The sixth and final race of Zwift Racing League 2023/24 Round 2 happens Tuesday, December 19, and we’re in Watopia for a flat team time trial that’s a bit longer than we’re used to. Pace yourselves!
Let’s dig into crucial route sections, bike choice, and more.
Looking at the Route: Triple Flat Loops
We’ve never raced Triple Flat Loops as a TTT in ZRL, but the roads here will be familiar to experienced Zwifters. As the name implies, this former Rebel Route is a fairly flat course, with just a few rollers/punches that may require special attention.
The route totals 36.3km and 162 meters of climbing including the lead-in, and all categories will race the same distance.
Flat sections are typically easy for TTT teams who have pre-planned their pacing and rotation. But it’s your team’s execution of slower sections (climbs and dirt) that can really affect your overall result. Part of a winning strategy involves knowing when to increase your power to keep speeds high, and when to ease up and grab some recovery.
Here are the key sections of this course where you’ll want to have a plan of attack:
- 9.8km: Col du Saddle Springs (900m): the first real rise on this course, you must hit it hard to keep your speed up and avoid losing seconds. Recovery awaits on the other side!
- 16.4km: rise from Downtown + the Esses (2km): power up on the rise, then keep your eyes open and your power modulating on The Esses to keep your team together.
- 21.5km: Volcano Bumps (400m): attack this short double-bump to keep speeds high!
- 23.9: the Esses again (1.4km): once again, keep your eyes open and your power modulating to keep your team together.
- 26.3km: rise up from Italian Villas (400m): keep those watts high to keep those speeds high. You’ve got a bit of recovery just around the corner!
- 28.8km: dirty Marina (700m): the Marina dirt sections will slow you down. Treat it like a climb and bump up your power to keep speeds high.
- 32.3km: Rise to Fuego Flats (1km): hammer your way up the false flat. You’re almost there!
- 35.8km: 500m Sprint Marker: now it’s time to go all-in. Empty the tank.
- 36.3km: done!
Read more about the Triple Flat Loops route >
Bike Frame + Wheel Choice
This week, bike choice is easy: grab your most aero TT setup! The CADEX Tri is the fastest frame in game, and the DT Swiss disc wheels are the fastest wheels. If you don’t have access to that setup (level 40+) then see this post to determine the fastest TT setup available at your level.
Whatever you do, do not use a road frame. Even a “slow” TT frame is faster than a road frame, so now that we’re able to use TT frames and get a draft in TTT events, you’ll want to take advantage of that!
More Route Recons
Many recon rides are held each week on the upcoming ZRL route. If you’re unfamiliar with this course, jump into an event and do some recon.
Si Bradeley
Zwift Grand Prix
Preview the race by watching the world’s top women take it on!
TTTips
Team Time Trialing on Zwift is a challenging mixture of teamwork, physical strength, proper pacing, and Zwift minutiae like picking a fast bike and understanding drafting.
Like the first TTT of this round, this week’s course will give valuable seconds to teams who can keep their speeds high over the rollers and rises that pepper the course. Staying in formation while surging your power for these rises is a challenge, especially if riders use various Trainer Difficulty settings. For a flat course like this, we recommend your team uses a high trainer difficulty (75-100%) so you feel the inclines and can automatically boost power accordingly.
Your goal in this week’s TTT is to get four riders across the line in the shortest time possible. That means every team’s pace plan will be different, based on the abilities of each rider. We highly recommend having an experienced DS on Discord directing your team, especially if your team contains some inexperienced TTT riders.
If you really want to go down the TTT rabbit hole, check out Paul Fitzpatrick’s zwift-ds.com site and particularly the Excel Power Planner sheet.
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
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