This Thursday, MAAP+Zwift launch the Down Under Crit Series, an 8-week series of unique “neutral start” crit races aimed at bringing fun to the Aussie winter.
These events are structured differently from any major series we’ve seen on Zwift. Every race is three laps long, with the first two laps fenced so the group stays together, and the final lap being an unfenced, all-out race!
Unique Event Structure
These races are mass-start events modelled after the iconic Donny Chaingang format. It’s unclear just how fast these two fenced laps will be, and ultimately that will be up to the rider leader (beacon). Based on the event description, the first two laps will be fast, but not race pace. (Think tempo, not full gas. Of course, “full gas” is different from one rider to another.) Ride leaders will control the pace using the fence, which will “zap” riders (remove them from the event) if they ride ahead of the fence for too long:
The final lap of each event is where the race happens. The ride leader will turn off the fence, and it’s an all-out effort to the end.
(Note: these rides are technically classified as group rides, which means they won’t modify your Zwift Racing Score or count toward race rankings on ZwiftPower.)
Event + Route Schedule
Events are scheduled in two time slots each Thursday for 8 weeks:
- 6pm AEST (8am UTC/4am ET/1am PT)
- 7:30pm AEST (9:30am UTC/5:30am ET/2:30am PT)
Each week features three laps on a fresh route, rotating between several Zwift maps:
- Week 1 (June 19): Champs-Élysées
- 3 laps (23km, 130m)
- Week 2 (June 26): Two Bridges Loop
- 3 laps (21.5km, 240m)
- Week 3 (July 3): Farmland Loop
- 3 laps (23.5km, 171m)
- Week 4 (July 10): Innsbruckring
- 3 laps (26.6km, 231m)
- Week 5 (July 17): Electric Loop
- 3 laps (26.9km, 123m)
- Week 6 (July 24): Croissant
- 3 laps (31.1km, 170m)
- Week 7 (July 31): Gotham Grind
- 3 laps, 27.8km, 288m)
- Week 8 (August 7): Flat Route
- 3 laps (31.3km, 183m)
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