pause” the bike’s release while it focuses on rebuilding its operational foundations.
The statement added: “Future product innovation remains central to Deviate’s vision, but development will follow a deliberate, engineering-led pace rather than rapid expansion.”
This weekend we’re featuring a nice blend of events, from a super-short race to a 100-mile endurance ride, with plenty of variety in between. Check out our picks below!
Vatternrundan Group Ride Series #6
Popular Endurance Training
The Vätternrundan group ride series continues to grow in popularity… and ride length! This week, the ride has increased to 150 minutes. With over 240 riders signed up when this post was composed, it’s the most popular event of the weekend.
The premise of the series is simple: rides increase in duration from January 11 to March 1, with the goal of preparing you to handle many hours on the bike when the IRL race day arrives in June. (The Vätternrundan Group Ride Series is part of Vätternrundan’s official training program.)
This week’s ride is on Turf N Surf, and there are two pace group options (1.8-2.2 and 1.5-1.8 W/kg).
Tugaz Tour 2026 launched last Sunday, and we’re now on our second stage, held on one lap of Innsbruck’s 2018 Worlds Short Lap route (23.9km, 496m).
This tour consists of 15 standalone races, all held at a single time slot, always on weekends. The stages are inspired by the main competitions of the Portuguese Cycling Federation and will take place on the corresponding real-world dates. All races will be mass start scratch races – time gaps do not matter, only final placings count.
Registration, rules, results, and everything else related to the Tugaz Tour 2026 can be found on the official website.
Popular Ride Legacy Leader Endurance Challenge Kit Unlock
A regularly featured event here on Zwift Insider, the BMTR Flat 100 always gets lots of joiners because it’s well-led and run consistently week after week, year after year.
This week’s ride is on Makuri Islands’ Neon Flats, with three pace groups to choose from.
The series kicked off last week, so this week’s race is just 2km long. And it’s on Watopia’s Three Sisters route, which means the race basically ends at the top of the Hilly KOM. Hup hup!
We’re nearing the end of Tour de Zwift, with the final stage wrapping up this weekend, and make-up events next week. If you’re looking for a group ride where you can set your own pace but still have some company, TdZ is just the ticket since hundreds of riders join each event.
We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:
Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
Is it for a good cause?
Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?
In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!
Strava will begin to end its support for Facebook login, starting from 16 March, which means you’ll have to change how you log in if you use this method.
The fitness and cycling app is moving away from Facebook in another way. It will no longer make friend suggestions based on your Facebook connections. Instead, you will have to use Strava’s own ‘in-app friend search’ to connect with other people.
Your current connections, activity history and profile will stay the same.
What should you do if you use Facebook login for Strava?
If you use Facebook login to access Strava, you will need to confirm or update your email address in your Strava account settings to keep access to your account.
Strava says this will also ensure faster account recovery if you ever need it.
If you’re unsure which email address is connected with your Strava account, it will be the email you had set on your Facebook account when you signed up for Strava.
“You can log in to Facebook to check which email address may be connected,” Strava says. If you’ve changed or lost access to that email since signing up for Strava, you can visit Strava’s help centre for support.
After 16 March, you will be able to log in to Strava using one of the following methods:
Your email and password
A one-time code sent to your email
Sign-in with Google if you use Gmail
Why is Strava dropping Facebook login?
Strava said it was dropping Facebook login via an email sent to users on Friday, but it didn’t say why it’s moving away from Meta.
BikeRadar put this question to Strava, but the platform hasn’t yet responded. However, it isn’t the first website to move away from social logins, despite the method once being prevalent across the internet.
In 2022, Dell dropped Facebook logins from its consumer website. Jen Felch, Dell’s chief digital and chief information officer, told CNBC that people stopped using social logins over concerns about security, privacy and data sharing.
“I just think we’re observing people making a decision to isolate that social media account versus having other connections to it,” Felch said.
One could argue that these issues continue with using Google logins, but another reason why Facebook logins have fallen out of favour is due to the dwindling popularity of the platform itself and a decline in reputation.
Logging in with a Facebook account might simply add more confusion, too. When we’re used to a seamless experience with apps and websites, who wants to try to remember that old Hotmail address and password for a social media account you no longer use?
Whatever the reason, all moves by Strava are piquing our interest at BikeRadar right now as cycling’s most popular app edges closer to going public – even if that’s heavily allied to the popularity of running rather than life on two wheels.
The ETMO looks to offer great versatility, with the 400 EQ and 500 EQ coming equipped with mudguards and a rack, opening the door for e-bikepacking.
Prices start at £3,650 / €4,380 for the ETMO 400, and top out at £5,250 / €6,300 for the more aggressive, trail-ready ETMO 800.
Bosch power meets alloy know-how
The Performance Line CX motor is better suited to trail riding. Merida
Merida says it has used long-standing expertise in aluminium frame design and manufacturing to hit this aggressive price point with the ETMO.
It says the cheaper frame retains the ride quality and durability riders expect from its eMTB range.
At the heart of the ETMO sits a Bosch Performance Line drive system, bringing full-power assistance to the platform.
The system depends on the model, with the ETMO 400 Pro, 500 Pro, 700 and 800 featuring the trail-oriented Performance Line CX, while the 400 and 500 models use the more utilitarian Performance Line PX model.
There’s a variety of battery sizes through the model range, too, with the smallest being the PowerTube 540 and the largest the PowerTube 800.
The bike takes design cues from the eONE-EIGHTY. Merida
The goal, according to Merida, was to create a bike that could be “used in anger” by newer riders and experienced eMTB users alike.
The geometry and suspension kinematics are designed to deliver stable, confidence-inspiring handling without sacrificing playfulness on the trail.
140mm and 160mm travel options
There are two travel options. Merida
Depending on the model, the ETMO platform delivers either 140mm or 160mm of suspension travel from its all-aluminium frame.
The longer-travel versions, 700 and above, are positioned as aggressive all-rounders, suited to enduro-style terrain, bike-park sessions and bigger mountain adventures.
Meanwhile, the 140mm options, the 400 and 500, are intended to strike a balance between efficiency and capability for trail riders looking for a versatile do-it-all machine.
SUV eMTB
The ETMO 500 EQ looks similar to Specialized’s Terro X. Merida
The EQ models come equipped with mudguards and pannier racks, which could make them capable all-terrain commuter bikes.
Rapha’s latest kit for Team Amani is said to pay homage to East Africa’s “rich cultural traditions in cloth textiles”, while expressing the belief that the region will become for cycling what it has for running.
“East Africa is a heartland of record-breaking runners responsible for incredible feats of human endurance but the region’s potential for cycling is largely untapped. That’s where Amani comes in. Based for much of the year in Iten’s “Home of Champions”, Amani riders train in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley at 2,400m above sea level,” Rapha says.
Team Amani was founded in 2020 and addresses the inequalities that have kept African cyclists out of the top tier of the sport, Rapha says.
The launch campaign includes a headpiece made from Sisal, a fibre used across Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Rapha
“From limited access to international races and lack of high-performance infrastructure, to barriers in visa, travel, and sponsorship systems, the obstacles have been many – but not insurmountable,” Rapha continues.
Having started in gravel racing, the women’s team stepped up to the UCI Women’s Continental last year. It now aims to take its success to the road, and to reach the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift by 2028, alongside the Giro d’Italia Women and La Vuelta Femenina.
Team Amani’s 2026 kit features recurring motifs representing sunshine, peace and energy. The Adey Abeda flower, an emblem of the Ethiopian new year, is used across garments.
The kit has repeating patterns, but with irregularities. Rapha
There is also an alternate red jersey. Rapha
“Inspired by multi-hued fabrics that reflect centuries of craftsmanship, Rapha’s 2026 collection for Team Amani brings the heritage of East African printing and materials to proven aerodynamic apparel. From the Kanga of Kenya to the Congolese Kuba, in East Africa, cloth is culture. Patterns and materials are passed through generations,” Rapha says.
Reflective of this craft heritage, Rapha has introduced irregularities into the design to represent hand-woven textiles based on natural dyes that have been tweaked to match a “contemporary palette”.
A close-up of the Team Amani bib shorts. Rapha
To launch the new kit, Rapha worked with former bike racer and photographer Finley Newmark and Nairobi-based stylist Kennedy Mirema. They incorporated the “foundational materials of East Africa”, including Sisal, a fibre common across Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia for making traditional attire. This is used in the campaign to create a headpiece as “a tribute to the craftsmanship and textures that define the region”.
Rapha has been an official sponsor of Team Amani since 2024, despite a shake-up elsewhere at the brand.
Last year, Rapha ended its partnership with EF Pro Cycling after seven years, before announcing a new partnership with Team USA.
Rapha’s CEO Fran Millar said the relationship with EF Pro Cycling had “gotten tired” and that working with Team USA is a way to speak to a “new and different demographic”.
The route of this year’s Paris-Roubaix has been revealed. The men’s race, on Sunday 12 April, is slightly shorter than in 2025, at 258.3km versus 259.2km last year. It includes 30 cobbled sectors for a total of 54.8km of pavé and is expected to finish at 4.30pm local time.
Meanwhile, the sixth edition of the women’s race, also held on 12 April rather than a day earlier as was the case for previous editions, will be 5km shorter than last year, but adds three extra cobbled sections. It’s slated to finish at the Roubaix velodrome later in the day than the men’s race, at around 6.20pm local time.
The Roubaix velodrome will be busy because there are also Junior and Under-23 races scheduled for the same day.
Reconfigured men’s route
As usual, the race begins in Compiègne, with the riders hitting the cobbles at around 100km for the Troisvilles sector, which always features as the first cobbled run. This year, it’s followed by a cluster of four closely packed sectors, a configuration that was used for the 2024 edition.
Route planner Thierry Gouvenou points out that in 2024, the race began to split here under pressure from Alpecin-Deceuninck. To up the ante, the route will next return to the rarely used sector 26, which adds an 800m climb to the predominantly flat parcours.
Gouvenou reckons the tweaks to the route might catch some riders off-guard and result in an early pre-selection, as well as speeding up the race overall – maybe eclipsing the 2024 edition, which was the fastest ever.
The classic five-star sectors remain, with the Trouée d’Arenberg tackled at kilometre 163, Mons-en-Pévèle at kilometre 210 and Carrefour de l’Arbre at kilometre 241.
The men’s race will feature 25 teams – the 18 WorldTour teams plus seven invited UCI ProTeams.
More cobbles for the women’s race
The women’s Paris-Roubaix race route again starts in Denain, but the three new cobbled sectors add 4.5km of pavé, bringing the total to 33.7km. The new sectors include the four-star Haveluy at kilometre 52, before the women cover the same final 17 sectors as the men.
21 teams have been invited to the women’s race – the 14 Women’s WorldTour teams plus seven Women’s ProTeams.
As usual, there’s the Paris-Roubaix challenge for amateurs, which takes place on Saturday 11 April, the day before the pro races.
After leading the Thursday Pizza Burner 100km for over a year (sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/blameeric), I’ve started wishing for longer Zwift routes that are also fairly flat.
I want longer routes because seeing different sites and riding different roads is more interesting/engaging than riding multiple laps of the same circuit.
But the routes need to be fairly flat, because the Pizza Burner is about putting in a longer, steadier effort with a group.
Here’s the thing about Zwift’s current route library, though: all the long routes have too much climbing.
The mega-flat Tempus Fugit has only 1.5 meters of climbing per kilometer of distance, and routes typically feel “flat” to me if they have around 5.5m/km or less. But all of Zwift’s truly long routes (100km+) are over 12m/km (save the France Classic Fondo at 7.6km, which has two Petit KOM climbs early on, so that’s a no-go). And even if I wanted to do multiple laps of a shorter ~50km circuit, these medium-length routes typically have way too much climbing as well, or a key longer/steeper climb that would break up my group ride. (Watopia’s only exception is The Big Ring, and even that route takes us up through the Jungle each lap.)
So I got to thinking: surely we could piece together a 100km flat route using Fuego Flats, the Southern Coast, and the rest of Watopia’s flatter roads. We could pull various tricks to make it happen, including starting from a higher elevation and riding big flat sections in both directions.
What I’ve settled on is a non-loopable route with only 489 meters of elevation gain over 102 kilometers (so 4.8m/km). That makes this the 13th-flattest route in Watopia, and by far the least climby “long route” in the entire game.
Or looking at it another way: there are flatter routes in Zwift, but they are all much shorter (the longest is around 36km). Unless you include Litus Fugit, a 60km 4.4m/km loopable Rebel Route I created which hasn’t yet been added to the game but really should be.
I hope you enjoy The Marvelous Metric. And I hope someday Zwift adds it to the game, so I can lead The Pizza Burner on it!
About Rebel Routes
“Rebel Routes” are Zwift rides not available on Zwift’s routes list, thus requiring manual navigation.
The reward for your rebel ride? Exploring a new route, knowing you’ve gone where few Zwifters have gone before. And a Strava segment rank in the tens or hundreds instead of the thousands! Rebel Routes are also included as a separate category on our Veloviewer Route Hunter leaderboard.
Route Description
A complete turn-by-turn tour of this route would be too much, so I’ll summarize it instead.
You can set yourself up easily by selecting the Mountain Mash route. This puts you at the route’s start point near the Jungle start pens, heading toward Watopia. (Starting from here is a tricky move on my part, as it lets us start with a bit of descent, making the start more gentle. It also gives us a faster overall speed, since we’ll descend more than we’ll climb.)
Cut across the Epic KOM Bypass (one of my favorite stretches of road in Watopia), then head down to Ocean Boulevard and out to Fuego Flats for a ride through the desert in the “forward” direction.
At the LAX Roundabout we’ll turn onto the long Southern Coast road for an out and back which quickly racks up 45 rolling kilometers. We use the bottom of the Jungle, and the Mayan Bridge Cutoff, road, for a quick turnaround at the end of the Southern Coast, allowing us to come back the other way.
When we arrive back at the LAX Roundabout, we’ll head up the Col du Saddle Springs and get onto Ocean Boulevard for a trip through the Marina and out around the Volcano into Downtown Watopia.
Head back out Ocean Boulevard and up into the edge of Titans Grove to hit Fuego Flats once more, this time in the “reverse” direction. By the end of the Fuego Flats road you’ll be over 95km in.
Wanting to make the final ~5km interesting, I’ve routed us across The Esses, down the Dirty Sorpressa, and out to the Volcano. Turn the first right to head into the Volcano for the route’s finish at the Volcano Circuit arch.
Turn By Turn Directions
Begin by choosing the Mountain Mash route, which starts you at the Jungle Pens, heading in the right direction.
The SISU Racing Club Championships return for their third edition in March, and this year they’re taking the fight to the brand-new roads of Zwift’s New York map.
Riders will be tested across four disciplines: an individual time trial, a criterium, a climbing route, and an endurance road race. Every stage matters and every second counts, as winners in each category will be decided based on combined time.
All Zwifters are welcome to race. While this is a Club Championship for SISU (meaning the top-placed SISU rider will be crowned Club Champion), everyone is welcome to compete.
The championships kick off with a true test of focus and pacing. Toefield Tornado is all about riding the knife-edge between power and precision as racers face the clock alone. Smooth lines, disciplined pacing, and mental toughness will define the early leaderboard—and set the tone for the battles to come.
Fast, furious, and relentlessly tactical, the Avon Flyer brings pure criterium chaos to the streets of New York. Expect tight racing, constant accelerations, and decisive moments in the blink of an eye. Positioning is everything, and only the sharpest racers will survive the speed and sprint for glory.
Points in each grade will be awarded as follows:
FAL (First Across The Line) at Centre Sprint at the end of laps 2, 5, and 6 to the first 20 riders: 40, 38, 36, 34, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2.
The first 20 riders in each grade across the line at the end of the race will be awarded: 250, 240, 230, 220, 200, 180, 160, 140, 130, 110, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10.
Powerups: Draft, Ghost, Aero
Events will be held in multiple time zones, with the total points determining the Club Championships (should there be a tie on points, the fastest time will determine the winner).
The championships turn uphill on Stay Puft Pursuit, where raw watts meet resolve. This is a climber’s proving ground—no hiding, just sustained effort and inner strength. Gaps open quickly here, and contenders will need to dig deep to stay in the championship fight.
It all comes down to the Fuhgeddaboudit road race—longer, tougher, and packed with opportunity for bold moves. Endurance, teamwork, and race IQ collide on this iconic New York route. Championships will be won and lost here as riders empty the tank in one final showdown.
Powerups: Draft, Feather, Aero, Anvil
February Tune-Up: 3 Training Focuses for March Peak
With the championships in March, February is about sharpening—not smashing yourself.
1. Discipline-Specific Intensity
One TT-style workout per week (10–15 min steady efforts at race power).
One VO₂ / anaerobic session for crit readiness (30–90 sec repeats).
One sweet spot or threshold climb simulation.
2. Fatigue-Resistance Training
Long endurance ride with race-pace efforts late in the session.
Practice fuelling exactly as you will on race day.
3. Race Craft & Recovery
Jump into shorter races to sharpen positioning and pack skills.
Prioritise sleep and easy days—fitness gains come from recovery, not just watts.
Zwift Racing Score
Riders enter using peak Zwift Race Score from the last 30 days for category enforcement. Race categories will be:
690-1000 (A Grade)
520-690 (B Grade)
350-520 (C Grade)
180-350 (D Grade)
1-180 (E Grade)
More Information
All riders are welcome – the SISU Club Champion title goes to the top SISU Racing member.
Overall GC decided on combined time across all four stages (iTT + Crit + Climb + Road Race).
Open events with separate Men’s and Women’s results.
Race one discipline or all four – specialists welcome, all-rounders rewarded.
Mass start racing with all riders visible, true to SISU spirit.
ZwiftPower profile required.
ZPower riders and riders without heart rate data will be excluded from results.
Vatternrundan Group Ride Series #6
Popular 
Tugaz Tour 2026: Figueira Champions Classic
