Cyclists often treat workout export as an afterthought, but the file format determines how smoothly a session moves from planning into execution. If you pick the wrong format for the platform, even a well-built workout becomes annoying to use.
In VeloWorkout, the two practical formats for most riders are ZWO and FIT. Each has a different best use case.
When to use ZWO
ZWO is the format most riders associate with Zwift-style structured workouts. It is useful when your goal is to build or edit interval sessions that fit a ZWO-oriented indoor training workflow.
If you are designing a workout visually and want to move it into a ZWO-compatible environment, this is usually the simplest export choice.
When to use FIT
FIT is the better option when the workout needs to travel cleanly into Garmin or into workflows that expect a structured training file with clear steps. It is also the better answer for many outdoor-use cases.
For Strava uploads from performed history, FIT is usually the strongest choice because it preserves more of the structured activity data cleanly.
- •Use FIT for Garmin-oriented execution and many outdoor workflows.
- •Use FIT when clean structured workout transfer matters more than editor compatibility.
- •Use ZWO when the target platform expects Zwift-style workout definitions.
How to choose in practice
The best export format is the one that matches the next execution step. Decide where the workout will actually be performed, then export to the format that platform handles best.
That sounds obvious, but it prevents a lot of friction. Riders often lose time by exporting one format simply because they built the workout in a certain context.
Using exports inside VeloWorkout
Builder is where you normalize the workout structure first. Once the workout has sensible durations, targets, and block order, the export layer becomes more reliable.
If you are building a workout specifically for Garmin, FIT should usually be your first choice. If you are sharing a workout with a ZWO-first workflow, choose ZWO instead.