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. 

View this post on Instagram

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.  

Zwift’s Fall 2025 “This Season on Zwift” press release included an announcement every Zwifter loves to see: new roads! Specifically, Zwift is expanding the New York map, and using it to introduce a new “Power Segment” feature. Let’s dive into the details…

The Big Apple Gets Much Bigger

This release adds 31km of roads to Zwift’s New York map, making it the largest single expansion we’ve seen on Zwift in years. (Neokyo added ~30km to Makuri Islands in late 2021, and Watopia’s Southern Coast expansion in 2023 added 19km.)

It’s an especially impressive addition when you consider that the New York map currently only has around ~20km of roads.

Zwift has created 20 new routes (16 bike and 4 run) using the new roads, but it’s unclear whether all 20 routes will be released when the expansion first launches.

Details on the actual roads/maps are scarce, as are teaser images. But we know the expansion will take Zwifters out of Zwift’s futuristic Central Park, into the city, and out to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park via New York’s subway network.

New Feature: Power Segments

New York’s new roads will include a new feature: power segments! These are a new take on Zwift’s timed sprint segments, where instead of sprinting across a particular distance, you hit a start arch and sprint for a particular amount of time.

The first power segments will be located within the new subways of New York which connect the older roads of Central Park to the new roads of Prospect Park. Here’s a preview image:

The goal is to hold the highest power possible across the segment. So hit the start arch and hammer until the timer hits zero to try and average the highest watts possible!

Zwift is presenting these as primarily a challenge of personal achievement, so when the leaderboard pops up, it will first show how your current result (in watts, not seconds) compares to your last 90 days. It will then show how you rank against the global community.

I’m hoping results show both pure wattage and W/kg, as both are interesting metrics for different reasons.

Power segments will launch in New York, but hopefully we’ll find them soon on other maps. Zwift says “Power Segments will eventually roll out to other Zwift Worlds over time.”

Power Segment Possibilities

Power segments may be primarily a personal challenge, but what else could they be used for apart from quick sprints during free rides? A few ideas:

• Points Races: how wild would a race be if you earned points for having the highest watts or W/kg (or both) across a segment? Heck, make it really interesting and award points for lowest power through the segment. See who can hold onto the pack with the least effort.
• Route-Based Workouts: these have been talked about for a long time, but power segments could add a new, power-focused dimension to the idea. Routes could be turned into workouts with lots of structure, but no ERG.
• Custom Segment Placement: what if ride organizers could place their own power segments on routes – any length, any location? Imagine the wild events that would ensue.
• Race Gates: what if organizers could put a minimum power requirement on a power segment in a race, so riders had to meet that minimum average power or be booted from the event/hidden from others? Enforced spiciness.

When?

The New York expansion launches October 27. The final two stages of Zwift Unlocked (an all-new double XP tour starting October 6 and mentioned in TSOZ) will take place on new routes in NYC.

Wrapping It Up

Zwifters love new roads, and the New York map has always felt ripe for expansion, with many unrideable roads spurs heading into the heart of the city. What will we see when Zwift expands their “100 years in the future” NYC map to include another iconic park? Only time will tell. Personally, I’m hoping the new roads are flattish, making the map more suitable for group rides and rolling races.

While we don’t have any more imagery or map details to share for New York’s expansion, those will certainly be teased by Zwift in the coming weeks. I’ll try to share them out here on Zwift Insider whenever possible.

I’m also excited for power segments, which are a fresh idea that could be leveraged for new types of challenging rides and workouts. (They may also be a sneaky way to get Zwifters to put out more max efforts, which will upgrade Zwift Racing Scores to improve ranking accuracy…)

Your Thoughts

What do you think of Zwift’s New York expansion plans, and the new power segments feature? Share your thoughts below!

Zwift’s Route, Climb, and Workout of the Week challenges are designed to get you riding routes and workouts you may not otherwise ride, in return for an XP bonus you wouldn’t otherwise earn. That’s right: finishing one of these weekly challenges earns you an XP bonus that varies based on the difficulty of the route/climb/workout.

Each week features a blend of challenges, including a shorter challenge (250XP), a medium challenge (500XP), and a longer challenge (750-1000XP). See the full schedule below.

Weekly challenges switch at 9am Pacific each Monday (noon Eastern, 4pm UTC).

To ride the Route/Climb/Workout of the week, begin by clicking the challenge card on the homescreen. Here’s what it looks like for the Route of the Week:

Pro Tip: Double Up!

The Workout of the Week can be “stacked” with the Climb or Route of the Week to earn bonus XP extra fast.

To do this, you must first click the Workout of the Week challenge card to be “registered” for the week’s workout challenge.

Next, click the Route or Climb of the Week challenge card and enter the map to begin riding that challenge.

Once you’re in the game, pull up the list of workouts (use the “E” keyboard shortcut or access it by clicking Menu>Workouts). Find this week’s featured workout in the workout archive. (If you aren’t sure where to find it, click the workout on the calendar above to learn where it’s stored.) Load the workout and complete it while also completing the Route or Climb of the Week, and you’ll earn both XP bonuses!

Questions or Comments

Questions or comments about these weekly challenges? Share below!

Of everything mentioned in the Fall 2025 “This Season on Zwift” Press Release, Zwift’s planned release of personalized recommendations carries the most potential as a game-changing feature. Launching this November, the promise of these AI-powered recommendations is that your fitness data and preferences can be used to serve up a recommended activity, any time you ask.

Let’s dive deeper into this, Zwift’s first public use of AI, and discuss planned features and future potential.

The Challenge: Maximizing Training and Fun for Everyone

Veteran Zwifters like myself are always asking for more. More roads, new features, fresh events. But do we consider what Zwift is like for someone new to the game and/or new to cycling?

It must be overwhelming.

There are thousands of events each week. Hundreds of routes you can ride and workouts to choose from. Thousands of riders milling about, around the clock.

In addition to all that content, numerous metrics are floating around that new cyclists don’t understand. What is FTP? Why does Companion say I’m “overreaching,” and how is that tied to my Training Score and Stress Score? What is XP, what are Drops, and do I care? What’s a good weekly goal? What’s an ideal cadence? Is my heart rate too high? How does Zwift Racing Score work? And let’s not even talk about zMAP and zFTP…

On top of all this, consider that, while every Zwifter wants to maximize their training results, everyone is targeting different results. Some are training for a particular outdoor event. Some want to lose weight. Some are just looking to maintain fitness until they can head outside again, while others are dedicated indoor riders training to win Zwift races. And fitness levels vary: while one rider might consider a full hour on the trainer to be a max effort, another may need two hours before it qualifies as a challenge.

A New Solution?

Zwift has built an ecosystem that can be leveraged to build cycling fitness efficiently and effectively, but many customers need help figuring out how to make that happen.

In the past, Zwifters who wanted to train with intentionality may have paid a cycling coach for a training plan, or dug in and done their own research, or perhaps asked a knowledgeable friend for advice. Zwift’s personalized recommendation engine will soon be the new option on this list. And it will be front and center in the game and Companion, a flagship feature continuously improving thanks to the constant influx of fresh data.

How It Works

No, I’m not going to dive into the depths of LLMs and other AI tech. But let’s talk about how Zwift’s personalized recommendations will work from the perspective of a common Zwifter.

Here’s the first screenshot Zwift shared, showing the beta personalized recommendation block at the top-left of the homescreen:

A few things to note here:

• The interface is very simple. If you want to take Zwift’s recommendation, just click “Start Ride” and go.
• The card explains why this activity was recommended: “This ride fits within your typical weekly activity duration and will help maintain your current fitness level.”
• It also notes the estimated activity duration, distance, and elevation.

If you want to do something different from what Zwift recommends, there’s a shiny “Tune” button, which takes you here:

The Tune screen gives you access to a vast array of recommendations, but through a very simple interface. There are just two things you can tune:

1. Activity Type: choose between riding a route, a workout, an event, or hopping into a RoboPacer group
2. Activity Length: click an arrow to generate a recommendation that is longer or shorter than what you’re currently seeing

The secret sauce, of course, is the recommendation engine at work behind the scenes. Since it is constantly learning from your activities and feedback, the recommendations it puts forth – regardless of the tuning options you choose – will be tailored to you. That means:

• Routes you like to ride, and perhaps routes whose badges you haven’t yet earned, especially if they’re the type of route you typically ride
• Workouts that help you improve a particular weakness, or work toward a fitness goal
• Events you’ve enjoyed in the past, or similar events
• Robopacer groups riding at the pace you would typically ride

Already working through a training plan, or working with a coach? No problem. Zwift tells me that, if you’re using a third-party workout provider like TrainerRoad, their workout of the day will take preference as the recommendation.

Companion and Game

Zwift says, “Personalized Recommendations will display both in the home screen in the main Zwift App and also in Zwift Companion.” That’s a very good thing, and I’m hoping the tuning tool is also available in Companion, so we can dial in our next activity before hopping on the bike.

Related New Features: Outdoor Connections and Goal Auto-Adjust

Zwift announced two features/changes rolling out in September that will work in tandem with personalized recommendations.

First, an improved onboarding experience will help more Zwifters hook up connections to Wahoo, Garmin, and Hammerhead so their outdoor rides are automatically brought into Zwift and included in key fitness metrics. Outdoor connections launched back in April 2025, and Zwift knows that if riders do significant training outdoors, Zwift needs to see those activities before providing helpful day-to-day recommendations.

Second, Zwift is rolling out the option to have your weekly goal auto-adjust. Instead of having a static goal to hit a particular number for kilojoules, stress points, calories, distance, or time, Zwift will use your recent activities to “adjust your upcoming weekly target goal, helping to support your continual development.”

When?

Zwift says personalized recommendations will launch in November 2025.

Of course, the launch of this feature doesn’t mean the end of its development. That’s not how AI works! I’ve already heard many positive things from Zwift staffers who use the tool internally, and they’re promising that the recommendation engine will continue to improve as it receives feedback from an increasing number of users.

(You can improve an engine like this by changing the parameters used to make decisions, but you can also improve it by feeding in post-activity feedback, such as a star rating scale asking something like, “How well did this activity help you work toward your fitness goals?” Zwift will be doing both.)

What About Other Activities?

Ever since Zwift launched their Fitness Metrics in April, some Zwifters have been asking when running and other workout types will be included. This has been the only consistent complaint about Zwift’s fitness metrics, in fact.

It’s a fair question… because lots of Zwift riders don’t just ride. Many run, lift, ski, hike, swim… you get the picture.

For these athletes, Zwift’s Fitness Metrics, and therefore their personalized recommendations, may not prove useful until Zwift begins to support a wider variety of activities. And there are lots of activity types! As one reader commented recently, “After all, cycling is represented by about 8 of the ~180 activity profiles on a regular Garmin watch. In Strava, I believe cycling is 5-6 out of the 48 available activity types (but lots of activities there are logged under a false flag since the actual activity type is missing).”

Zwift has said they will support running in their Fitness Metrics, but they haven’t given an ETA. Hopefully they’ll figure out a way to do it sooner rather than later, and hopefully they’ll also figure out how to easily include other activity types.

Wrapping It Up

There are things about AI that concern me, such as search engines presenting AI-generated answers to questions and stealing traffic from actual content creators. (This impacts my bank account directly.) The unknowns of AI are even more concerning. Where will it all take us? What are the unintended consequences?

But using AI to deliver personalized recommendations? That’s a use case I can get behind. It’s been discussed for years, and some training platforms have actually done it. But if it can be done well by Zwift, in a way that leverages their massive community and content library, it will enhance the training of tens (hundreds?) of thousands of riders worldwide.

And that’s a big deal.

Your Thoughts

What do you think of Zwift’s plans to offer personalized recommendations? Share your thoughts below!

Mahle has released an updated version of its X20 electric bike motor.

Here are three key things you need to know:

• The X20 is Mahle’s flagship motor system, sitting above the X30 and X35.
• Mahle has boosted the torque delivered by the X20 by 18 per cent, from 55Nm to 65Nm.
• The peak power produced by the new X20 motor has increased from 250 watts to 275 watts.

The X20 is a drive system designed for premium and lightweight road, gravel and urban bikes that cut a similar silhouette to unassisted bikes.

The motor is housed in the hub of the rear wheel and, on the Orbea Gain pictured, a 350Wh battery is found in the down tube. Mahle says this provides a range of around 140km, and you can add a range extender to give you another 60km of motor-assisted pedal power.

With 275 watts of peak assistance, there’s plenty of power on tap for steep climbs. Beyond the increase in power, Mahle says one of the key features of the new X20 is the increase in torque, from 55Nm to 65Nm.

Torque plays an important role in how quickly an electric bike can deliver its power and, as a result, the acceleration, as well as its ability to handle a variety of terrain and surfaces, is ideal for e-gravel bikes.

Each bike manufacturer that works with Mahle defines specific motor mapping, so every bike brand has its own ‘riding DNA’ pre-configured from the factory. Riders can then fine-tune within the ranges defined by each brand via the app.

Mahle says the torque sensor is central to the natural pedaling feel: the more torque applied by the rider, the more assistance the system provides. The motor is also designed so that it doesn’t just cut out above 25km/h, it reduces resistance gradually until 27.5km/h, for a smoother ride, according to Mahle.

The total system – motor, torque system, a small 250Wh battery and a bike computer – weighs a claimed 3.2kg.

You can find the X20 on ebikes from mainstream brands including Van Rysel, Ribble, Rose, Ridley, 3T, Wilier, Bianchi and Mondraker – and smaller boutique brands such as Pashley, Origine, Conor and Nordic Bikes.

This week’s event picks are a nice mix, starting with a popular charity ride, hitting two (very different) races, and including two banded group rides to help you tackle especially tough routes. See details below!

Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4

La Roja Tour (TNP): Stages 3 and 4

PACK Banded Buddies: Road to Sky

A Sunday in Hell with DZR

LA MARCHA HISPANA (Enable Rubberbanding)

How We Make Our Picks

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!

Cervélo has officially launched the fifth generation of its R5 range, a super-lightweight climber’s bike. It’s a stunning example of a genre that still has plenty of allure, and is a bike I would love to ride. It’s just a shame it costs a mind-bending amount of money, at £5,000 for the frameset alone.

BikeRadar’s ever-diligent tech sleuth, Simon von Bromley, first spotted the new bike at the 2025 Tour de France Grand Départ in Lille, where Matteo Jorgenson and his Visma–Lease a Bike teammates were already racing on unreleased versions.

Even then, it was clear Cervélo had doubled down on trimming every possible gram. 

BikeRadar weighed Jorgenson’s size-58cm bike at 7.03kg, including empty bottles. With those removed – as they would be for UCI checks – the bike would sit close to the 6.8kg UCI weight limit. That’s very impressive for a larger bike in close-to-race-ready spec.

With official details now to hand, Cervélo claims the new frame and fork come in at 657g and 302g, respectively. There are lighter frames from mainstream manufacturers – an S-Works Aethos frameset is claimed to weigh 585g, for example – but that’s still impressively feathery for a disc bike by any measure.

Complete builds dip as low as 5.97kg – well under the UCI’s limit.

Unashamed nostalgia

And this is where the heart of this gently nostalgic man in his early 30s still leaps a little. 

Nobody questions the importance of aero gains, but like many riders, I still romanticise a little about days when the weight figure was the headline spec. And not just because the (often pointless) pursuit of chasing low weight is entertaining. 

Although everything has been slimmed down – the pencil-thin seatstays now measure the bare minimum 10mm, and junctions have been pared back – the R5 retains its classic silhouette, and it looks absolutely banging. 

The bike and others of its ilk, such as the Orbea Orca, have an elegant air in a way most modern aero bikes don’t, and I’m totally here for it. 

It would be unkind to describe this as a throwback to the heyday of the lightweight bike in the rim-brake era – this is a thoroughly modern bike with all of the tech trappings to match.

But it shares a common thread with the classic double-diamond frames of old, and I simply love the way it looks.

The bike for me… if I could ever afford it

And for someone whose road riding amounts to little beyond chewing up the local lanes with pals, with the odd effort on choice climbs or long days thrown in, a good-looking bike that gets me excited to ride is more important than outright performance.

Of course, for the World Tour pros reading this, there is still a performance benefit to climbing bikes – particularly for lighter riders.

As outlined in his excellent piece comparing the bikes ridden at the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, BikeRadar’s road and gravel presenter Ollie Smith highlights that the typically lighter riders in the women’s peloton have more to gain by opting for lighter bikes. 

• Read more: I’m a pro cyclist and the UCI weight limit is completely outdated – here’s why

However, as appealing and high-performance as the bike might be, there is the unfortunate question of cost. 

Cervélo will offer five complete builds at launch, priced from £8,500 to £11,500. Framesets are £5,000. That’s a breathtaking amount of money, no matter how deep your pockets are.

In fairness (if you can call it that) to Cervélo, an S-Works level Aethos frameset is also £5,000.

Difficult as it might be, putting the wild price aside, I’ve still got time for brands that haven’t abandoned the traditional climbing bike – even if few of us can ever afford them. 

For all the rightly deserved aero hype, there remains a place – and a powerful emotional pull – for beautifully light, simple, classic-looking race bikes. And for riders like me, that’s reason enough to get excited.

Last year, Zwift held their first-ever Zwift Camp: Baseline – an assessment-oriented training program consisting of six stages. And it was a hit, besting even Zwift Academy as Zwift’s most popular workout series of all time!

Following last year’s proof-of-concept, this year Zwift is leaning heavily into the Zwift Camp concept, launching a three-camp series that kicks off with Zwift Camp: Baseline on September 15.

Below, we’ll share what we know about Zwift Camp: Baseline, and a bit of info on the two camps that follow: Zwift Camp: Build and Zwift Camp: Breakthrough. Let’s dive in!

On a related note: Zwift has announced that Zwift Academy will not take place this year, but that it “will return in 2026 and work is already underway to make sure the 10th edition is the best yet.” This season’s Zwift Camps are clearly positioned to replace Zwift Academy for riders not pursuing pro contracts.

Baseline Basics

The first Camp of the season is best seen as a launchpad for the Camps to follow. It’s all about completing four separate “Power Check” workouts, which will update your power curve with max efforts across standard time intervals:

• 5-second power (Zone 6+)
• 1-minute power (Zone 6)
• 5-minute power (Zone 5)
• 20-minute power (Zone 4)

Workout Details

To complete those Power Checks, Zwift has created four different workouts. Complete the workouts and you’ve completed Zwift Camp: Baseline:

Each of the four power checks consists of an ERG workout combined with a new route. The workouts each run you through a warmup section, followed by some “leg opener” efforts, then a bit of recovery before hitting one or more free ride sections where you are expected to put out maximal power for a specific duration.

Each workout will be held on a new route of the same name, created just for Zwift Camp: Baseline:

• Red Zone Repeats
  • 19.6km, 87m elevation
  • 390 XP Bonus
• Power Punches
  • 23.7km, 205m elevation
  • 470 XP Bonus
• Climb Control
  • 24km, 191m elevation
  • 475 XP Bonus
• Flat Out Fast
  • 22.3km, 49m elevation
  • 430 XP Bonus

Tip: If the workout finishes before the route, keep riding to earn the achievement badge and bonus XP at the route’s finish line!

Events + On Demand

Ride the four Zwift Camp: Baseline workouts in scheduled events with others, or on demand by selecting the workouts and completing them on your own. Group events will run on the following schedule:

• Workout 1 (September 15-22): 5-Second Power Check, “Red Zone Repeats”
• Workout 2 (September 22-29): 1-Minute Power Check, “Power Punches”
• Workout 3 (September 29-October 6): 5-Minute Power Check, “Climb Control”
• Workout 4 (October 6-13): 20-Minute Power Check, “Flat Out Fast”
• Make-Up Events: October 13-20

Sign up at zwift.com/zwift-camp >

Each workout “stage” is a week long, with events beginning at 9am PST on Monday and scheduled hourly on the hour until 8am PST the following Monday.

Progressive Unlocks

Three unlocks are available as you work your way through Zwift Camp: Baseline:

• Complete 1 Workout: Zwift Camp: Baseline Helmet
• Complete 3 Workouts: Zwift Camp: Baseline Shoes
• Complete all 4 Workouts: Zwift Camp: Baseline Kit

Personal Dashboard

Zwift has launched a personalized Zwift Camp: Baseline dashboard for all participants, which includes a progress meter and your power bests across each of the four intervals.

Access your dashboard at zwift.com/zwift-camp/dashboard >

2025/26 Zwift Camps

Three Zwift Camps are planned for this year’s 2025/26 peak Zwift season:

• Zwift Camp: Baseline (September 15-October 20): Pure power analysis
• Zwift Camp: Build (November 10 – December 21): Power application through in-game segments/routes
• Zwift Camp: Breakthrough (February 2026): Pure power competition and analysis through Power Segments*

* Power Segments are an upcoming feature mentioned in This Season on Zwift released today. They’re the perfect way to test your power across various intervals, and should make a great addition to Zwift Camps. Inside sources also tell us Zwift Camp: Breakthrough may feature some population rankings, so you can see how your power numbers stack up against others…

Questions or Comments?

What do you think of the Zwift Camp proposition? Going to participate? Got questions? Share your thoughts below!

Scott has revealed its new Addict endurance bike, which is intended unashamedly for recreational use and designed to be “long ride ready”. 

The endurance bike follows the Addict RC 20 race bike, which was released last November. “This year, we wanted to bring the advancements learned on the RC to a larger range of customers on our most sold road bike, the Addict,” says Jean-François Boivin, the Addict’s lead engineer. 

Boivin says it hasn’t always been easy for Scott to define what an endurance bike should be. “In the past, the Addict had been designed as the RC’s little brother,” he says.

But, despite learning from the RC, the new Addict is its own bike, with Scott focusing on four main areas: extra comfort, relaxed geometry, confident handling and practical features. 

• Read more: The new Scott Addict 10 is practical and deceptively fast – but is that actually fun?

Greater comfort, but stiff where it counts

Boivin explains that when designing the new Addict, Scott worked carefully on frame compliance. The result is the new Addict has 25 per cent more compliance than the Addict RC, and it has 50 per cent more frame compliance over the outgoing Addict, which launched back in 2020. 

“We achieved this by reducing the seat tube section underneath the seat stay junction to allow for additional flex,” says Boivin. “This way, the seat tube can flex forward a bit more. The top tube is also slimmer to enable upward deflection, and the drop seat stay will flex outward to contribute even more comfort.” 

Julien Chauveau, marketing manager for road, gravel and triathlon at Scott, says the lessons for how to adapt the Addict’s tubes came from developing the RC race bike, where the team saw how the bike flexed in a fatigue machine at the company’s factory in China. 

“At that moment, we really understood how we could improve the tube shapes and the design of the bike to actually increase the frame compliance,” says Chauveau. 

However, the new Addict is really a balancing act between where compliance aids comfort and stiffness helps performance: the bike has the same stiffness as the Addict RC in the bottom bracket area and head tube. 

As soon as the moulds for the Addict were ready, Scott asked for frames with different layups and levels of stiffness, going from very soft up to the stiffness levels of the Addict RC.

After blind testing, Chauveau says everybody loved the stiffer bikes: “The main reason was the head tube stiffness. They all felt the handling was more precise and gave them more confidence. With a bike like this we want the rider to feel at ease, even when you go fast. The stiffer bikes were much better for that.”

“Bottom bracket stiffness was less easy to feel, but still the riders preferred the stiffer version for sprints and climbs,” he adds. 

38mm tyres and geometry tweaks 

The balancing act between comfort and performance continues with the Addict’s ample tyre clearance and geometry tweaks.

The bike can now fit 38mm tyres, which is 4mm wider than the tyre clearance of the Addict RC and 3mm more than the previous Addict. 

“Not only will you benefit from the added vibration damping of lower pressure tyres, but you will also get added confidence in grip,” says Boivin. 

Yet Scott seems aware that although tyre widths and clearances are increasing, running 38mm tyres on an endurance bike might still be a niche desire; the Addict’s geometry is optimised for 34mm tyres and models in the new range are specced with this width. 

Scott also wants the bike to be accessible to the average rider, and for that reason the bike’s stack is now 5mm higher and the reach is 5mm shorter. Although the bottom bracket drop and fork rake were adjusted to accommodate the wider tyres, Scott shortened the chainstays by 2mm to make the bike feel more playful.

This geometry is also a big reason why the Addict fits into Scott’s new ‘ride’ bike category, whereas the RC fits into its new ‘race’ category, alongside the Foil aero bike. 

“It’s not uncommon to see riders take the RC and add many spacers to fit their [body] or riding style,” says Boivin. “But in fact, if you were to use 35mm of spacers on the RC, you would actually get to the same position as on the Addict without spacers.” 

“If you use more than 30mm of spacers on the RC, you would probably be better suited with the new Addict,” he adds. 

Scott Addict geometry

Storage and hidden extras 

To help make the Addict ‘long ride ready’, Scott has equipped the bike with extra storage and accessories. 

The bike has storage integrated into the down tube, which is accessible via a hatch near the bottom bracket. This is fitted with a flat tyre ‘Save the Day’ repair kit, which consists of a mini pump, tyre levers and a TPU inner tube, held in a fabric sleeve. The kit is included on the top two Addict models, and is an optional upgrade for others. 

The location of the storage is supposed to be unnoticeable (because nobody likes to think about getting a flat tyre), but the position makes sense from an engineering standpoint, too.

Chauveau says the total weight penalty for the storage is only 40g, with the door weighing just under 10g and only an extra 25g of carbon required to reinforce the frame. The door only has to support its own weight, but if it was under water bottles, as on other bikes, it would have to be far more substantial, and therefore heavier.

The mechanism to lock the door is the same design Scott uses for its mountain bikes. “We know it’s going to work and last a long time,” says Chauveau. 

The bike also comes with a frame bag, which attaches to mounting points that are recessed in the top tube. This is so they don’t disrupt the clean lines of the bike if you’re riding without the bag. 

Like the Addict RC, Scott’s new endurance bike has a small multi-tool hidden in the handlebar, which can be used to adjust any of the bolts on the bike or remove the wheels.

The Syncros seatpost also has an in-built bike light, which can provide illumination for up to 20 hours, depending on the mode. 

Syncros compatibility 

Boivin says bike fit is “paramount” for long rides, and so Scott has ensured there is a large range of fit components from its in-house brand Syncros that will fit on the Addict.

“Most of the Addict’s small parts are compatible with the RC. This means that you get access to a range of parts that are interchangeable between the two bikes,” says Boivin. 

While the Addict comes with a -6˚ stem, this means you could also fit the RC’s -11˚ stem or its one-piece Syncros cockpit. 

“You’ll notice that we don’t have any road in the round handlebars anymore on the Addict lineup. All you will find are smooth surface handlebars for best in class ergonomics,” he adds.

Keeping the weight down 

While the focus of the new Addict is comfort and long-distance performance, Boivin says “a lot of effort” was made to keep the weight of the bike as low as possible. 

The new bike’s frame is available in two carbon fibre options – Scott’s premium HMX or more affordable HMF carbon. 

At 780g, Boivin says the Addict HMX is one of the lightest endurance frames on the market. 

He says the HMX frame is only 50g heavier than the previous-generation Addict RC, while the Addict HMF frame is 70g lighter than the previous Addict. 

The top-spec Addict Premium, with a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and Fulcrum Wind 42 DB wheels, weighs a claimed 7.4kg. The rest of the range weighs between 7.8kg and 9kg. 

“Attractive and accessible” 

As well as plenty of fit options, Scott has provided a wide range of complete builds.

“We want the Addict to be attractive and accessible to the largest possible span of people,” says Boivin. “So this is why the bike builds go from the very affordable mechanical shifting to the high-end electronic group sets.”

In keeping with the ‘long ride’ philosophy and the focus on recreational use, Scott has specced the Addict with smaller chainrings and larger cassettes than you would find on racier bikes. 

The bottom gear on the new Addicts will be a one-to-one ratio with Shimano groupsets and 0.92-to-one with SRAM groupsets. 

The bike is also compatible with SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger, so it’s futureproof and compatible with as many drivetrains as possible. 

“The rest of the components go from affordable alloy parts to light carbon components and wheelsets. We think everybody will be able to find what they are looking for,” says Boivin. 

You may like

• Endurance bikes nearly died, but now they’re back with a bang
• Cannondale Synapse vs Boardman SLR: the winner stole my head and heart
• The latest endurance bikes will kill off the all-road bike, and I couldn’t be happier

Scott Addict range overview

Scott Addict Premium

• Frame: Addict HMX 
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace 
• Wheels: Fulcrum Wind 42 DB 
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One, 700x34c 
• Weight: 7.4kg 
• Price: £6,499 / $7,699 / €7,499

Scott Addict 10

• Frame: Addict HMX 
• Groupset: SRAM Force AXS 
• Wheels: Fulcrum Wind 42 DB 
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One, 700x34c 
• Weight: 7.8kg 
• Price: £5,499 / $6,699 / €6,399

Scott Addict 20 

• Frame: Addict HMF
• Groupset: Shimano Ultegra 
• Wheels: Fulcrum Wind 42 DB 
• Tyres: Schwalbe One, 700x34c 
• Weight: 8.3kg
• Price: £4,299 / $5,499 / €4,999

Scott Addict 30

• Frame: Addict HMF 
• Groupset: Shimano 105 Di2
• Wheels: Syncros Capital 1.0 40
• Tyres: Schwalbe One, 700x34c 
• Weight: 8.5kg
• Price: £3,299 / $3,999 / €3,799

Scott Addict 40 

• Frame: Addict HMF
• Groupset: Shimano 105 Di2
• Wheels: Syncros RP2.0 Disc
• Tyres: Schwalbe One, 700x34c 
• Weight: 8.9kg 
• Price: £2,749 / $3,399 / €3,199 

Scott Addict 50 

• Frame: Addict HMF
• Groupset: Shimano 105
• Wheels: Syncros RP2.0 Disc
• Tyres: Schwalbe One, 700x34c 
• Weight: 9kg
• Price: £2,249 / $2,799 / €2,599

Zwift just released their latest “This Season on Zwift” announcement detailing key game features, Companion app updates, events, and hardware news coming in the next few months. We’ve posted the complete press release below, and in the coming days, we’ll dive into some of the announcements in more detail.

There’s some fun stuff here, so let’s get on with it…

Personalized Recommendations, New Zwift Click Controllers and Much More Promise To Make It Easier To Level Up Your Fitness

Plus Many More Updates Landing This Season on Zwift, Including New Roads, Events and Racing Improvements

Zwift, the global online fitness platform for cyclists, today announces a series of updates and content experiences that promise to make it easier than ever before to level up your fitness. From AI-driven personalized recommendations designed to help Zwifters hit their goals to updated Zwift Click Controllers that unlock the full Zwift experience to new roads that encourage Zwifters to explore more, there is something new for every rider This Season On Zwift.

Zwift Ready & New Zwift Click Controllers

Shipping from September 9

Launched in 2024, the Zwift Ready program makes getting started on Zwift easier and more affordable. Zwift Ready trainers come with the Zwift Cog pre-installed, providing compatibility with virtually any bike, and with Zwift Click included, riders have everything they need to begin their journey in Watopia. In 2025, the Zwift Ready program is expanding with more variety than ever before, and with costs starting from as little as €250 // £279.99 // $299.99. Zwift Ready trainers will be available from Wahoo, Elite, Van Rysel, JetBlack, and Garmin-Tacx (USA only). 

Shipping from September 9th, the new Zwift Click controllers unlock the full Zwift experience thanks to integrated navigation and shortcut buttons, similar to those seen on Zwift Ride, and previously Zwift Play controllers. The new Zwift Click retains the ability for riders to mount the controllers in almost any location and they are compatible with all handlebar types. To ensure it can be placed in almost any location, the new Zwift Click allows you to customise the button configuration to orient your Zwift Click however you like. 

Zwift Cog and Click upgrade kits for all Zwift Cog-compatible trainers are available to pre-order from Zwift.com now, and will ship from September 9th. 

Levelling Up Your Fitness – Personalized Recommendations, Auto-Adjusting Goals & Improved Onboarding

Launching November

Building on the success of Fitness Trends, which rolled out earlier this summer, Zwift will make it easier for Zwifters to level up their fitness with the introduction of Auto-Adjusted Goals and Personalized recommendations.

From September, an improved onboarding experience will make it easier for Zwifters to set up connections with their outdoor head units from Wahoo, Garmin and Hammerhead. Zwifters connecting their outdoor accounts will not only benefit from additional XP for their outdoor rides, but they will also be able to track their Fitness Trends in Zwift Companion and set goals based on their past activities. Now, when Zwifters set goals, they will have the ability to set these to Auto-Adjust. Using the last several weeks of indoor and outdoor data, Zwift will adjust your upcoming weekly target goal, helping to support your continual development.

From November, Zwift promises to take things to the next level with Personalized Recommendations. Powered by AI, Personalized Recommendations will serve content tailored to help each Zwifter hit their goals. Recommendations served will account for recent training load, based on both indoor and outdoor (when connected) activity, riding preferences, including activity types, and much more, meaning Zwifters can jump in with one click, allowing them to spend more time riding and less time choosing. 

Using the ‘Tune button’ Zwifters will have the ability to choose from a mix of content types, including workouts, routes, events and Robo Pacer rides, helping preserve variety. However, with each recommendation accounting for recent ride history and personal goals, Zwifters can be assured that whatever activity they choose, it will be both productive and fun. Further, Zwifters will also have the option to adjust the duration of content – because sometimes life gets in the way.

For those who have connections in place with external coaching apps like TrainerRoad, these will take preference on the Home Screen. Zwifters will still have the option to ‘tune’ these activities should they wish to mix things up.

Personalized Recommendations will display both in the home screen in the main Zwift App and also in Zwift Companion.

Progress Report Screen

Launching November

Upon completion of an activity, Zwifters will now be taken to an updated Progress Report Screen. Here, Zwift will display a summary of all key information, including fitness score progression, training status, goal progression, current streak, bike upgrade progression, level progress, racing score improvements, and much more. This display will show at the end of any activity before returning to the home screen. Post-activity, Zwifters will have the ability to go deeper into these metrics using Fitness Trends in the Zwift Companion app.

Zwift Unlocked – An Entirely New Tour 

October 6-November 16

Running October 6th to November 16th, Zwift Unlocked is an entirely new Zwift Tour, replacing the Tour of Watopia. Like its predecessor, Zwift Unlocked offers double XP but brings with it 10 entirely new routes across multiple Zwift Worlds. Zwifters will have the ability to ride or race each stage, with long and short options on offer throughout. 

The Big Apple Just Got Bigger – New York Expansion

Launching October 27

The final two stages of Zwift Unlocked will take place on a freshly expanded New York map. This expansion will be Zwift’s largest map expansion in years, adding 31km of new roads to New York, including 20 new routes (16 bike and 4 run).

The expansion will take Zwifters out of Zwift’s futuristic Central Park, into the city and out to Prospect Park via New York’s subway network.

Power Segments

Launching October 27

Within the subways of New York, Zwifters will also find a new segment feature, Power Segments, launching with this expansion. Power Segments are a new take on Zwift’s timed Sprint Segments, where pure wattage is all that matters. Hit the start arch and hammer until the timer hits zero to try and average the highest watts possible. Upon completion of a segment, Zwifters will see their personal result and how it compares with their efforts over the previous 90 days – this is primarily a challenge of personal achievement. Zwifters will also see how they rank against the global community, with the overall leaderboard displayed shortly after the personal results screen. Power Segments will eventually roll out to other Zwift Worlds over time. 

Zwift Racing

Season Long

The Home of Community Racing is geared up to deliver the best season of competition to date. Whether it’s Zwift Racing League, starting on September 16th, zRacing, Zwift Games, any one of the 1000’s of community-run race events, or if lycra isn’t your thing, there’s even the Virtual Brompton World Championships in November – there really is something for everyone!

Helping make community racing fairer and more competitive, there are numerous improvements coming to the racing scene, beginning this September. Zwift Racing Score is now established as the default racing categorisation system, and the 11 categories now used for Zwift events have made racing even more competitive by keeping the competition more closely matched. 

The latest changes to Zwift Racing Score have seen ‘score decay’ introduced for racers who haven’t competed in the last 30 days, updated seed scores based on your most recent personal bests (inside or outside of races), and a new option for event organisers to categorise riders by their 30-day best score, not just their current score. These changes ensure your score reflects your current peak fitness, instantly rewards strong performances, keeps matchmaking dynamic, and makes races feel fairer and more competitive for everyone on the start line.

To help keep racing fairer, Zwift is also rolling out new anti-botting detection. This is live and has been actively identifying suspicious activity. Accounts flagged by this technology are moving through our standard enforcement pipeline, helping us clean up racing, protect leaderboard integrity, and stop unfair XP farming. The same system is laying the groundwork for a new generation of anti-cheating technology designed to detect and eliminate unrealistic performances and make racing on Zwift even more authentic over time.

Brompton World Championship

November 17-23

“Tweed Is Speed.” The world’s most dapper race has arrived on Zwift. A week-long Virtual Brompton World Championship race series event is set to be held in Zwift’s London. Races will be held on custom routes (short and long options) and all entrants will be able to unlock the very special Tweed Kit! Of course, the Brompton will be available to purchase in the Drop Shop from November as well.

Event Cooldown

Live Now

The fun shouldn’t stop when you cross the finish line. Now, when Zwifters complete a Zwift group event they will have the option to stay in the event world to cool down. This update aims to improve event experience by extending the opportunity to continue the conversation, reminisce about the epic battle that went down, share a funny moment, connect on Zwift Companion, or discuss plans for your next activity much like you would after completing an outdoor event. One extra loop, anyone?

Zwift Camp: Baseline

September 15-October 19

Zwift Camp: Baseline proved to be Zwift’s most popular workout series of all time, and returns bigger and better for 2025. Zwift Camp will consist of three distinct camps throughout the year: Baseline, Build, and Breakthrough. Designed to follow the structure of winter training, Zwift Camp has been designed to allow Zwifters to complete one or multiple camps. Beginning September 15th, Zwift Camp: Baseline is your launchpad for the season ahead. The four workouts are a chance to set your baseline fitness and lock in your best season yet. 

Head over to your personalized Zwift Camp: Baseline dashboard here – zwift.com/zwift-camp/dashboard

The Drop

Dropping September 25

MyCanyon colorways are landing in the Drop Shop on September 25th. This will be the first time Zwifters can purchase bikes with distinct colorways in the Drop Shop. From launch, Zwifters can choose from four designs from the Opus Collection, the Fabrio Collection, and the Mano Collection. Stay tuned for more Drops coming to the Drop Shop this season!

Watopia Essentials Collection

On Sale September 16

Born from a partnership with Pedal Mafia, the Watopia Essentials Collection is an investment in your cycling journey, bringing the highest quality cycling apparel to Zwifters indoors and outdoors. On and off-bike apparel will be available to purchase in the US, UK and EU from Zwift.com. Zwifters located in Australia will also be able to access the collection from pedalmafia.cc.  

To find out more about This Season on Zwift, visit zwift.com/this-season-on-zwift

Your Thoughts

What do you think of Zwift’s plans for the next few months? Share below!

Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to Zwift this autumn, in the form of personalised recommendations for indoor rides and workouts.

With autumn on the horizon, Zwift has announced the latest round of updates to the popular indoor cycling app.

While the new AI tool is said to help “take out the cognitive load of figuring out what to do” on Zwift, there’s also a new world expansion, a new set of controllers, updates to racing categorisations and anti-cheat tools, and much more.

For an in-depth look at the new controllers, check out our Zwift Click v2 first look. Otherwise, read on for the lowdown on everything new coming to Zwift this season.

• New Zwift Click controllers make upgrading to virtual shifting cheaper than ever
• Zwift: your complete guide

Less time choosing, more time riding

According to Zwift, a big friction point for newer riders is working out what to do when they load up the app.

With so many routes, group rides, events, races and workouts available, the amount of choice can be overwhelming.

With its new AI tool, Zwift will offer personalised recommendations to riders at the top of the app homepage, with a suggested ride designed to account for your goals, preferences and current training load.

Rather than simply suggesting structured workouts every time, Zwift says its AI tool will recommend “a mix of routes, workouts, Robopacer rides & events allowing Zwifters to maintain variety“.

Riders will also be able to “tune” the recommendations around variables such as time, activity type, structure and more.

According to Zwift, the new AI tool is designed to help you “get fitter faster” and has been enabled by a recent update that allowed riders to track and gain experience points (XP) from outdoor rides, among other things.

The brand says its AI tool can leverage this data to gain a better understanding of a rider’s current fitness level and training loads, helping to improve its own recommendations.

Zwift says the tool is set to launch in November, and while it won’t offer ‘training periodisation’ at launch, the brand said it hopes to expand the tool’s capabilities in the future.

This update launches alongside updates to the ‘progress report’ that shows at the end of activities.

Upon finishing a ride, Zwift will display an in-depth summary of key metrics and information, including fitness score and goal progression, training status, level progress, racing score changes and so on.

Zwift also says its ‘goals’ feature – which is based on weekly riding goals riders can set for themselves – will now be able to update automatically to encourage continuous improvement.

At launch, Zwift says the auto-adjusting goals feature will be relatively simple, but that it has “big visions” for how it can be improved in the future.

The big apple is getting bigger

In its “largest map expansion in years”, Zwift is updating its iconic New York world with 31km of new virtual roads towards the end of October.

The expansion will include 16 new rideable routes (plus four for runners), taking riders out of the map’s futuristic Central Park area and to Prospect Park via the subway network.

While the original Central Park area has a few short, sharp climbs, Zwift says the Prospect Park expansion will feature “fast rolling roads” and iconic New York locations such as the Brooklyn Bridge.

Zwift also says it’s adding what it calls ‘power segments’ to the New York subway, which encourage riders to go for personal bests over short durations, from 5-30 seconds.

The goal with power segments is to set the highest average power possible, with efforts being recorded on in-game leaderboards.

Zwift says it intends the segments to be “primarily a challenge of personal achievement”, and so will display results compared to your previous efforts over the past 90 days, with community leaderboards following afterwards.

The brand says power segments will “roll out to other Zwift Worlds over time”.

Making Zwift racing fairer and more competitive

Zwift racing has exploded in popularity in recent years, helping riders get their competitive fix from the comfort of their own home/shed.

From this month, Zwift says it is introducing a range of new features designed to make racing fairer and more competitive.

For a start, Zwift Racing Score now features ‘score decay’.

Designed for racers who haven’t competed in the previous 30 days, this will update your racing score – the measure used to categorise riders within events – based on your most recent personal bests.

Event organisers will also gain the option to categorise riders according to their 30-day best score, rather than only their current score.

The idea is to help a rider’s racing scores better reflect their current fitness levels, reward strong performances and help keep races fair and competitive.

According to Zwift, racing on its platform is now 64 per cent “closer” year-on-year – meaning the gap between the top and bottom finishers in each race is now significantly smaller than before.

The goal, Zwift says, is to make it so that “anybody of any ability can hop in and find a race they are competitive in”.

Beyond this, Zwift says it’s also “rolling out new anti-botting detection”, to detect suspicious activity on the platform, and combat cheating, bots and XP farming.

Accounts “flagged” by these tools will move “through our standard enforcement pipeline”, but the brand says this “is laying the groundwork for a new generation of anti-cheating technology”.

Brompton World Championships come to Zwift

In terms of events, there are a whole host of challenges to take on this season.

Replacing the Tour of Watopia, a new double-XP event series called ‘Zwift Unlocked’ is coming to the platform from 6 October to 16 November.

As well as helping riders level up faster, Zwift Unlocked will feature 10 new routes across multiple Zwift roads.

Zwift Unlocked events will be available as both group rides and races, with options for short and long distances.

Beyond that, there’s the usual Zwift Racing League, zRacing, Zwift Games and thousands of community events.

And if that wasn’t enough, the virtual Brompton World Championships are coming to Zwift this November.

As the name suggests, this event sees riders all aboard the British brand’s iconic folding bike, with an additional twist of everyone wearing a tweed outfit.

Zwift says riders can unlock the tweed outfit for their avatar simply by participating in a Brompton World Championships event, and can permanently unlock the Brompton folding bike via the Drop Shop.

Strava has launched its new redesigned app for the Apple Watch, which now features a “performance-focused” interface, Strava’s Live Segments, performance tracking and more.

The update follows an increase in users uploading activities from Apple Watches. Strava says there was a nearly 20 per cent year-over-year increase in athletes using an Apple Watch in 2024.

“Apple Watch has become an increasingly popular wearable for athletes on Strava,” says Matt Salazar, chief product officer at Strava. “This investment in Apple Watch is more than just tracking a workout – it’s about delivering the real-time, game-like features athletes love to motivate them in the moment.”

So what’s new? 

Strava says it made several key updates to the Apple Watch app, including bringing its Live Segments feature to the smartwatch. 

Live Segments enable you to compete against yourself or other Strava users on starred or popular segments.

“On Apple Watch, Live Segments are intuitive and motivating,” says Strava. “As athletes approach a segment, a banner with the segment name and a circle indicator appears on the watch face. As they enter the segment, the circle updates in real time to reflect progress, providing a clear visual cue that shows whether the athlete is ahead or behind their personal record.” 

Strava also says you will receive a haptic cue when entering a Live Segment. And once you’ve completed the segment, your result will be displayed instantly before the app transitions back to the standard recording screen. 

Elsewhere, Strava says its Apple Watch app will now enable you to see stats at a glance, including pace, distance, time and heart rate. 

Streamlined syncing is said to make uploading directly to Strava “automatic and reliable”.

Extra features for Strava subscribers

If you’re a subscriber to Strava, you will have access to more features on the Apple Watch.

The live performance tracking means you’ll be able to see how your current pace compares to your personal best in real time. 

The Live Segments feature is also enhanced for paid subscribers. With a subscription, you will have a countdown showing exactly how much distance remains in a segment. You’ll also be able to see how your completed segment time compares to your personal best immediately. 

Integration between Apple Fitness+ and Strava

The update to Strava’s Apple Watch app follows the enhanced integration between Apple Fitness+ and Strava, which was announced in January of this year. 

Strava teamed up with Apple’s fitness and wellness service to offer “more value, inspiration, and motivation”, thanks to three new features.

The integration between the two services enables users to track and share their Fitness+ workouts on Strava, and Strava subscribers can also unlock a three-month trial of Apple Fitness+ at no additional cost.

It was also revealed that Fitness+ would debut workouts featuring top athletes from Strava, including runners Hellah Sidibe and Kayla Jeter. 

You may like

• Strava simplifies activity tracking and makes it ‘more intuitive’
• Why Strava applies a ‘tax’ to round down your ride distance
• Strava buys The Breakaway, bringing in-depth training to cyclists in period of ‘accelerated growth’ 
• The one benefit of Strava that nobody is talking about (and why it could make you happier)

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has said it “firmly condemns” the actions that led to the neutralisation of stage 11 of La Vuelta a España yesterday. 

With roughly 20km to go on the 157.4km stage, starting and ending in Bilbao, the race organisers announced the stage would end 3km early due to pro-Palestine protesters. 

In a statement released last night, the UCI said: “The UCI reiterates the fundamental importance of the political neutrality of sports organisations within the Olympic Movement, as well as the unifying and pacifying role of sport. Major international sporting events embody a spirit of unity and dialogue, transcending differences and divisions.” 

“The UCI would also like to reiterate that sport, and cycling in particular, has a role to play in bringing people together and overcoming barriers between them, and should under no circumstances be used as a tool for punishment,” it went on. 

The UCI added that staff and riders at La Vuelta should be able to “practise their profession and pursue their passion in optimal conditions of safety and serenity”. 

La Vuelta decided not to award a stage winner or award points for the points classification, with only points obtained at the mountain passes and intermediate sprints retained. 

The race organisers also “strongly condemned” the protests in a statement released after the stage, adding that: “La Vuelta respects and defends the right to peaceful demonstration within the context of the event, but cannot tolerate any acts that put at risk the physical safety of participants or any member of the race caravan.” 

Britain’s Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) was at the front of the race with general classification leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) when the decision to shorten the stage was announced. 

After the stage, he expressed frustration at missing his chance for a stage win. “I’m not saying I would have won, but I think I had a good chance to win,” said Pidcock.

“I felt like today was my day, but I feel like there always should be a finish line,” he added.  “We’re not riding a fucking sportive are we?”

“Putting us in danger isn’t going to help your cause. It’s not going to help what they’re protesting for,” Pidcock added. “Everyone’s got a right to protest whatever they want, but putting us in danger is not the way forward.”

The pro-Palestine protests at La Vuelta have primarily been against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech – the team co-owned by Sylvan Adams, a Canadian-Israeli businessman who is a vocal supporter of Israel and a citizen of the country. 

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

The team added: “Any other course of action sets a dangerous precedent in the sport of cycling not only for Israel–Premier Tech, but for all teams. Israel–Premier Tech has repeatedly expressed its respect for everyone’s right to protest, as long as those protests remain peaceful and do not compromise the safety of the peloton.

“We thank the race organizers and UCI for their continued support and cooperation, as well as the teams and riders that have expressed their support both publicly and privately and, of course, our fans.”

Israel–Premier Tech’s team time trial was disrupted by protestors last week, and other demonstrators entered the course on stage 10, after which Simone Petilli (Intermarché-Wanty) crashed. 

Petilli, who fell but finished the stage, wrote on X: “I understand that is not a good situation, but yesterday I crashed because of a Protest on the road.”

“Please, we are just Cyclists and we are doing our Job, but if it will continue like this our safety is not guaranteed anymore, and we feel in danger! We just want to race! Please,” he added.

There were meetings between the riders’ union, the Cyclistes Professionels Associés (CPA), and the race organisers before stage 11, with riders saying they would ride as long as protests were peaceful. 

There have been pro-Palestine protests at all three of this year’s Grand Tours. 

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement called for peaceful protests in April at this year’s Grand Tours against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech.

The BDS Movement said in April: “As Israel escalates its ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza and its violent military occupation of the West Bank, international sporting bodies have a moral obligation to take all measures to prevent genocide, or risk being held criminally liable.”

There have also been objections to the inclusion of Israel–Premier Tech at La Vuelta from Spanish political parties. Izquierda Unida and EH Bildu both called for the team’s exclusion from the race. 

Read more

• “We feel in danger” – tension mounts at La Vuelta amid protests against Israel–Premier Tech’s inclusion 
• Pro cyclist Alessandro De Marchi “relieved” not to be cycling for Israel-Premier Tech 
• Pro cyclist Jakob Fuglsang says it’s “nicer to ride without an Israel logo than with it”

See zwiftinsider.com/tiny for current Tiny Race details.

There was no winner on stage 11 of the Vuelta a España in Bilbao today after pro-Palestine protestors disrupted the finish, with the general classification times taken with 3km to go. 

Protestors disrupted the race throughout the day, displaying flags and banners, with others encroaching on the race. 

The peloton was briefly stopped during the neutral zone at the beginning of the day as protestors entered the course. Later, Mads Pedersen was impeded on the intermediate sprint with 38km, and protesters ran onto the penultimate climb of the day, causing the peloton to change course. Images show riot police at the finish in Bilbao working to hold the crowds back.

• Read more: “We feel in danger” – tension mounts at La Vuelta amid protests against Israel–Premier Tech’s inclusion 

Towards the end of the stage, the race organisers announced that there would be no winner.

“Due to some incidents at the finish line, we have decided to take the time at 3 kilometres before the line. We won’t have a stage winner. We will give the points for the mountain classification and the intermediate sprint, but not on the finish line,” the organisers said, according to Cycling Weekly. 

The decision didn’t halt the GC battle.

Race leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) attacked in the closing kilometres of the stage to gain time over João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates–XRG), who is currently second in the general classification, and was in a group behind Vingegaard and Pidcock. 

Stage 11’s neutralised finish follows a string of protests over the presence of Israel–Premier Tech at the race.

Last week, protesters disrupted Israel–Premier Tech’s team time trial. And yesterday, demonstrators disrupted stage 10, which led to Wanty–Intermarché’s Simone Petilli crashing. 

Although he finished the stage, Petilli later called for calm. The Wanty–Intermarché rider said on X: “I understand that is not a good situation, but yesterday I crashed because of a Protest on the road.”

“Please, we are just Cyclists and we are doing our Job, but if it will continue like this our safety is not guaranteed anymore, and we feel in danger! We just want to race! Please,” he added.

The riders’ union, the Cyclistes Professionels Associés (CPA), also met with the race organisers before stage 11 began to discuss how to deal with the protests, allegedly stating they would ride as long as protests remained peaceful.  

Tension is mounting at the Vuelta a España amid protests over Israel–Premier Tech’s presence in the race. The riders’ union, the Cyclistes Professionels Associés (CPA), has met with race organisers to discuss how to approach the issue, and individual riders have called for calm and greater safety. 

Demonstrators have lined the roads waving Palestine flags at the race, and last week saw protestors disrupt Israel–Premier Tech’s individual time trial. 

Now the protests against the team, which is co-owned by Canadian–Israeli businessman Sylvan Adams, who is a vocal supporter of Israel, have affected other riders.

Wanty–Intermarché’s Simone Petilli crashed on yesterday’s stage 10 to Belagua after three protesters with Palestinian flags entered the course and the peloton tried to avoid them. 

| La Vuelta Euskal Herrian barrena dabil gaur eta bihar, @IsraelPremTech talde sionistaren presentziaren aurkako protesten erdian. Begira zer gertatu den Irunberrin.

GENOZIDAK EZ DIRA ONGI ETORRIAK EUSKAL HERRIAN! #LaVuelta25 #StopGazaGenocide‌NOW pic.twitter.com/rimAvHPRTo

— Malcolm iXa (@ideiazabaldub) September 2, 2025

Petilli, who fell but finished the stage, wrote on X: “I understand that is not a good situation, but yesterday I crashed because of a Protest on the road.”

“Please, we are just Cyclists and we are doing our Job, but if it will continue like this our safety is not guaranteed anymore, and we feel in danger! We just want to race! Please,” he added. 

Adam Hansen, the president of the CPA, said on X: “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.

“The CPA stands firmly with the riders: they just want to race in safe conditions.”

Soudal–QuickStep’s Louis Vervaeke also took to X, asking protesters not to endanger riders or themselves. “We fully acknowledge that everyone has the right to protest. However, we kindly ask that this be done in a safe manner. Our focus here is on our sport, not on politics or any particular position in this matter,” said Vervaeke. 

Before the start of stage 11 in Bilbao, there were meetings between the CPA and the race organisers, and several teams have registered their interest for Israel–Premier Tech to withdraw from the race, according to journalist Daniel Friebe. 

The peloton was stopped in the neutral zone of stage 11 when pro-Palestine protesters blocked the road.

Elia Viviani, a representative of the CPA at the race, told Friebe that: “riders said to commissaires/race organisation they would ride as long as protests are peaceful. If race gets stopped, riders will reassess.”

Friebe added: “Viviani also said CPA wouldn‘t demand Israel-Premier Tech riders pull out. ‘We wouldn’t go against our colleagues’.”

Friebe also said on X that riders want the UCI to intervene. “They feel exposed on an issue that’s beyond their knowledge/expertise/desire to expose private position,” he wrote on X. 

Basque political party EH Bildu called for Israel–Premier Tech’s withdrawal from the Vuelta.

“Israel is not welcome in the Basque Country and we urge the withdrawal of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team from La Vuelta 2025,” the party said in a statement, according to the Domestique. “We do not want a team that represents a genocidal state in our country. It is unacceptable that sport be used to whitewash genocide.”

Spanish political party Izquierda Unida also asked the government to propose to the Vuelta organisers that Israel–Premier Tech be excluded from the race. 

The protests at the Vuelta follow demonstrations at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. An activist from Extinction Rebellion was arrested at the Tour de France after running onto the final straight on stage 11 wearing a T-shirt that read ‘Israel out of the Tour’ while waving a keffiyeh scarf.

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement called for peaceful protests in April at this year’s Grand Tours against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech. 

The BDS Movement said: “As Israel escalates its ongoing genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza and its violent military occupation of the West Bank, international sporting bodies have a moral obligation to take all measures to prevent genocide, or risk being held criminally liable.”

Two former Israel–Premier Tech riders have commented on no longer riding for the team in light of Israel’s war on Gaza. Alessandro de Marchi said he was “relieved” not to be cycling for them anymore and Jakob Fuglsang said that since retirement it has been “nicer to ride without an Israel logo than with it”. 

Derek Gee also terminated his Israel–Premier Tech contract last month, stating that “certain issues simply made my continuation at the team untenable”.

Israel–Premier Tech has been contacted for comment.