I would rely like to have the option to choose what happens when I late join an event.
Most of the time I just want to ride the whole route, like this week with the new NewYork routes, even though I’m a bit late for the event I want to start from the pen so I can ride the complete route and not just a part of it and enjoy the new scenery.
And sometimes I would like to be dropped in a group to enjoy the groupride (in which case it’s always a surprice where you land and what the speed op the group will be)
So it would be very nice if, when joining late, you get to choose >> start from the pen / join a group.
Every year I ride the Tour the Zwift and do this preferebly with grouprides, these rides push me to give that “little” bit extra
So I sign up for the grouprides, but then sometimes live gets in the way and I’m late and I have to late join the ride. BUT…. I want to ride the complete route all the way.
If I’m late I have to ride/race a bit harder to catch up, that’s a nice incentive to push a bit harder. The problem is, you get spawned somewhere in a group, no way to know where, could be half way the route. So then I have to ride the first half after I “finished” the route to ride the complete route. This is not the way it should be, or at least how I like i to be.
So, please give us the option to start from the penn when joining late instead of being transported to some random section on the route.
Tour du Zwift should be about riding the complete routes, not just a part of them.
(and yes, I know I can ride the routes “free“ at any time, but I like the social aspect of these rides)
I know this is not exactly the solution you’re asking for and may not be possible for everyone, but here is a suggestion that may help you on occasion. When I’m running a little bit late but still near my Zwift setup at/before the formal start time, I will log into Zwift, join the pen and but not actually get on my bike. I will go on about my business and do whatever I need to do — whether it takes me a different additional half an hour or an hour to finish what I’m doing, I’m still in the event and can do the full route when I’m ready.
In general, I think there’s room for discussion as to why Zwift even enables “Late Join” on the TdZ rides? It’s common knowledge that the practice exists for folks to join a medium or long course, finish, then late join one of the shorter courses that started on the following hour in order to complete that ride in very little time.
I wonder if that will still count for the ultimate challenge? Now that prizes are involved, it needs to have tighter control over people who constantly look for ways to game the system
Remember years ago the topic of late joining and coffee stops for these purposes would have caused an uproar if someone proposed to take away those inviolable rights.
Personally I’d just late join those folk to the starting pens, with an option to late join them to the front of the “race” (because you just know they will “race” to the end) but don’t give them any credits for it. No badges, no completion of stages.
I don’t have anything in this battle however. I couldn’t see any events that looked interesting. All the courses/roads I’ve done already. Not a lot of interest to do them again.
I like this idea. When I start late, I would prefer to complete the entire route, especially new routes that are “event only.” I like to earn the route badges. I often won’t join an event at all if I’m late, because I know will be dropped in somewhere mid-route.
HOW TO ENTER: During the Promotion Period, Entrants who are Zwift members will receive one (1) entry by completing all eighteen (18) routes of the 2026 Tour de Zwift on the Zwift platform (“Entry ”). For more information on 2026 Tour de Zwift Events, go to zwift.com/tour-de-zwift. For additional information about how to join Zwift, go to https://zwift.com. Standard data/usage rates from your online/phone service provider may apply. You may also enter via mail by hand printing your name, complete address, ZIP/Postal Code, country of residence, daytime phone number and date of birth on a plain 3"X 5" card and mailing in a hand addressed envelope with sufficient postage affixed (to mail to the U.S.) to: 2026 Tour de Zwift Promotion Entry, c/o Zwift, Inc., P.O. Box 2753, Long Beach, CA 90801 USA. All mail-in Entries must be handwritten and mail-in Entries must be postmarked by February 23, 2026 and received by March 2, 2026 to be eligible. Entries submitted via Zwift or mail shall be referred to as “Entries .” Mechanically reproduced/photocopied mailed Entries are automatically void. Limit one (1) Entry per person or Zwift account, regardless of method of Entry. Entries received in excess of the limitation will be void.
All Good