Email to racers confirms Zwift Games 2025 event details and outlines smart trainer accuracy updates and rider-friendly rule changes.
It’s been a few months since Zwift paused all platform-sanctioned elite racing for hardware concerns, but true to their word, the Zwift Games 2025 are a go.
“Our view is that the issues seen with hardware are growing pains of an emerging sport. The only way that the sport will continue to move forward is to address issues like this head-on, involving all of the relevant stakeholders when they emerge,” said Zwift Director of Racing Sean Parry.
Zwift stands by the decision after using the time to resolve the smart trainer accuracy issues and revamp the elite racing ruleset. The restart follows collaboration with racers, hardware manufacturers, and the independent performance verification team Athlete AnalytiX.
“We are very happy with the rationale and the process that led to the decision to pause,” reiterated Parry, “and have received a wide array of support from riders, teams, and other industry stakeholders.”
Zwift Games 2025 Details
The collective efforts of stakeholders have shaped Zwift Games 2025 into an event poised to surpass last year’s success, offering racers and viewers stronger authenticity assurances and a more balanced, rider-friendly rulebook.
The five-stage competition unfolds over three consecutive Saturdays in March. The Sprint Championship kicks things off on March 8th, followed by the Climb Championship on March 15th. The series wraps up on March 22nd with the overall finale and the Epic Championship.
With over $56,000 in prize money per gender ($112,000 total) at stake, the eight champions—including the top 30 overall—will battle for their share alongside the top three finishers in each Championship. Adding to the prestige, Zwift’s exclusive in-game Gold Z1 Tron Bike—the platform’s equivalent of the Rainbow Bands—awaits the winners.
Smart Trainer Accuracy Fixes
Zwift halted elite racing on December 3rd after three Zwift World Series races following an early season marred by multiple racer annulments and reactionary mid-series ruleset changes. At the heart of the issue was a rash of smart trainer accuracy concerns that plagued a portion of the virtual peloton, but Zwift’s Parry is sure it’s under control.
“The manufacturers are confident that these fixes will mitigate the issues they have identified. Whilst these updates are aimed at solving identified general issues, the reality is that individual units of hardware can (and will) fail from time to time due to multiple factors including wear, maintenance, proper calibration etc. The updated ruleset outlines what will happen if and when hardware fails in the future. Going forward, riders continue to be responsible for the accuracy of their equipment on a race-by-race basis.”
Since the elite racing pause, riders, hardware manufacturers, Athlete AnalytiX, and Zwift have worked together to address the accuracy issues that disrupted the Zwift World Series. They analyzed race data, pinpointed problem scenarios, and organized eleven test events where elite athletes could put their equipment through race conditions. Manufacturers also set up direct lines of communication, giving riders real-time support to report and troubleshoot hardware concerns.
That collaboration has already produced meaningful fixes. Elite Justo and Justo 2 received firmware updates and calibration clarifications and notified all registered users. Wahoo Kickr V6 and Kickr Move followed with firmware updates and a new multi-point spindown procedure, now in the hands of affected riders. A similar update for the Wahoo Kickr V5 is set for release soon, with further instructions to follow.
Rider-Friendly Ruleset Changes
While the stakeholders worked to roll out a hardware plan, Zwift’s Independent Commissaire Isaac LeBlanc introduced ruleset clarifications to mitigate the disproportionate impact on athletes when infractions occur beyond their control, with no suspicion of foul play.
“The decision to annul riders is never taken lightly, and I recognize that the impacts of these decisions can reach beyond the ZWS,” stated LeBlanc in the email to riders.
One of the more forward-thinking ruleset changes tackles annulments for hardware discrepancies—the issue that sent several top riders into the middle of a controversy. Rather than wiping out results entirely for a first-time infraction, riders will now receive a 15-position relegation for “Trainer performance within baseline performance data submitted by the athlete,” allowing them a chance to identify and resolve the issue.
“I also recognize that this is particularly hard in cases when infractions are beyond the control of the athletes, and there is no nefarious intent,” understands LeBlanc.
“I have taken the opportunity presented by pausing the ZWS to work closely with Zwift on a root and branch review of the existing rules and regulations. In doing so, it was our collective goal to create additional clarity and transparency for riders and an updated framework for sanctions that is less punitive on riders.”
Zwift introduced an additional race to give riders who finished outside the top 50 in the Zwift World Series overall standings—including those impacted by annulments—a second chance to qualify for Zwift Games 2025. At the same time, they launched an open forum Discord channel, providing racers with a direct line to the Independent Commissaire and race control to discuss concerns and seek clarity.
Weigh-In Window Reduced
A ruleset revisit that may not sit well with all riders but carries significant health implications cuts the weigh-in window from two hours to one.
The revised ruleset includes a note that reads: “We appreciate that there are differing views on when an event weigh-in should occur. The current protocol is based on the medical advice received that the reality is that, no matter what the timescale used, some people will choose to try and to manipulate their weight.
The further the window for doing a weigh-in is from any given event, the more people will be tempted to both do this, and manipulate their weight by a larger amount, using the extended time to attempt to recover from the harm caused by this practice.
We understand that performing a regular weigh-in close to the time of racing can sometimes be inconvenient, but on balance, having a ruleset that does not actively promote the dangerous cycle of significant weight loss and attempted recovery from only doing occasional weigh-ins is the priority. We will continue to review this policy and take further medical advice on any potential changes in the future.“
Shifting the weigh-in window closer to the event start time sends a clear message and takes a proactive stance against the growing normalization of extreme dieting behaviors in the sport.
Will We See More Independent Lab Testing?
Another new rule formalizes a performance verification tool that Zwift has used in the past, potentially paving the way for its use more frequently in the future.
It reads: “At any time, the Independent Commissaire or the Performance Verification provider may compel a rider to conduct a laboratory test at the expense of the Event Organiser.”
Many believe this is how the sport must go as esports-focused “Indoor Specialists” often exceed documented peak power data.
In addition, the mandatory pre-verification “ZADA” test will reintroduce an Indoor Baseline Power Test protocol.
Reigning in Toxic Rider Behavior
The top entry in the Code of Conduct now reads, “Taking any actions, including use of language, that could be considered as threatening, discriminatory or otherwise could be deemed abusive or cause offense to others.”
Parry emphasized, “Creating the right incentives and sanctioning framework to support good rider behavior is essential to build the forward-looking, positive, and inclusive sport we all want.”
Any riders engaging in unsporting conduct will be subject to punitive action.
Zwift Delivered in a Big Way
Zwift followed through on its promises in a major way, prioritizing the sport and its athletes by tackling hardware concerns head-on and refining the ruleset to create a fairer, kinder, and more equitable racing environment.
Will these bold fixes put the hardware controversies to rest, or will the same old issues resurface under the brightest spotlight? Zwift Games 2025 will be the moment of truth—tune in to find out!
Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
