Why the Tour de Zwift Might Hurt Your Cycling Fitness (and What to Do Instead)

When one of my clients joined the Cycle Lean Project recently, they were excited about their goals but had a big question:

“Should I do the Tour de Zwift?”

If you’re unfamiliar, the Tour de Zwift is marketed as a fun, social way to challenge yourself on the bike. Zwift promises an exciting ride experience that’s good for fitness, packed with group energy, and a chance to push your limits. (Check it out here).

But my advice was simple: Pause and think before signing up.

Here’s why I suggested they take a step back, and why you might want to do the same.

The Downside of Events Like the Tour de Zwift

These events are undeniably fun. They’re social and competitive, and give you a great sense of accomplishment. But they can also work against you if you’re not careful.

1. They Trigger a Competitive Mindset

It’s hard to resist going all-in. Once you start, you’ll naturally push harder—trying to keep up with faster riders, complete all the stages, or see how you measure up on the leaderboard. The problem? None of this may align with your specific training goals.

If you’re already following a structured plan (like the Cycle Lean Project), the unplanned intensity can disrupt your progress. Instead of sticking to key sessions, you might trade in effective training for a chaotic mix of hard efforts and minimal recovery.

2. You Risk Overtraining Without Realizing It

Have you been tracking your Training Stress Score (TSS) in TrainingPeaks? If not, here’s why it matters:

TSS measures the cumulative stress your body is under from all your rides. When you pile on extra high-intensity efforts like the ones in the Tour de Zwift, your TSS skyrockets. At first, you might feel okay. But over time, excessive training stress leads to:

Fatigue: Your legs feel dead, and it takes longer to recover.
Burnout: Mentally, you lose motivation, making it hard to keep going.
Injuries: Without adequate recovery, you’re more likely to experience overuse injuries.

What’s the point of starting the year with a big event if it leaves you too drained to keep riding in February?

3. It Doesn’t Always Support Your Long-Term Goals

Whether your goal is to improve your Functional Threshold Power (FTP), lose weight, or feel stronger on the bike, every ride you do should contribute to those goals.

The Tour de Zwift is designed for excitement and short-term engagement, not long-term progress. When you’re just riding for fun or chasing PRs, you’re missing out on purposeful training that supports measurable improvement over time.

This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun—it just means you need to consider how events like this fit into the bigger picture of your cycling fitness.

The Cycle Lean Method: Progress Without Burnout

This is where the Cycle Lean Project stands out. The program is designed to build sustainable fitness while preventing the pitfalls of overtraining. Each week is structured to help you:

1. Prioritize Rest and Recovery

Rest isn’t optional—it’s a core part of training. Easy rides and recovery weeks are baked into the plan to ensure you’re not just riding more but riding better. By allowing your body to recover, you’re setting yourself up for consistent progress without burnout.

2. Maximize the Quality of Your Rides

Every session in the Cycle Lean Project has a purpose. Some rides are designed to build strength, others improve endurance, and some help you hone specific skills. This focused approach means you’re not just logging miles but making every mile count.

3. Avoid Burnout by Monitoring Fatigue

We use tools like TrainingPeaks to monitor TSS and manage your fatigue. This ensures you’re progressing at a sustainable pace while staying far away from the brink of overtraining. The result? You stay fresh, motivated, and ready to tackle each session at your best.

Key Takeaways

If you’re considering the Tour de Zwift, ask yourself these questions first:

Does this fit into my current training plan?
If it’s going to disrupt your structured approach or cause you to miss important sessions, it might not be worth it.
Am I tracking my TSS and monitoring fatigue?
Without this data, it’s hard to know if you’re overtraining or putting yourself at risk of burnout.
Does this align with my long-term goals?
Think about what you want to achieve in 6 months or even a year. Is this event helping you get closer to those goals, or is it just a short-term distraction?

The best training plans are about balance. It’s not about how much you ride but how smart you ride. The Tour de Zwift might be fun, but it doesn’t always fit into a well-thought-out training strategy.

As I told my client, cycling success isn’t about chasing every event—it’s about riding with purpose, managing fatigue, and keeping your eyes on the bigger picture.

Whenever you're ready, here are the ways I can help you:

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