Zwifters will now be able to register for Group Workouts, both online and using the Zwift Mobile link smartphone app. They're similar to the races and group rides, but allow all riders to train according to effort level rather than their power output so everyone stays together.
It's all part of Zwift's plan to make virtual riding more social - no more seeing avatars wooshing past putting out double your power output... in Group Workouts you'll be on a level playing field assuming you're putting out the same level of effort according to your Functional Threshold Power. Zwift CEO and co-founder Eric Min says: "We’re taking the motivation of the spinning experience and fusing it with structured training content created by world class coaches.
"Now all ages and ability levels can train together for the first time, whether you’re a World Tour Pro or a recreational cyclist."
There are already numerous structured sessions you can join on to in Zwift, with Group Workouts being the latest expansion aimed to appeal at all levels of cyclist. You can search for them in the 'Events' section of Zwift, and there will be up to 15 scheduled every day. USA Cycling's Endurance Performance Director Greg Henderson will be leading a series of Group Workouts later this month, and there will also be a live stream from Team Dimension Data's training camp in South Africa for a whole week, where the team will be leading the sessions.
World exclusive road.cc Group Workout - 7/11/2017, 19.30pm GMT
To coincide with the launch of the new Group Workouts feature, we're inviting you to join in on one of the very first Group Workouts with road.cc on Tuesday 7th November! As mentioned previously, it doesn't matter whether you're a seasoned pro or complete novice - you just need to know your Functional Threshold Power (or complete a test to find out if you don't know it already), then Zwift will work out what power you need to put out during the session to put everyone on an even keel.
We're ready... are you?
The session will be short and sharp, not too intense but will pack enough punch to give you a decent midweek workout. We want as many of you as possible to join us, so keep an eye out for more news between now and Tuesday evening. Of course we also want the road.cc colours taking over Zwift's virtual world during the session, so make sure to read our guide on riding in road.cc kit on Zwift here... the details of the workout will be posted on road.cc soon with a link to sign up, so we'll virtually see you there!
After cobbling together a few hundred quid during his student days off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story), Jack bought his first road bike at the age of 20 and has been hooked ever since. He joined road.cc in 2017 having previously being Staff Writer at 220 Triathlon magazine, and reports on all things tech as well as editing road.cc's live blog. He is also the news editor of our electric-powered sister site eBikeTips. Jack's preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking (the latter being another long story), and on Sunday afternoons he can often be found on an M5 service station indulging in his favourite post-race meal of 20 chicken nuggets, a sausage roll, caramel shortbread and a large strawberry milkshake.