New to Zwift Academy Road? Start With These FAQs

Zwift Academy Road 2020 is here! If you’ve never enrolled before, you probably have some questions. Here are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions to get you pointed in the right direction.

Q: What is Zwift Academy Road all about?

A: It’s about having fun, faster sprints, stronger climbing legs, and learning lessons to be an overall better cyclist. You’ll be challenging yourself and, for a select few, dreaming big. Zwift Academy is a training program that you work through together with thousands of people from around the world. Zwift Academy is also a talent identification program! One woman and one man will be lucky enough to earn a professional cycling contract with Canyon//SRAM Racing and Team Alpecin-Fenix.

To graduate and earn the full in-game kit, you’ll need to complete 8 workouts and 4 group rides or races. (To be eligible for the pro contract, two of those 4 group events must be races and two must be “segment” format group rides.) Even if you don’t finish the program, you’ll get in-game goodies for your Zwift avatar as you complete the rides. The Academy runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 25, and you have until Nov. 1 to register. Ready to sign up? Click one of the links below!

Women’s Zwift Academy Road
Men’s Zwift Academy Road

Q:  What’s the best way to enjoy Zwift Academy?

A: Zwift Academy is a unique training experience, where the community around you becomes the key to your motivation. If you want to experience all the goodness it has to offer, join group events and interact with the community! Riding with others is fun, and having fun means you’ll actually stick to your training. Consistent training is what delivers results and performance. See the men’s and women’s schedules of group events.

Tempted to skip a workout or give it less than your best? We’ve all been there. Try signing up to do it as a group workout, where everyone powers through it together. In group rides, depending on your level and the type of ride you join, you might challenge yourself or learn the art of taking it easy. Either way, enjoy the company! You can also try races, because sometimes nothing is more motivating than chasing another pair of wheels.

The community is also a great resource for information, tips, and support. Join the Facebook groups (you can find the women’s group here and the men’s group here) to follow along with others and get and give advice.

Q: How do I complete Zwift Academy if I can’t make the events?

A: If you miss the group workouts, don’t worry. You can go through them at your own pace. Look for the individual structured workouts in the folder called “Zwift Academy 2020.” When you log in to Zwift, click “Training” and make sure “Workouts” is selected at the top of the next screen. Scroll down until you see “Zwift Academy 2020” and click it to open the folder. You can do any of these workouts on your own or in a group, as long as you complete all eight. It’s best to do them in order, but you don’t have to. Make it work for you!

You will need to join some group rides or races to graduate, but there are many different times available. If you think it will be tough to fit those into your schedule, try to get them done as soon as you can.

Q. Do I need a Today’s Plan account?

Today’s Plan is the official training partner of Zwift Academy, and you are required to have an account if you are competing for the pro contract. And it won’t cost you a thing – everyone is offered a free premium Today’s Plan account for the duration of the Academy!

If you want to dig into your data, use the custom Zwift Academy dashboards in Today’s Plan to see how you stack up against other riders in the Academy, including your age group as well as overall. Make sure you see Zwift Academy branding at the top of your dashboard in Today’s Plan, which indicates you have connected properly.

More links and info on how and why to connect to Today’s Plan

Q: Does Zwift Academy really work?

A: Heck yeah! The program was built by world-renowned coaches to help improve your training knowledge and identify young talent. You’ll get some good training in and learn how to get the most out of your workouts. Expect to test your limits and learn more about your strengths and weaknesses.

Check out some of our past winners and what they have accomplished

Q: Is Zwift Academy for me?

A: It’s for anyone and everyone! Whether your dream is to climb that hill faster, get fitter and stronger, or become a pro cyclist, Zwift Academy has something for each of us. As long as you have your FTP set correctly, the workouts will be right at your level. The group rides have different paces and formats, and races have different categories, so find what fits you.

If you’re brand new to cycling, focus on riding consistently, learning about training, and connecting with the community. If you feel comfortable on a bike, don’t be afraid to take on the full challenge! We bet you’re capable of more than you think. Just remember that getting good rest is as important as working hard. It’s the recovery time in between that makes your body stronger.

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Click here for more information on Zwift Academy, including ZA Road, ZA Tri for triathletes, and the brand new ZA Run. For more details on Zwift Academy Road, which focuses on cycling, click here (women’s) or here (men’s).