Update: while the post below still applies to many Zwifters, it’s worth noting that Zwift’s auto-detected “Pace Groups” are now used in most races to categorize riders, instead of the ZwiftPower FTP-based categories referenced below. More on Pace Groups/Category Enforcement here.
Just this week, as I signed up for another Crit City race, I was reminded of a question many Zwift racers have asked: do I race in my ZwiftPower category? Or should I race up a category?
A Bona Fide B
According to ZwiftPower (see my profile) I’m a B category racer, and not even close to knocking on the door of the A’s in terms of power numbers.
ZwiftPower uses your 3 best 20-minute power results from races in the last 90 days to determine your FTP, which determines your ZwiftPower category. B category is defined as anyone with an FTP over 200W which is also at least 3.2 w/kg but below 4.0 w/kg. My three best races in the last 90 days average to 300 watts (3.65w/kg), putting me squarely in the middle of the B power window.
My individual ZwiftPower rank of 182.62 points places me 312th in the B’s overall, and 1,814th in the universe of Zwifters.
Here’s the Problem
So I’m a bona fide B racer. But here’s the problem: if I sign up for B races on flatter routes, I’m not pushed to my limit. Not until the final sprint to the line, at least. Flat B races, for me, are a “sit in the front pack and conserve so you can hopefully win the final sprint” event.
If the pack is larger and/or more competitive (a ZRL race, perhaps), I’ll have to push more to stay in the front group. But I can’t remember the last time I was dropped from the front of the B’s on a flat course.
So when it comes time to sign up for a Zwift race, there’s a question I have to ask myself…
Why Do I Race?
That’s the question. Why do I sign onto Zwift and sweat my way through a hard effort? Is it for the glory of a win? The fitness gains? The adrenaline rush? The fun of working with teammates? The chance to write another post about How the Race Was Lost?
The truth, of course, is that I’m driven by a mix of motivations. You are, too. We don’t race just for the podium or turn ourselves inside-out only for the fitness gains. Honestly, in most races I’m motivated by the thought that “I may be able to win this, and if I don’t, it’s still a good training effort.”
But when I can’t remember the last time I was dropped from the front of a flat B race, it may be time to consider that my flat B races aren’t delivering the sort of training stress I need most.
I may be winning the 45-minute battle, but I’m losing the months-long war.
The Dangers
And thus we arrive at my thesis statement: many D, C, and B category Zwift racers blunt their training and stop growing smarter when they race the routes that suit them, in the category ZwiftPower has given them.
There are many B’s, C’s, and D’s who regularly win in their category, but fail to ever race up a category. The podiums may feel great, but if they only lead to a plateau in fitness, are they worth the time and effort?
Maybe there’s a better way.
Alternative Approaches
Part of the issue here is Zwift’s categorization system, which offers zero reasons to cat up. Cycling federation rules include mandatory category upgrades at certain point levels, but Zwift has no such thing. No forced upgrading, and in fact, no category enforcement when signing up for a race (unless you’re talking about the new ZRacing Chase Races p/b WTRL).
We’ve published several posts detailing better options for categories, including a matchmaking system like other online multiplayer games utilize. But it doesn’t seem wise to let our training suffer while we wait for Zwift to improve their race categorization system.
So I’ll propose five alternative approaches to selecting and riding Zwift races.
#1: Catting Up
“If you want to get faster, ride with people who are faster than you.” That’s what my cycling buddies told me when I first got into competitive road racing. It’s sound advice. Stronger riders push us to the limit, and when we push to the max then adequately recover, fitness gains manifest themselves.
On top of that, stronger riders are often smarter. Riding with them teaches you things. Not only will you learn from more experienced racers, you’ll also be forced to race smarter – to be careful to stay out of the wind, or time your final sprint better, or use your PowerUp just right. You may be able to hang with the front pack in your ZwiftPower category while playing it loose, but you’ll need to race smart to stay in contention in a higher category.
Racing up a category can provide a huge boost to your ZwiftPower ranking as well.
So try racing up a category, on a route that suits you. See how long you can hang with the front pack.
This is an especially smart move in smaller races, where the field of riders is, say, 20 or less. Smaller fields typically mean a lower effort is required to stay with the front group. Just this week, in fact, I jumped into a 14-person A race which turned out to be easier (in terms of perceived effort and actual wattage) than a 60+ rider B race I’ve done on the same route.
#2: Choosing the Hard Road
Pick a course that doesn’t suite you, so you’re pushed to ride smart and work on areas of weakness.
For me, tough race courses are anything with a significant climb. I can usually hang with the B’s for a few minutes uphill, if it’s not too steep. (Box Hill is probably my limit – and I don’t stand a chance there against a strong B field.)
So if I want to be pushed to my max, I’ll choose a lumpy race course. Yorkshire always kicks my butt. The NYC KOM does as well. And if I really want a soul-sucking slog, I’ll jump into a race up Watopia’s Epic KOM or Innsbruck’s KOM.
I go into these races knowing I won’t win, but I’ll be pushed to the edge of my abilities. The wins will come later.
#3: Racing As a Workout
Zwift races can feel a bit predictable, but there are things you can do to change that. Why not turn a race into a structured workout?
Sign up for your normal ZwiftPower category, but go into it with a plan. Crit City races can be a fun place for this, since the laps are so short. What if you attack every other lap, trying to stay off the front as long as possible? Or see if you can last an entire lap at the very front of the pack?
Chance are the added effort will lose you the race. But it’s not about the win today. It’s about the effort.
#4: Embracing the Mass Start
In the past, I’ve avoided “mass start” races on Zwift where all categories race together. I didn’t like the idea of riders outside my category affecting my race.
But I’ve come to enjoy this style of racing, because I’m pushed to the limit when trying to hang with the A’s at the front of the race. And if I do get dropped, there will be B’s behind to work with to the finish.
#5: Focus On Ranking
Instead of selecting races based on your chance to podium, select races based on your chance to get a ZwiftPower rankings boost.
Sometimes you can do this while racing within your category, if you can find a high-quality race using ZwiftPower’s tools. But often, just racing up a category (or racing in a mass start event against higher-category riders) will get you a better points result, even though you finish off the podium.
As an example: I’ve won B races before, but earned no ranking boost, since I was the highest-ranked B in the race. On the other hand, I’ve placed 10th or worse in mixed-cat races and earned a points upgrade for me effort!
Wrapping It Up
Look, I get it: sometimes you just want to go for the win. Racing is always more fun if you’re in contention for a podium spot, after all!
But Zwift B/C/D racers looking to truly improve will need to take alternative approaches, at least occasionally, to ensure that their races are making them stronger. It may mean foregoing your shot at some podiums, but it will lead to gains you wouldn’t have realized otherwise.
And while it may seem like I’m preaching this to all of you, what I’m really doing is preaching it to myself. Wish me luck, as I plan to sign up for more mixed category and A races this year.
Your Thoughts
Have you been guilty of only racing “easy” races? Do you ever take alternative approaches to Zwift racing in order to see better training results? Share below!
Great topic! But I would disagree that it’s the type of race that is the culprit. Me being a lightweight I still have to go 100% on climbs, there is no easing off, simply because of cat limits. If I could ease off and still podium I would’ve upgraded long ago.
But on flat races even with my power deficit I can still sit in at a high z2 pace usually until it’s time to lose the sprint.
So once again I find myself in a position to advocate for more Hilly races. Totally for the benefit of the community like you mentioned and definitely not for personal gain 😀
if you are able to sit at Z2 in a race without getting dropped then you are basically a sandbagger 🙃
Well neither my results nor my progression indicate that. But maybe z2 is a bit low. Yet i think you can agree that you don’t have to be on the very top of a cat to cruise along below ftp on the flats. This is true for me being 70kg and i can only imagine what a stroll it is for heavy topcats.
I don’t think he’s a sandbagger. It seems that Zwift really emphasize the w/kg side but not the other way around. I have some friends who struggle to stay in my draft on a flat road outside but can easily do so in Zwift.
I would agree, as a lightweight and small rider 60(ish)kg and 165cm, I seem to be able to sit in a pack of big powerful riders far easier than I can in real life. Conversely I find that my climbing performance on Zwift isn’t as much as an advantage as it is in real life.
I observe the same.
I just have to crest at the front, and be aggressive, to minimise the loses downhill. IRL descending is weight, but also skill, and many of the monsters cruising past me with no effort downhill in Zwift, around me would crash I am sure!
I see a lot of people say this but my experience is exactly opposite…. i have to be so careful not to get dropped on a decent or on the flat at 62kgs on zwift its hugely annoying to see 100Kg guys in the supertuck when im doing threshold to stay in the draft.
Conversely I have no issue sitting in behind buddies with FTP of over 100Watts more IRL
I think the race you do is a big influence – just did a race w 2 big climbs w big wattage – A level watts and got pushed to A today. I’m a strong B not an A. But the days metrics put me in A – as of now however zwift has me at A recommended an Zwiwt Power at B for now. (Can this be?)
I can’t even keep up with the front of my cat so no need for me to cat up.
More often than not the front of your (or any cat other than A) is actually the mid pack of the just higher cat. Some days we hang for a bit and others its OTB admiring the “Community” Zwift advertises as they ride away.
Great suggestions – however the ZwiftPower rankings and points need sorting out – my Duathlon run and TTT have been included which makes a nonsense of the end results. Also short sprints now seem to be included in the segment points which was never previously the case. It’s gone downhill since Zwift bought it out, very disappointing. It has great potential but is a mess at the moment & there is no communication on what Zwift are doing or planning to do either.
I think zwift ignores racing community too much; Eric I believe you’d mentioned before that <25% of zwifters actually race so zwift doesn’t focus on them (even though Z marketing benefits from racing heritage / reputation). With the new homepage design maybe more people will race and Zwift will focus more resource to racing?
I agree with your previous auto cat articles (WTRL are demonstrating how it can work), but until then, there should be more categories available (the difference between a recently promoted C and sandbagging A makes B particularly hard), why isn’t there plus categories e.g. cat B+ and C+?
Bit more investment / focus on racing please, NOT more oversubscribed marquee events, but instead make racing fairer / better.
I read your comment after having made my own comment, and eventually you are right. My cat up practice was a compensation of the fact the categorization system is sub optimal. I worked on the symptom (the only thing I could control in reality) but the solution would be that categorisation is better, fairer and more accurate, which is THE main debate going on for all racing Zwifters. In the meantime, cat up racing is a mitigation for my type of profiles
It’s a good idea in principle Eric, but considering a large proportion of Zwift racers race BELOW their current category, preferring to destroy C and D fields for easy wins, I don’t think you’ll find too many willing to race UP a category, even if it would make them better riders overall.
Even worse Zwift HQ then comes along and gives airtime to riders who are doing exactly that (such as Ben Foster the Sandbagging Goalkeeper) thus giving this tactic legitimacy in the eyes of the masses.
So are you racing in B or A in the upcoming ZRL season Eric?
You don’t pick a category in ZRL – just a team, and WTRL puts you in the category/division.
That said, I’ll be with my B Roosters. We’ve moved from B3 to B2, so in theory it’ll be tougher competition. I know B1 is seriously tough!
ZRL is a different animal from one-off races, since it’s a mix of routes and also TTT’s. Toughest B racing on the planet for sure.
You pick a ZRL team that is racing in a certain category, so you choose a category by choosing a team. I think you get that, just confused it a bit.
Hope you will race against a Backpedal team again, so I hear the stories. 😁
I am 100% aligned with the analysis. Back in March 2021 as I was improving through structured workouts I understood I needed to move on to A cat.
Races in general never allow for a permanent effort, so even if I felt I could go over 4,2 wkg for 20 minutes, the occasion was never given through ZRL, as most of them were decided on max 5 minutes efforts.
Beyond that I am the worst sprinter ever, so B races were most of the time frustrating.
I was more and more signing up for A cat races because it was the way to be pushed to the limits during the entire race.
That is when Tim Perkin had the great idea to create the Monday Massif Mountain TT event, which was perfect for a 25-30 max intensity effort enabling the upgrade to A.
Three weeks later I upgraded to A in one of those TTs.
Funny enough it also helped not to have this thing of the upgrading behaving as a glass ceiling and for some weeks my FTP progressed even faster than in the first months of 2021.
Looking back I think I should have started earlier to race in A Cat. Long term it makes way more sense from a progression perspective.
I agree with you on mass start races. Someone always ahead to push yourself against, and always someone behind to fall back to when you blow up. Even though I have no chance of winning, I like going to Zwiftpower after it was over and looking to see if I was riding with people who are better than I “should” have been riding with, or checking to see if I got closer to that one person who I’ve been secretly racing against for months who doesn’t know I exist, but one day, one day, I’m going to hang with their group, and then one day after that, I’ll find a way to sneak past them (sure I will).
I especially like the short races (Herd Winter Racing Series races are great) because I don’t have to hold anything back in trying to stick with a faster group. The downside of short (20-30 min), mass start races is that chasing people faster than me when I don’t have to worry about endurance means I often get my FTP boosted in those races to unrealistic levels that I can’t match in regular, full-length (45 min+) races. I guess that means riding too many short, mass start races means I’m always racing a Cat up.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I am just over the threshold for Cat A which means nearly every race is brutal for me as I have almost zero chances of ever winning. It’s probably the worst situation to be in.
Hi Don . I can sympathise how you feel . I’m 70 years old and still love racing on zwift. I have just recently moved up from cat c to cat b . Now I have to race always above threshold to keep up . I always get dropped. Its certainly not injoyable. I’m stuck here now in cat b I cant ever see myself improving.
I’m a big fan of the “Embrace the Mass Start” approach.
With events like the Tour de Zwift, some days I’ll feel good, and I’ll push from the start to keep up with the fastest group I can. When I don’t feel great I start slower, and often end up chasing down faster groups as the ride goes on.
There’s always something to push for – “finish in the Top 10%/ Top 20% / Top 300” – it’s fun for me, and it’s made me a faster rider.
I prefer to use workouts to train and get stronger. Racing is the fun part. I always pick routes that has climbs since it is my weak point. I also don’t do short or flat races. But lately I found hard group rides to be more stimulating than dealing with people in the wrong category that keep closing gaps and have “super sprint power”
This is a great topic – I am also one of those riders that fall between levels depending on the ride. It really puts me off from Racing. One the one side, if i go lower i get flagged by Zwiftpower and if i go higher i can’t compete and as a result i tend to not race because of it
Yeah same for me. I’m in Cat C now but have never even won a Cat D race as my sprint sucks and always beaten to the line. I was using the motivation of a win to work at it and get better, but now in Cat C I just get destroyed and unable to compete in D as I get flagged. Would be so much better if I could compete until I’m winning races and then the system bounces me to the next level automatically and prevents competing with sandbaggers.
Nail. On. Head.
This is also me, and probably plenty of others……and that’s with choosing favourable routes.
It is sometimes tempting to do the crit races as they’re done within 20 mins and won’t increase zwiftpower category as I’m dreading going up as I won’t be able to compete! That can’t be right.
Great article though, and I might try throwing more hills in to see how I go.
I agree Jimmy. Like everyone, I get pretty wound up about this topic. I’m a lower-end Cat C so the idea of sitting in and waiting for the sprint is the stuff of unicorns and pixie dust for me. If I can get to the line in sight of the lead group, I’ve won in my mind. Frankly, I wish there were more categories – D, D+, C and C+ etc. and points based would be great. Once you upgrade, you shouldn’t be able to downgrade for the rest of the “season” to prevent sandbagging.
IRL (and admittedly a long time ago), I did race Cat 3 (so a rank amateur for sure) but it allows me to compare and I’d say Zwift racing is WAY harder. The pace from the start can be unbelievable and the whole event feels like a big time-trial. I have wondered if more categories would adjust this so it became a bit more tactical. Everyone has approximately the same performance numbers (WKGs) so tactics would have to play a larger role.
David have a look at the SZ race series – they have a low C and a high C series (and B+, B- etc) exactly as you suggest above. I think they’re mid series at the moment but will have a new one coming around soon if you join the Zwift Racers group on Facebook
I’ll join this chorus. I was happily racing on a WTRL team as a C. It was fun and I had a chance if not podium, then to at least keep up with the group. Unfortunately Zwiftpower upgraded me even though my FTP is only 180 but since I weigh 52kg, it records me as having a w/kg of 3.4 which is ridiculous. One of my B teammates has an FTP of around 280 and the rest have FTPs over 220. This would be fine if they way Zwift worked was really based on w/kg but it’s not. Zwift favors pure watts when it comes to flat races and weight when it comes to descents so there’s no chance in heck I can keep up even on a hilly course that should favor me. IRL I would be able to easily hang on in the descents even being lighter but in a Zwift race I have to put out 3.2 wkg just on the downhills to try and keep up while everyone else is super-tucking and resting. I no longer race because it’s just not fun anymore and that’s really what I was after, fun and comaraderie.
Deedle, that doesn’t make sense… ZwiftPower only makes you a B if your FTP is over 200W AND 3.2w/kg. If your FTP is 180W it shouldn’t call you a B.
All I know is I got upgraded to a B with an FTP of 180
Link to ZwiftPower profile?
https://zwiftpower.com/profile.php?z=1656429
You are C in mixed and B in women. Two different categorizations.
Are there different criteria for women’s upgrades vs men’s-mixed upgrades? If so, do you know what they are?
Also, that doesn’t change anything I stated in my original reply to James. Those are my experiences in women-only races as a B.
Great write-up – and hugely important topic when it comes to motivation. I would really like to see Zwift invest in the question of how to get the competition in races to work better. It should count as a no-brainer that a categorization according to your 20-min power is plain wrong when almost all races are won or lost on 1-5 min power (if not 15s). IRL, a point system is used that is calculated on basis of your finishing position. At the very least, Zwift could easily set up a ranking system based on all ZP-intervals. In essence, riders with a regular ‘pyramid’ are punished for loosing sprints all the time :). So: keep bringing this issue up, Eric, and let’s hope that Zwift will start listening. After all, motivation should count as their main currency!
Racing could definitely be improved. How about age groups? I’m 70 frigging years old but still race. Im a solid C but would love to race against my own age like in the real world.
I am curious about this. Why is it that you want to race someone your own age (and not just someone your own level)? It’s the same in my IRL club I’ve noticed. Personally, I find it quite entertaining racing against the both young and old…
The older you get, the more ‘compressed’ your power profile gets. If your FTP is 300w, your 12 hour pace is 299 and your flat out sprint is 301, it’s really not much point in joining the youngsters in short races.
Disagree. I’m 67 and just “graduated” into the A’s last summer. And finding it enjoyable.
Very inspiring Stuart! Well done.
Love that spirit!!! Keep up the good work
Scott I agree with Mikkel. I’m 61 and love racing against all ages. My FTP currently is 296/3.89 so I can hold my own in B cat. Where else could I race against a 20-year old? Or at all? Racing flat courses is basically hang on for the fast start, sit in and be efficient, and try to be one of the fastest sprinters in the final 300 meters. I’ve got the first two skills down pretty good. My sprint may never allow me to actually win a B race but just being in the hunt is rewarding. Anyone who expects virtual racing to be perfect will always be disappointed. Just enjoy the journey kids!
Look up ZHR Masters races. It may be just what you are looking for.
I think the main issue is that people are sandbagging and cheating which spoils racing. We all pay for Zwift yet its not managed well in regards to the race/competition aspetlct.
At the moment it would be pointless for a D cat rider to try and go up a category as there is a huge amount of idiots who enter in C with way more than a 3.5w/kg average. Zwift should spend some more time addressing these issues rather than promoting idiots. Racing has to be fair to begin with in the first place. I have been on zwift for a long time and it is starting to put me off it entirely.
I sound much like you in the mid Bs and because off it really enjoying the lower B CAT of FFR. But for ZRL I suck. So I been doing a lot punchier courses like richmond which has helped me a lot. Next up will be some longer climbs until I can hold over a proper KOM! But have always thought about trying a flat race with the A group.
I may be wrong, but I think that age cats should be brought in as well. I’m nearly 60 n classed as a C cat. However I can’t stick with the middle group less alone the front group. Having vets cat will help out as I can’t keep up with a 20 year old whippet.
True – as a 50+ rider I’m similar. In Cat C too and try to hold my own, but the stamina needed for some of the longer rides is past me – I know that is a personal level as much as anyone else, but muscle is harder to build as we age and so it’s doubtful I’ll be progressing like I would have done in my 20’s. Also that middle aged spare tyre gets harder to drag up those hills 😉
Age cat racing exists. Look up ZHR masters. Fun races will less emphasis on pure sprint.
I ride the ZHR Masters race most Tuesday nights, and I really enjoy them. A lot of older riders, but boy can they be tough. Plenty of guys in their 50’s & 60’s with ftps of 4.5 w/kg+
I also went through this (50+ and feeling sorry for myself as a mid-pack B) and I can tell you if you think things will be any easier in the ZHR age based categories, think again 😜
Yes, I did my first race in the 60+ this week, I was 5th and all the guys that beat me were A+ or A Cat, the person that finished 4th is a 4 times world masters champion (on the track). Because it tends to be the same people racing at the front each week, it’s difficult. as a regular to improve your Zwift Power ranking, but it’s definitely up there with my favourite races (once I’ve recovered).
Yeah, I can win many of the D crits I enter and on some flatter routes. On routes with climbs I struggle (like the WTRL series) but still do alright. But now I just hit the bare minimum for C and lost my race fitness (health issue and offseason both). So even wanting to race is a struggle but I’ll probably enter those mass start races as a C and see how I do.
Short answer no… I do a race for a change of pace from free ride and groups if I win I win if not as long as I am not dead last and am in the middle or above I am happy
Great article – on an often touchy subject.
I’m a B who really misses the pointy end he enjoyed for a number of weeks in C, but I’ve absolutely made fitness gains that I never would have done had I not pushed myself to deliberately find out whether I could break that cat ceiling. One race later and I took a big gulp as I looked at Zwiftpower and wondered what I’d done!
However, I suspect the other part of it is that a number of existing racers who are not choosing to Cat Up, aren’t really seeking to improve. They enjoy competing at the pointy end and feel the gap to the pointy end of the next category is unfeasibly large and so for them its just not worth it. For them having fun being competitive is more important than getting faster overall. Not had for me to understand that perspective to be fair, but I wonder how many are honest with themselves about this though?
I continue not to be able to comprehend why Zwift, even if they don’t see the ROI of moving to success-based categorization, couldn’t just massively improve the situation for racers if they reduced the category sizes by half – like the Mad Monday races you featured a few weeks ago. It would reduce and mitigate the issue because more would feel they might be able to make the gains that would get them competitive again. Those races that couldn’t get enough racers to do half-cats could do double-cats with very little coding required.
Its also madness that WTRL don’t embrace this. For ZRL and TTT they have many divisions in most categories in most time-zones … but even they don’t seem to embrace the simple thing all us racers really want – more closely competitive fair racing.
What’s so frustrating is how relatively simple that feels to deliver.
You have the current categories to blame. Watts produced does not linearity increase with weight. Some have slow fibers others have fast fibers. None of this is accounted for in the current system.
Until this is fixed, riders at the top of the cats should decide for themselves what motivates them. A mix of placing high in favorite races to get the excitement and some races to work on weaknesses, is probably wice.
I wish the categorization process was more in tune w/ RESULTs rather than FTP. I sit right around 3.2 w/k which means i get crushed in B or in the mix for C. I personally would be more in favor a system that 1) mandates moving up a category if your points in the lower category are above “a threshold” and 2) allows elective up-categorization if desired. This probably is not an issue if you are in the top half of FTP levels for category, but it is if you are in the bottom half. Results do not always correlate w/ FTP.
Exactly this. You can’t win C because of the sandabaggers and you can’t win B because you haven’t the power.
To have fun you have to get a little worse at the game (in the ranking system) Not good.
Sport is all about meritocracy. Who even decided what the categories should be? Was it based on number of zwift users at the time to capture a certain % B, C, D ?? If that is the case why is not moving once or twice a year? why fixed?
ZRL is supposed to be a team sport, but if you upg as individual you are out of your team – that’s not sport. Promote based on performance, but you can’t force teams to drop their friends, that is silly.
Has created a weird system where people just go on facebook and find teams that will let them race, the majority not friends, just racing together for ZRL, and switch every season. Makes teams almost pointless.
I am a perfect example of your thesis having plateaued as a relatively high B. Only when I started racing open races in RGT chasing A level racers every day until they dropped me did my fitness improve again until I recently became an A Zwifter for the first time. Most people seem to dread being at the bottom of a category but for me a shift of perspective to focus on race ranking and Strava power curve best efforts is far more gratifying no matter how far from a podium position I wind up. How many people really remember who won that Crit City race last Thursday afternoon after all? Thank you for posting this article. I hope it helps some discouraged folks find a new source of motivation to pursue their personal goals.
Thanks for this thoughtful reply.
I’ve seen several responses from riders along the lines of, “I’m a strong C, but when I try going up to the B’s I get destroyed.”
My thought is: of course you get destroyed. Do you think you’ll go up a cat and win your first race?
When I started racing in 2015, I quickly became a “strong C”. Never won a race, but was near the front on most. Upgraded to B the next season, and my whole goal was to finish in the top 50% of riders. Then it became top 1/3 of riders… then it became finishing in the front group…
What if I had stayed with the C’s? Would I be a strong B today? Nope.
That’s a great goal to have, and something I’m using now that I went from D to C in the last race of the ZRL fall season. I’m a big guy, but a decent climber for my weight, so I can push big watts on climbs (that’s what got my upgraded, the second Temple KOM in the last race). Since then, I’ve raced FRR’s Tour Brittania and now Tour Watopia as well as TFC Mad Monday, and the weekly WTRL TTTs. I like the split categories that TFC uses, which FRR also uses. TTTs I work with teams that are being competitive and going for a PL spot, as well as those that are training/bringing up new racers for our team, so I get to work on my technique, and helping others. ZRL winter season will be my first full on season as a lower C racing with all C’s, so definitely think I need to lower my expectations, and just focus on improving each race and moving up the C category.
This is where I’m at, was a strong C in the least season and my Team made the C1 playoffs, I knew that Innsbruck was my chance for a top finish as I’m a lighter rider (and many riders were afraid of a 20min effort) I gave it everything and was second man a cross the line just losing on a sprint. Of course I got upgraded to a B as a result, I knew that would happen as I knew I was a B given the right ride. I now get a thorough kicking every race and just hang on for as long as possible. The new season is going to suck as I won’t be in the front vying for the win, but hey, at least I may get stronger.
I do wish that Zwift would sort racing out though as many just aren’t prepared to go to the bottom of the next cat and miss the glory of racing in the front group with power to spare.
Zwift love to promote racing and they have the UCI worlds etc. but seem to zero interest in making community racing fair, how hard can it be to have more Cats or results based categories??
In IRL racing I can’t win a bunch or races and not be promoted and just keep winning without facing harder opposition.
Well… Not sure about it. I am a strong B. I can sustain any race in B category, never won and will never win because I don’t have a strong sprint (or start…). I don’t care finishing dead last in a A peloton…but I want to be in the pack. That is where the bug is. I tried racing with A’s, but most of the time I get drop in the first 2 min (and if not, on the first real climb). I can hold 4.4 w/kg for 20 min…but cannot hold 6 w/kg for 30s. Don’t tell me it is a problem: a) I know; b) I don’t need to hold 6 w/kg IRL since my goals are on non drafting triathlons. So, let’s get back to Zwift. I can race in either C or B category (and, I should try, probably also D) and not win (because I can’t push 8 w/kg at the end (or at all…that being at the start, the end, etc.) That is not a problem when I race in B category, my real category, since I ride in the pack and most of the time could ride harder (for example, I would not mind if the pack was riding at, say, 3.5 w/kg for an hour, and get drop when some riders start showing us very high power on a climb or sprint. But if I try to race with A’s, for the sake of improving, I get destroyed… right at the start. As a strong B, I can sustain a higher w/kg ration than most B’s (I can sustain the average w/kg I see in ZP for A’s), but I can’t ride with A’s because of my lack of sprint. So, conclusion: you suggest us to improve by moving up in category when we find ourselves toom much at ease in our official, real, category. But that is a well given advice only if we have the power to stay (or try to) with the pack in the better category. Otherwise, it is pointless: there is no gain being dropped after 1 min of a 30 min race. If I stay with the B’s, will I be a better cyclist tomorrow ? No. If I race with A’s, will I get better ? Neither. That what it is to really be in-between 2 categories. When you are able to win races in a category, and doing so by chilling in the pack before the final push where comes your turn to shine, then you already know you are racing in the wrong category. Then you have to put your ego aside and start loosing in the higher cat.
So after reading this here is my thought. Your more suited to be a sprinter, ( Mark Cavendish) struggle on the climbs, but are still a B racer. If BOTH we’re easy for you then it would be safe to assume you could move up to A.
Just a thought ?
You could also not sit in on those flat races, kind of what you imply in #3. I am not suggesting trying to solo off the front 20 mins from the end of the race, but how about adding 4-5 minutes of pulling at 400-450W on the front 1 minute at a time if you have the fitness to do so. You will likely shed a rider or 2 off the back in the process (there is always someone right on the limit) and get some real time in at VO2 max.
Sure – that’s often what I do. Crit City is perfect for it – see https://zwiftinsider.com/race-lost-vo2-max/ and https://zwiftinsider.com/racing-as-a-workout/
“My individual ZwiftPower rank of 182.62 points places me 1,814th in the universe of B riders.”
Actually, 1,814th in the universe of Zwift, currently 309th in category!
Ah, you’re right! I’ll fix that.
Good analysis Eric, and you’re right better challenge ourselves to have a chance to improve..
What is this ‘easy race’ of which you speak?
Nice article and thoughts. Unfortunately, I think it is completely “no sense”. Looking at the Zwift race community, there are more and more people who race DOWN because winning is much more important than training. People with double profile is increasing: when your are moved up, just start with a new profile and you can win again. Racing with people who has 40W less than you worthes the loss of the Tron bike.
I hit that ‘am I D or C’ question every.single.time.I.sign.up. By staying in D I’m competitive but not improving very much. Still it’s better on my ego.
With just a few riders at the top end of each cat (and sandbaggers) in with a chance of winning races, maybe the whole principle of categorisation is the issue. Zwift has plenty of data on every rider with which to build a more personalised handicapping system and use it to manipulate one of the physics parameters (such as weight). This would give a lot more riders a shot at winning, and encourage everyone to work harder. Handicaps could also be graphed against hilliness/flatness, allowing climbers to compete in flat races and vice-versa.
im b and raced an A Crit City yesterday, my ftp is 4.4 but only 216 watts, other kids on zwift like me have this same stats, way high wpk but not a lot of watts
The biggest danger of riding in your own cat, especially if you’re a C or D rider, is the D-bag sandbaggers from the A and B cats coming in and fouling up the event for the lower cats. I know a number of Zwifters who will not race anymore because of this. Maybe ZHQ doesn’t see this as big problem but when you get clients who stop using part of your service it’s not long before the rest of the service becomes less appealing.
One other tip I would add about racing to improve is to mix up your race types. If you only ever do scratch races then, inevitably, the race will come down to a finish line sprint and the best tactic will be to sit except for a punchy break point.
But there’s such a variety of race types on Zwift that if you mix in TTs, hill climbs, point races, eliminators, etc you’ll find something that pushes your limits or works on a weakness.
Old saw: most raced to train; few train to race.*
*I’m mostly not in either of those categories
Zwiftpower is broken! It discourages racing in every category except A. If you don’t make the front start group in a B/C/D race you can’t chase for fear you may exceed power limits. By using average w/kg a person in a B race who can sustain well past 4w/kg can sit in the group until a short climb and then B and C riders sustaining 5-7 w/kg for a few minutes, but it all averages out. Eliminate the w/kg standard and institute the performance based category like the uscf and UCI do. How about if you finish in the top 5% in three races you get upgraded and if you finish in the bottom 5% you get downgraded. I shouldn’t be on the same start line as pro 25yr olds when I am a 47 yr old recreational rider who can sustain low 4w/kg.
That’s why I usually have staggered starts for our DRAFT races. With As and Bs going together, followed 1 minute later by Cs and Ds, it affords the lesser category riders a chance to work harder to try and stick with the faster riders. Sometimes you can hang and sometimes you blow up. But if you push yourself you might hold on long enough to podium for your cat.Or you wind up like me and implode before the line only to have the chasing pack of killer Bs come racing by you with 50 m left in the race.
This is an awesome topic to discuss. As a golfer of 40 years now with 25+ years at scratch level it is interesting to see that the same basic principle seems to be treated differently in golfing and cycling.
In golf you obviously have the handicap system, which is also in some instances divided into five distinct groups (in this case not A-E but 1-5, with 1 being the best) which can be compared to the four categories we see on Zwift.
While apparently there are many people in cycling (on Zwift) who try to be in the “lower” categories (rather D than C, for example) to be able to win races or at least place in the front the story is completely different in golfing. Here many golfers cheat and lie their way to a “better” handicap (as well as group) AND the system basically ensures that if you keep on winning tournaments, regardless of the course you play it on, you will advance to the next, better of the five groups. The reduction in big amateur tournament series which have incredible prizes mainly for the net winners are also over, so no real need to sandbag your handicap in Golf anymore even for that.
I suppose one of the main differences is that in golfing you have two different tournaments which you can actually play in the same round without having to give up anything: gross and net (by adding the handicap factor in…)! In cycling (on Zwift), essentially you only have a net race (with categories) or a gross race (open cat E) but cannot combine the two, and many people apparently chose to only go for net races.
My personal solution is simple: I go for open category (E) races only – maybe golfing has made me want to always compare myself against the best there are and let me see where I REALLY stand even if it means having to eat a HUGE piece of humble pie 😉
I have thought about this a lot. As a 210lb guy and solidly in Cat C from a W/Kg standpoint, the Cat C races are easy for me to hang in there until the sprint. Great summary and article. Thanks for such a great and informative site. Now I need to go find some hills.
Mass starts is the name of the game. I’m a top C rider, win on ZP but never in the race because of sandbaggers. With mass starts it’s just full effort to stay with the front pack till you pop. When you get dropped it’s a matter of staying away from the next group. Pushes me to the limit. In just C cat races it’s too easy to just sit in and be bored then loose to a sandbagger in the sprint.
Eric, I fully get your thinking on this, in fact I have taken a radical decision to stay off the race schedule for the whole month of January exactly because I have plateau’d. Instead I am ‘on the mike’ DSing for some of our other teams, focussing on my recovery rides and have taken some lessons from the race geniuses (genii ??) we have, or those who have moved up to the higher categories.
Your point about entering the next higher cat was something I started to do in the last 2 months of 2021, and yes, I was dropped like a ginger step-kid at a disco, but it did give me the chance to watch the established A’s and see how hard and for how long they ‘bled sweat from every orifice’ at the max power sprint start, and also to work out what they were doing in the pack.
I would be interested to learn more about ZwiftPower Race Ranking and the tools I can deploy to add this to my riding for a bit of extra spice, it is something I know very little about.
thanks
What about races in age group? For an example male 40-45 years. They do it in Triathlon and running. I would like that.
The problem is with Zwiftpower category is only based on 20minutes rather than an amalgamation of different power characteristics. 20 minute power is a good barometer of strength but it’s only one of many. Categorization should include 1 minute and 5 minute as well. I’ve seen B cat racers that are in the 90th percentile (or higher) for 5 minute and 1 minute, which is absolutely bonkers and shows how easy it is to game the categorization system
Interesting insights Eric. Thank you.
There’s a phenomenon going on right now in the Bs (and possibly Cs as well but I haven’t looked): Top Bs are deliberately avoiding races with hard 20 minute efforts to ensure that they are not auto-upgraded to A. Then they race Zwift Racing League and dominate the points. The reason is that they are actually bona fide As with outstanding sprint, 1 min and 5 min power which is what one needs to win the majority of Zwift races. In fact, my last league (America’s West Div 1 B) group was dominated by a rider who was ranked in the top 40 in the world! He has now been promoted to A and suddenly has a 4.4 w/kg FTP but even that is likely too low as the rest of his numbers are significantly higher.
So I support a USAC type promotion system based upon actual results.
PS. Try the Watopia ‘flat’ route races for a good balance between hanging in and dealing with surges. Always great if you have some strong As in the group.
It’s the same IRL. Some riders excel in their respective category in crits but bomb in road races, perhaps especially when the road goes up. There is a propensity then to have riders sandbag in events where they normally perform poorly and be too conservative by racing where they feel a top ten is assured.
Racing ‘up a grade’ in real life has its benefits as per zwift. As does forcing yourself to enter that hilly road race where you think you might be dropped.
We are not all the same and it’s a case of horses for courses. Work on your weaknesses and take advantage of your strengths, on road and off.
Clearly, we all have different experiences with Zwift. I am a light weight rider and struggle on flats on Cat B but totally fine with hilly routes, therefore I would like the Zwift engineers to consider adding more categories instead of having only 4. We definitely need a category between A and B. I can more less correlate my real group rides with virtual ones. Of course they’re not the same but pretty similar imo.
I’d start by saying I love Zwift, but the Zwift power classification system is flat out broken. I am a 48 yr male recreational rider who races a lot and I was excited to make it to the A cat. My Zwift power rating is 4.05 a number that puts me at the very bottom of A cat. I have been forced to race against actual professional racers, the same guys represent their country in the eSports cycling world championships. How ridiculous is it that I am in the same start line as these people? If there’s any reasonable hill I am dropped immediately and then riding by myself or with a group that’s riding at a fast B cat pace anyway.This is why I am actively trying to get downgraded. There’s no real racing in the B cat, you can’t try to go off the front because you may exceed 4w/kg and get upgraded and then you’re racing pros! If I showed up at local road race and asked to race pro I’d get laughed at, but I’m forced to race pros on Zwift. I could go on and on about this topic, but thanks for the article.
Although in the past I used to preffer riding indoorrs over winter, I am now avoiding it as much as possible.
Zwift is just a money business, all subscriptions going into expensive Eurosport commercials and eRacing.
The community gets nothing back from Zwift.
Categories and their enforcement is another biased feature of Zwift, along with too much focus on W/kg, pack dynamics and other features that makes Zwift not even close to real riding and racing.
So what is the point in using a tool that is not going to help me in real life?