UPDATE: Zwift has now pulled the new Gravel Mountain Red Rock routes from the Pas Normal Racing series due to “issues” and rider feedback after the first day of racing.
Monday 06 April 2026 was supposed to be a landmark day for indoor virtual cycling. Zwift launched Gravel Mountain, its first map dedicated exclusively to gravel racing, set in a stunning red rock environment, alongside the four-stage PAS Racing Series developed in partnership with Danish apparel brand Pas Normal Studios. What nobody anticipated was that Stage 1, Red Rock Loop, would require a motion sickness warning prior to the start.
Within minutes of launch, the Zwift forums caught fire. SteveR reported that riders were travelling at wildly unrealistic speeds, while Andrew Nuse, having located livestream footage of avatars flying at 40mph and bouncing like ping-pong balls, urged Zwift to pull the event immediately. Apparently nobody at Zwift HQ was watching.
It deteriorated from there. Riders reported passing clean through solid objects — rocks, barricades, and somewhat magnificently, a parked van near the finish line. Matt Wheeler, doing the maths nobody at Zwift apparently did, flagged that Zwift was logging the event at 47km in length while Strava recorded just 20km — speeds apparently 2.5x faster than normal. Physics, it seems, is also a beta feature.
The Zwift community’s verdict was sharp. YouTuber RideWithGerben summed it up neatly: “Oh man it is broken. I am getting sea sick.” Other racers politely suggested Zwift might consider testing routes before releasing them to the public — a revolutionary concept, some might say.
Not everyone declared a woozy defeat. Guy Badman admitted he enjoyed the racing despite the chaos. Forum user John, watching a rider’s YouTube clip of the carnage, delivered the most philosophical take of the day: “That video is hilarious. Fast is Fun I suppose.”
Zwift has not issued a public statement. The series continues — bugs, vans, and motion sickness bags — through Sunday 03 May 2026.
Photo Credit: Zwift
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