Train for the iFIT & Ergatta Fall Cup

The iFIT & Ergatta Fall Cup is back this October, and this time it's built for the long haul. After the iFIT & Ergatta Spring Cup brought thousands of members into a month of virtual racing across treadmill, bike, and rower, the Fall Cup returns as a structured esport competition with three weekly stages and a make-up week for anyone who needs to catch up.

Whether you raced last time or you're stepping onto the leaderboard for the first time, a little prep goes a long way. Here's how to get ready, from the equipment you'll need to the training habits that actually help you show up for all three stages.

Pair your heart rate monitor before stage one

Every Ergatta Cup race requires a connected heart rate monitor, so pair it early rather than the morning of your first race. Beyond meeting the entry requirement, wearing a monitor gives you real information about how hard you're actually working.

A heart rate monitor helps you identify the most effective training zone for your goals, and wearing one during training lets you confirm you're building aerobic capacity at the right intensity rather than guessing. [1] It also helps you tell the difference between a genuinely hard effort and a pace that just feels hard, which matters when you're deciding how much to hold back in stage one versus how much to leave on the table for stage three.

If you don't already have a compatible monitor, the SmartBeat Heart Rate Monitor is a simple option built to sync directly with your equipment and the iFIT app. Order it now so it has time to arrive and pair before stage one.

If your monitor hasn't arrived yet or isn't paired, don't wait until race week. Give yourself time to test the connection on a normal workout first, so stage one isn't also the first time you're troubleshooting Bluetooth.

You can view the iFIT & Ergatta Fall Cup 2026 Official Rules here.

Cross-train across all three machines

The Fall Cup spans treadmill, bike, and rower, and even if you have a clear favorite, spending some training time on the other two machines pays off twice over. It keeps your season interesting, and it protects you from the kind of overuse strain that comes from doing the exact same movement pattern week after week.

Planning your routine around a few different activities, especially low-impact ones, lowers your chances of overusing any one muscle group or joint. [2] Rowing uses your legs, back, and arms in a different pattern than running or cycling, so alternating between machines during your prep gives some muscles a break while others do the work.

You don't need to become equally strong on all three. Even one or two sessions a week on a machine outside your main modality is enough to broaden your base heading into stage one, especially if rowing is newer to you than treadmill or bike work.

Show up for the stages, not just the mood

One of the quieter advantages of a stage-based competition is that it takes the decision out of your hands. Instead of asking yourself every day whether you feel like training, you have three set weeks on the calendar with a clear window to log your best time.

That structure matters more than it might seem. People translate intentions into action only about half the time, and follow-through drops even further when someone is deciding day-to-day whether to exercise, compared to having a regular schedule to stick to. [3] A stage with a start date and a close date is designed to make that decision for you in advance.

Use that to your advantage heading into October. Treating each stage like an appointment, rather than something you'll get to if the week goes well, can make the multi-week finish feel more achievable.

What's different from the Spring Cup

If you competed in the Spring Cup, a few things are changing this time. Results will live on a results page instead of a manually updated PDF, so checking your standing should be faster and less confusing. Rower stages are also being adjusted to be more approachable for newer rowers, not just experienced ones.

If you're new to the Cup format entirely, here's the shape of it: each stage runs for a full week, your best time counts, and standings are segmented by gender, age group, and modality, so you're only ever compared to people in your own category.

Explore more

• Find Your Finish Line: Inside the iFIT & Ergatta Spring Cup

• The Results Are In: iFIT & Ergatta Spring Cup Winners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a heart rate monitor for the Ergatta Fall Cup?

Yes. A connected heart rate monitor is required for every Ergatta Cup race, and results without heart rate data may be excluded from final standings.

Why is a heart rate monitor required?

A connected heart rate monitor is required for all iFIT & Ergatta Cup events to ensure fairness and data integrity. Heart rate must remain paired for the entire race for results to count, helping confirm that performances reflect real physiological effort.

Learn how to pair your heart rate monitor or smart watch to NordicTrack and ProForm equipment here.

Does a smart watch count as a heart rate monitor?

If your watch can connect to NordicTrack or ProForm equipment and display your heart rate on the equipment, it counts.

Learn how to pair your Apple Watch to NordicTrack and ProForm equipment here.

Learn how to pair your Samsung Galaxy Watch with NordicTrack and ProForm equipment here.

I can't find Ergatta on my machine, how can I join?

First make sure that your software is on iFIT 2.0. If you're still having trouble finding it, please reach out to support.

How are results reviewed and validated?

Results are validated through iFIT and reflected on the current leaderboard. iFIT reviews the top finishers in each category to identify abnormal or invalid performances. Any results that do not meet integrity standards are removed.

Who am I competing against?

Results are segmented by gender, age group, and modality. This allows members to compare performance within relevant peer groups rather than against a single global leaderboard.

Is the Fall Cup only available to iFIT Pro members?

Yes. The Fall Cup is an iFIT Pro–exclusive experience. Pro membership enables multi-week competition, performance tracking, heart-rate validation, and full integration across NordicTrack and ProForm equipment.

What do participants receive at the end of the Fall Cup?

Some participants will earn physical medals mailed to their homes. More broadly, members finish the Spring Cup with clear performance benchmarks, renewed motivation, and a stronger sense of momentum heading into fall.

What do I need to compete in the Ergatta Fall Cup?

You'll need an active iFIT Pro membership, a Bluetooth-paired heart rate monitor, an updated account with email opt-in, and access to a connected treadmill, bike, or rower.

How is the Ergatta Fall Cup different from the Spring Cup?

The format is similar, three weekly stages plus a make-up week, but results now live on a dedicated results page instead of a PDF, and rower stages are designed to be more accessible for newer rowers.

What happened in the iFIT & Ergatta Spring Cup?

The Spring Cup was the first iFIT & Ergatta virtual competition, bringing thousands of athletes together across treadmill, bike, and rower for a month of structured racing. It validated the format and set the stage for the Fall Cup's improvements.

Can I still compete if I miss a stage?

Each stage stands on its own, so missing one doesn't disqualify you from the next. A make-up week is also built into the schedule for anyone who needs to catch up.

References

1. American Council on Exercise. How to Determine Optimal Intensity for HR Training

2. Mayo Clinic Staff. Fitness Program: 5 Steps to Get Started

3. American College of Sports Medicine. Doing What We Mean to Do: Following Through with Fitness Goals

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