Zwift has announced the schedule for the upcoming Zwift Games 2024. While these events are usually reserved for the elite pros, Zwift wants everyone to get in on the action. Riders will have the chance to compete in Sprint, Epic, and Climbing stages with men’s and women’s champions for each stage and overall champion. Elite riders will compete for a $110,000 prize purse, along with a gold in-game prize.
Zwift Games will be Zwift’s first major racing tour that is open to all cyclists. Developers have created new routes specifically for the Zwift Games. For the Sprint championships, qualifications will happen at multiple times on February 24th and 25th to cover riders from all time zones. Championship races will be held on March 2nd and 3rd. While no qualification rounds will be held for Epic and Climbing stages, their championship events will be held on March 9th and 10th for Epic, and 16th and 17th for Climb. These championships will be open to all eligible riders, with elite competitors being subject to performance verification. For riders interested in competing in the elite events, you can check your eligibility here. The high level is you must be 18, have registered with Zwift Power and opted-in to data sharing, completed five races in the last 12 months with results on Zwift Power, a trainer or smart bike from Tacx, Wahoo, or Elite (specific models for each brand listed), use a heart rate monitor, a second power meter and head unit for dual recording, and be willing to submit height and weight videos in the run up to the event. If you are able to do all of this, you can register interest through the earlier link by January 26th, 2024.
For non-elite riders, five stages will be open to the community of Zwift riders. Each stage will be offered at multiple times a day with options for all pace levels, letting everyone find the perfect ride for them. As riders participate in each of these stages, they will unlock three items that will be announced closer to the event. Watch the home screen on your Zwift app for more details on Zwift Games Community Races when they are announced in February.
ZWIFT GAMES ELITE CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE AND DETAILS
Dates: Men – February 24th 2024, 2am, 10am, 6pm UTC Women – February 25th, 2024, 2am, 10am, 6pm UTC.
The Sprint Championship is the only event that will have a qualification round. Qualifier events will consist of a single scratch race. In order to earn a place on the start line of the Sprint Championship, athletes will need to place in the top 30 during one of the three qualifier races.
Course: Watopia Hilly Route, 2 laps | Distance: 18.3km | Elevation: 217m
Dates: Men – March 2nd 2024, Women – March 3rd, 2024.
The Sprint Championship will consist of three back-to-back scratch races, similar to the Zwift Battle Royale format used for the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. A proportion of the top-placed riders will progress through each race, and only ten riders will make the start line of the final race.
Race 1 – Watopia, new course, 2 laps | Distance: 24.9km | Elevation: 289m | Top 30 qualify for Race 2
Race 2 – Watopia, new course | Distance: 19.5km | Elevation: 212m | Top 10 qualify for Race 3
Race 3 – Glasgow Crit Circuit, 5 laps | Distance: 15.3km | Elevation: 166m
Prizes: 1st place – $7,000, In-game unlock | 2nd place – $5,000 | 3rd place – $3,000
Dates: Men – March 9th 2024 , Women – March 10th, 2024.
The Epic Championship is the race for Zwift’s steeliest athletes, those who like to go long. This grueling scratch race will take on a brand new course in Zwift that has been specially curated for the Zwift Games. At more than 80 km long with lots of opportunities for attacking, this Epic parcours will test every facet of competitors’ resolve.
Course: Watopia, new course | Distance: 81.6km | Elevation: 878m
Prizes: 1st place – $7,000, In-game unlock | 2nd place – $5,000 | 3rd place – $3,000
The Zwift Games Overall Champions will be the male and female athletes who have the strongest and most consistent performance across all three Championship events. The top 90 finishers in each Zwift Games Championship will be awarded points according to their final position. Points will accrue over the three championship races, and the racers with the most points at the end of the Climb Championships will be awarded the title of “Overall Champion.”
Prizes: 1st place – $10,000, In-game unlock
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