With the temperatures dropping in the Northern Hemisphere, indoor cycling season is in full swing! In this week’s top video, watch as one Zwifter builds his ultimate Zwift set-up in his barn gym.
We’ve also selected videos about the recent updates to the FTP algorithm, a DIY upgrade for the Wahoo KICKR Core, an all-out Alpe du Zwift ascent, and a pre-season fitness test.
Ultimate Zwift Setup In My Barn Gym | Part 1
Watch as Mark Lewis, fitness YouTuber, sets up his new Zwift Ride in his new Barn Gym.
ZWIFT Game Update 1.79 – FTP Auto Calculation Updates // December 2024
In Zwift’s latest game release, changes were made to the FTP Auto Calculation algorithm. Learn all about those changes and the other fixes that were included in Zwift version 1.79 in Shane Miller, GPLama’s latest video.
If You Have a Wahoo KICKR Core, You NEED This Upgrade!
Looking for a good budget-friendly way to upgrade your Wahoo KICKR Core? With this Zwifter’s DIY solution, you can add side-to-side motion to your indoor setup to increase comfort.
The Best Indoor Fitness Test… Ever!
In this week’s video, Ryan Condon puts his fitness to the test by tackling an all-out effort up Alpe du Zwift.
One Of My Best Ever Pre-Season Fitness Tests On Zwift!
Ed Laverack tackles a pre-season time trial to see where his fitness is at. Watch as he absolutely drops the hammer in this session!
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Zwift World Series Elite Racing Paused After Trainer Inaccuracies Lead to Rider Annulments
The inaugural Zwift World Series (ZWS) launched in August as a new flagship race series that encompassed both elite and community-level racers during peak Zwift season. The elite ZWS races were set to be the highest-profile, most competitive events on that platform during the 2024/25 season, with cash prizes and Zwift Games 2025 qualification on the line.
But all of the planned elite racing went into limbo on December 3, when Zwift’s Director of Racing Sean Parry sent an email to all elite racers informing them of a pause to the Zwift World Series schedule.
The pause was due to concerns over the accuracy of smart trainer power readings, and it came just after elite riders had finished the qualification race for ZWS race #4.
For the full picture, including elite race schedule changes, I’ve included the original email from Sean below, as well as a follow-up he sent two days later:
Original December 3 Email
Dear Zwift World Series Racers,
Following the conclusion of Open Qualifier 4, we have taken the extremely hard decision to pause the Zwift World Series and, as a consequence, Elite Race 4 will not go ahead on 5th December.
This decision has been made after a thorough review and it has been driven by our desire to uphold the reputation of our sport and protect the well-being of the athletes.
This season in the Zwift World Series we have seen, and we continue to see, a much higher volume of issues with hardware accuracy than we ever have in the past. Unfortunately, this has resulted in many annulments, race to race uncertainty for athletes, and created considerable challenges for our performance verification team and commissaire. We understand and empathise with the strain that this has put on riders throughout the series and this is not something we can allow to continue.
The issues we have seen are not specific to the Zwift platform and have been verified to happen in events on other platforms by Athlete Analytix using data proactively provided by riders.
Whilst the equipment on the ZWS whitelist works extremely well for 99+% of indoor cyclists, the extreme demands that some elite racers place on hardware mean that there are edge cases that have emerged. We firmly believe these edge cases can be remedied by hardware manufacturers developing firmware updates. By postponing the ZWS we will provide valuable time to allow riders and all the manufacturers to further understand, diagnose, quantify and remedy issues so that we can drive increased certainty for athletes.
We have engaged with all the relevant hardware manufacturers and they are motivated to work closely with athletes on any issues - an offer that we would urge you all to take up. Joint collaboration between Zwift, hardware manufacturers and riders during this time will ensure that we can all move fairness in the sport forward together. As part of this process, we will also take a close look at hardware on our white list going forward.
Given the events that have occurred, we will also take this opportunity to revisit and update our ruleset for elite racing. Our emphasis remains on maintaining the highest levels of fairness possible but we would like to explore sanctions and remedies that are less severe than the current rules when athletes encounter unintentional infractions outside of their reasonable control. This is also a process we intend to undertake in collaboration with riders during the next period.
It is anticipated that Elite Race 4, Open Qualifier 5 and Elite Race 5 will now all be held after Zwift Games (taking place in March 2025). This will give us all the time to collectively work through the next steps outlined above and reset for a great Zwift Games 2025.
We will follow up in a subsequent email with further information on topics like Zwift World Series re-scheduling, Zwift Games qualification and how riders can help to further shape the next steps.
I am excited for the next phase,
Best,
Sean Parry
Zwift, Director of Racing
Follow-up Email from December 5
Dear Zwift World Series Racers,
Following Tuesday’s announcement, as promised, this email outlines some further details regarding the next steps. We hope that these clarifications cover many of the open questions you have, but please do follow up with any other queries.
Zwift World Series Rescheduling
The final rounds of the Zwift World Series will be rescheduled for after the Zwift Games. The provisional dates mentioned below will be finalised in January.
Elite Race 4
The final results of Open Qualifier 4 will stand, and all qualifiers and Series Pass riders eligible to race in Elite Race 4.
Provisional Date: Thursday, 10th April 2025
Open Qualifier/ Elite Race 5
Open Qualifier 5 will not go ahead.
Elite Race 5 will become an Open Race open to all ZWS athletes, providing an opportunity for all riders to participate in this season ending finale on the Power to the Tower Course. Athletes will also have an opportunity to race this course in January (see below)
Provisional Date: Thursday, 24th April 2025
Zwift World Series Prize Money
We will now pay out race-specific prize money, including finishing line and primes, for Elite Races 1,2 and 3. We will be reaching out to relevant athletes and teams shortly to begin this process, so if this is relevant to you, please look out for a request for information.
Zwift Games Qualification
The top 50 athletes in the Zwift World Series General Classification as it stands after Elite Race 3, will be automatically invited to Zwift Games 2025 (March 8th, 15th, 22nd). We will be reaching out to all of these riders shortly to request confirmation of interest in taking part in the events.
We will also introduce an additional Zwift Games qualification race for riders that have submitted PV for the Zwift World Series, but are currently outside of the top 50 places. This race will take place on Saturday, 22nd February, two weeks ahead of Zwift Games 2025. Further details about this race including qualification quotas will be included in the Zwift Games Racebook.
Further Zwift Games information
As previously communicated, The Zwift Games Racebook and Rules, will be released on or around 31st January 2025.
Hardware
Ultimately we paused the Zwift World Series because we want to get to a point where you, the riders, have increased confidence in your hardware going into any given race.
We have engaged with all of the relevant hardware manufacturers and they are motivated to work closely with athletes on any issues - an offer that we urge you all to take up.
In the future, the accuracy of hardware on a race-by-race basis will remain the responsibility of the athletes, so it is important that during this period, and on an ongoing basis, you:
Continue to actively test your equipment under race conditions using dual recordings
Please report anything unusual you see to the relevant manufacturer using the special support email addresses we have established. For reference these are;
When contacting the manufacturer, please include as much detail as possible, like your dual recorded data, your hardware serial number and what you have noticed.
This will enable manufacturers to provide direct support and troubleshooting as well as identify any fixes that can be developed through firmware updates.
Testing Events
In order to facilitate this process (and for fun!) Zwift will set up a series of testing events. Riders have no obligation to participate in these events, but they will provide a useful opportunity to test your equipment under race conditions. All elite riders will be added to these events by Monday, 9th December.
These events will be set up exactly as elite events would be. Some riders have expressed a desire to race the Zwift World Series courses regardless, therefore these will still be scheduled as part of the below, on an ‘unofficial’ basis, also allowing riders to further recce the courses ahead of the rest of the season.
Test Event Schedule:
Thursday 12th December - Shisa Shakedown - 7pm UTC
Friday 20th December - Surrey Hills - 7pm UTC
Friday 3rd January - Muckle Yin, 2 laps - 6pm UTC
Thursday 16th January - Power To The Tower - 4pm UTC
Thursday 23rd January - Rising Empire, 2 laps - 6pm UTC
Thursday 6th February - Achterbahn - 7pm UTC
Thursday 13th February - Glyph Heights, 2 laps - 7pm UTC
Men’s and Women’s races will be scheduled at the same time at the times detailed above.
If there is anything specific during these events that we will be testing or monitoring, we will communicate this with riders ahead of the event.
Aside from these events, riders are encouraged to test their equipment in any and all ongoing racing events they take part in across platforms.
Rule updates
We will also take this opportunity to revisit the Zwift elite event rules as we feel there may be opportunities to introduce less severe penalties for riders impacted by equipment malfunctions that are beyond their reasonable control.
This also provides an additional opportunity for riders to provide any feedback on the existing ruleset for further consideration. Our independent commissaire, Isaac LeBlanc, will be leading this process, so If you have any thoughts on this topic, please email [email protected]
Many Thanks,
Sean Parry
Firmware Updates Incoming
First, it’s important that we put the pitchforks away. Or at least, don’t point them at the racers! While cheating in high-level cycling esports is always a concern, Zwift has been very clear in communicating that the hardware inaccuracies aren’t from riders intentionally trying to create an advantage by somehow miscalibrating or artificially increasing smart trainer power numbers. Rather, particular trainer models are reading high in specific “edge case” scenarios – particularly high-torque, low-cadence efforts found on steep climbs.
To ensure maximum fairness via reliable power data, the Zwift World Series Ruleset has a very short list of approved trainers:
Tacx: Neo 2, Neo 2T, Neo 3M, Neo Bike
Wahoo: Kickr v5, Kickr v6, Kickr Move, Kickr Bike v1, Kickr Bike v2, Kickr Bike Shift
Elite: Justo, Justo 2
Based on Zwift’s emails and other sources, it seems that from the list above, only a few trainers from Wahoo and Elite are in question. Recent race annulments appear to be tied to Wahoo’s KICKR v6, KICKR Move, and KICKR v5 trainers as well as Elite’s Justo and Justo 2 trainers.
We haven’t heard anything from Elite on this topic, but Wahoo issued a statement detailing their firmware update plans, saying, “Zwift have been in communication with all the relevant hardware manufacturers and Wahoo is one of these. We have worked quickly on a fix for elite indoor riders competing in events over the coming month – this is now available for KICKR V6 and KICKR MOVE, we expect a fast follow for those KICKR V5. There will be a full rollout to all Wahoo users in early January 2025.”
Leading From the Front
The decision to pause the elite portion of their flagship race series was certainly not an easy one on Zwift’s part. But with so much on the line – athlete reputations, cash prizes, even the viability of indoor cycling as a high-level discipline – it feels like the responsible call. It may damage Zwift’s reputation in the eyes of some, but it helps ensure a bright future for a cycling discipline still in its infancy.
Apart from Zwift, perhaps it’s time for other organizations to step up and push accuracy standards forward as well. This includes trainer manufacturers primarily, but the industry also needs a neutral third party to test and certify trainers. (The UCI, incidentally, has been talking about doing just that in collaboration with Purdue University’s Engineering department for almost a year now. See their test rig mockup below.)
Rendering of a smart trainer homologation device (Image credit: Purdue College of Engineering)
Trainer accuracy standards and specifications to date have been a bit of a “wild west” affair, with a lack of consistent testing and metrics across the industry. A trusted, neutral, third-party test/certification could go a long way toward ensuring accuracy and building trust in cycling esports race performances.
Until that happens, dual recording and subsequent performance verification will remain the standard in high-level indoor bike racing, and racers will need to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring their smart trainers and power meters are reading accurately in high-demand race situations.
Questions or Comments
Did Zwift make the right call in pausing their World Series? How concerned are you about trainer accuracy in Zwift racing? Share your thoughts below!
How did you get into cycling? I have always loved riding my bike, but it was when my husband surprised me with a road bike in 2015 that I really got into cycling – including training and racing – and haven’t stopped since! I started riding in Zwift in that same year. Watopia was the only map available at the time; it had only one 9.1km route, known today as the “Hilly Route”. I used to bump into Eric Min quite often as the route was so short and it had very few riders. As my love for cycling grew, I eventually “retired” from my career in Consulting and started my own coaching business, www.360velo.com
How many years have you been racing on Zwift? About 7 years! I started racing in Zwift when pens did not even exist, back in 2016-2017. I was a member of Team ODZ at the time, and we organized the ODivaZ race, one of the very first women-only races in Zwift. I also participated in the CVR World Cup, a live Zwift event in the Paris Velodrome in September 2017, where I got to meet many of my Zwift friends in person. From there, I’ve participated in various women’s race series, Zwift Pro/AM, and USA Cycling sanctioned events, including Esports Nationals.
Are you part of a Virtual team? Yes, I am a member of the Revolution Velo Racing team (REVO) and absolutely love it. It is a women’s team and everyone is very supportive of one another. It’s not only about racing, it’s also about having fun. I race and lead social rides for REVO.
What do you love most about racing? The friendships and support from teammates, and the challenge of pushing myself beyond my perceived physical and mental limitations.
What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? Points and scratch races are my favorite because they provide more opportunities for tactics. As a punchy rider, I also prefer the races with lots of variations in speed and power. The Crit races with steering are loads of fun also.
What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Tour de Boudicca
What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? Outside was the 2021 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships. It was freezing, there was ice on the course and the course itself was way above my skill level. I had a great start but after falling a few times, my shifting was broken and I made the mistake of trying to finish the race anyway… which resulted in me breaking my leg. It was memorable because there were so many lessons learned from before, during, and after the race. Inside was the 2024 USA Cycling Esports National Championships. I never went so deep during a race, and it showed me how our minds play such a pivotal role in our performance. My heart rate was between 185-195 bpm for the entire second half of the race (25 minutes). I overcame nausea and dizziness and got the win.
What is your favourite food to eat post race? Rice pudding mixed with whey protein powder and maple syrup. I know it’s unusual, but it tastes amazing to me and packs the carbs and protein I need for recovery.
What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Have a learner’s mindset: go in with the goal of learning about yourself as a racer (physically and mentally) and the racing itself. Don’t focus on results or others. Rather, focus on discovering the elements that will make you a better racer as you continue to participate in races. Racing in Zwift is as low risk as it gets in competitive cycling, and as such, it is the perfect environment to try new things, push yourself, and have fun. So many racers are worried about what others will think of them, when in reality everyone is just thinking about themselves.
Any upcoming race you are looking forward to? The fall/winter Zwift Racing League and the USA Cycling Esports Nationals again in January!
This weekend has a bit of a women’s ride takeover going on, with our first three events focused on the ladies of Zwift. We’ve got some popular races on our list, plus fun and interesting group rides. See our picks below!
The weekend kicks off with an endurance ride led by the exceptional Cat Allen, who will be riding her 300,000th kilometer on Zwift during this ride! Come out and support Cat while getting in some steady miles.
Women’s Mini Races (3 races in an hour) happen each Sunday, but the ULTIMATE Mini Races are a bigger monthly event organized by Vinnette Powell of Team eSRT. If you’re looking for some punchy women-only racing, check out these events.
Now in its eighth year, this race can be called a true Zwift December classic! Over 400 women are already registered, but organizers expect that number to jump even higher by race day.
This year’s race will be held on Scotland’s The Muckle Yin route, with different route lengths based on rider category. You’ll need to sign up on the FRR site and be on a team in order to participate.
Some of Zwift’s route badges feature longish routes, and it’s a lot more fun to finish these routes with friends! Team Velos holds a monthly Route Bagger Challenge ride to help you “tackle the hardest Zwift routes.”
This Saturday’s ride features Watopia’s Zwift Games 2024 Epic route (81.7km, 878m). The leader will set a steady pace around 1.9-2.1w/kg.
We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:
Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
Is it for a good cause?
Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?
In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!
Intervals.icu Announces Zwift Training API Integration
This week Intervals.icu and Zwift announced a new level of integration via Zwift’s new Training API. Now it’s easier than ever to execute the workouts found in Intervals.icu’s workout library directly in Zwift while also automatically sending your Zwift activities back to Intervals.icu for processing and incredibly powerful charting.
“Easy to use analytics and planning for athletes and coaches.” That’s how Intervals.icu describes itself. Although the service has been around for 6+ years (launched in mid-2018), it’s not as well-known as the bigger services because it’s been a part-time project of London-based founder David Tinker.
But David has built something very powerful in Intervals.icu, turning it into perhaps the best-kept secret in the world of cycling data analysis. And when I sat down to chat with David a couple of weeks ago, I learned that he went full-time with Intervals.icu back in September, which means we’ll be seeing even more cool feature releases soon!
I’ve actually been a paying Intervals.icu supporter for a few years, because 1) it’s cheap (free, actually, although I support the site for $4/month) and 2) fellow racers on my DIRT squad love to compare power charts and talk about how our “weebles” (W’) got used up in a race. But as David walked me through his platform’s capabilities during our call, I realized I really hadn’t spent much time exploring all it could do!
I won’t detail all of Intervals.icu’s features here, but here are some favorites that relate to this Zwift integration:
Easy Workout Builder: create workouts in seconds using a simple text-based editor (see how it works), or drag an existing ride into your workout library to create an interval-based workout based on that ride’s power chart.
Workout Library: organize your own workout library and access the community’s workout library with piles of free workouts and training plans available.
Planner: plan your upcoming workouts, or give your coach access to put workouts on your calendar.
Charts, charts, and more charts: Intervals.icu lets you graph just about anything, and this is probably what most riders love about it! It’s not quite as powerful as the WKO software used by many coaches, but it’s easy to use and much more affordable.
Workout created based on outdoor rideMy overall fitness chartActivity calendar and plannerChart from a recent Zwift race
Pricing and Signup
Intervals.icu is the first service integrated with Zwift’s Training API that is free to use, so that’s worth mentioning! But also, you can support the project with a $4/month subscription (billed every 3 months to keep processing costs down) if you choose.
The service hosts accounts for over 100,000 athletes who have used it to analyze over 111 million activities since launch, so there are some real ongoing costs in terms of storage and data processing. That’s why I and others choose to support David’s work.
Connecting Intervals.icu + Zwift
All of your interaction with Intervals.icu is done via the website. Visit the site, create your account, then connect it to Zwift via the Settings page:
Choosing Your Training Plan/Workout
Any workouts you put into the Intervals.icu planner will be automatically uploaded to Zwift. In fact, the next week’s worth of workouts are automatically loaded to Zwift, and you’ll see your workout for today on the home page:
You can also go to Workouts → Custom and select “Intervals.icu” to see what is coming up:
Complete List of Training API Partners
Intervals.icu is just the latest to be added to the growing list of Training API partners at Zwift. Here’s the complete list, which will be updated as new partners are added:
For a few years now, Zwift’s race calendar has included some unmaintained or poorly attended events. And while Zwift announced a cleanup effort two years ago, that initiative was later paused… until this week, when Zwift informed race organizers of a calendar “cleanup” currently underway. Let’s look at the details!
It’s About Participation Levels
Zwift’s announcement says, “We are taking action now in order to ensure that all races on the platform have adequate participation and provide a great racing experience for all involved.” In talking to contacts within Zwift, that statement nicely summarizes their reasons for culling some events from the calendar.
Back in 2022, when Zwift first looked at removing races from the calendar, they shared this interesting bit of info which is still true today:
Detailed analysis of all racing events demonstrates a very clear correlation between the number of participants in an event/subgroup and the percentage of starters that go on to complete the race – (finishing %s are one of our clearest measures of race quality) -. This correlation is not surprising – we know that in smaller races and/or subgroups it’s more likely that you’ll end up alone and you’ll be less likely to finish the race. This is also supported by a range of qualitative feedback we receive.
Racers know intuitively that most events need a sort of “critical mass” if the experience is going to be a fun one. How many riders are needed in order to make it fun? Opinion will vary, but I’d say you need at least 10 riders in your category, and even more as the race grows longer or the course more hilly.
Zwift has come up with their own criteria for participation to decide which events are removed from the public calendar. They looked at participation numbers for the month of November 2024 and required events to hit particular targets:
For most racing events, less than 30 participants on average per week
For hill climb and time trial events, less than 20 participants on average per week
By the Numbers
Zwift says approximately 240 weekly community race events will be moved to their respective clubs in this cleanup, while all Zwift-owned TT and Hill Climb events will also be removed (approximately 70 per week).
With around 1200 weekly race events scheduled in recent weeks, that means we’ll seeing an overall reduction in race events of approximately 25%.
Public to Private
Events that don’t meet the minimum participation requirements will be moved from the public calendar to the host club’s private calendar, meaning they will still exist and continue repeating each week, but you must be a member of the club to see the event in your Companion app schedule.
If you’re a race organizer who is wondering if this move impacts your events, check your email. Zwift’s James Bailey has contacted any impacted racing organizers directly.
Target Date
Zwift says they are “aiming to complete these changes by 16th December.”
Getting Back On the Calendar
Having your event moved to your club’s private calendar isn’t necessarily the end of the line for your race. The event could return to the public calendar if you’re able to boost participation levels.
Zwift says, “If any of these events subsequently achieve the criteria (for a minimum of three weeks in a row), we will be happy to reinstate the specific event(s) to the public calendar.”
It sounds like Zwift will be more strategic moving forward when it comes to considering new event requests. James Bailey says, “Going forward we will start to manage the public racing calendar much more actively and will carefully consider any new event requests with respect to the current volume of events, activity on the platform and other factors at the relevant time of day. The criteria outlined above will also apply to new events, which will undergo a trial period. Should you wish to create any new events please continue to contact me directly, and we can discuss your request in the context of the above.”
Concluding Thoughts
I, for one, welcome this move from Zwift. I think most racers will, too, because there have been too many poorly maintained and/or poorly attended races on the calendar for far too long.
When you have 10 races scheduled near the top of each hour instead of 3-5, some riders will inevitably sign up for races with poor participation numbers, and the experience for those riders will be degraded. It’s not always easy to figure out which race(s) will be getting large enough fields when you’re browsing events a few hours (or days) out.
Here’s an interesting stat: sources within Zwift tell me that the majority of riders sign up for races within 24 minutes of the event. That means you can’t be sure of how much participation a race will have until the final minutes leading into the event. Therefore, Zwift needs to be even more careful to curate their race calendar so riders know when they sign up for an event, they’ll have a great experience racing against a competitive field.
Questions or Comments?
What do you think of Zwift’s move to clean up the race calendar? Share below!
The sixth and final race of Zwift Racing League 2024/25 Round 2 happens Tuesday, December 17, and we’ll be in Watopia for a race on the new user-created route “Tair Dringfa Fechan” (Welsh for three little hills).
There’s much to discuss, including a route we’ve never raced plus bike choice, powerup locations, and strategic approaches. Let’s go!
Looking at the Route: Tair Dringfa Fechan
If Watopia’s Tair Dringfa Fechan isn’t familiar to you, you’re not alone. This is just the second route ever added to the game as the result of a design contest. Racer Bryan Culliford (CLS) came up with it, and Zwifters voted it as their favorite from a narrowed-down list of candidates.
The route is 32.1km long, with 375m of total elevation:
This is just a scratch race, so while some intermediate portions will be important, in the end all that matters is your finishing position. Here are the key sections of the route:
Climb Up Base of Epic KOM @4.6-6.4km: the first and biggest climb of the race. This one starts quite steep, then turns into a steady 2-3% grade over the bridge Zwifter Rob Bane aptly labeled “The Bridge of Fading Watts.” The elastic will snap for some here, although they may be able to chase back on during the 4km descent that follows.
JWB Sprint banner @14.4km gives all riders a feather powerup. This is best saved for the Hilly KOM just up the road.
Hilly KOM @15.2-16.5: our next key climb section is one we haven’t raced before. You begin by going up the base of the Hilly KOM Reverse, but then take the cutoff road over to the Hilly KOM forward and climb the second half of that pitch up to the arch. We’ll all get anvil powerups at the top, and these are probably best used on the descent immediately following.
Volcano arch @22.8km gives all riders a draft boost powerup. Use this in the pack to grab extra recovery before reaching the lap arch in downtown Watopia.
Lap arch at @25.3km gives all riders a feather powerup. You’ll want to save this feather for use on the finishing climb!
Lead-In to the Finish @26.5-30.5km: once you turn left onto the desert road, you’ll be (mostly) climbing for the next 4km. Attacking here probably isn’t the wise move for most riders, but sitting in the wheels well-positioned and conserving for that final KOM is.
Titans Grove KOM Reverse @31.2km: this race features an uphill finish, and the climb will take most riders 80-120 seconds to complete. Pace yourself accordingly, and know that sitting in the wheels, especially near the bottom where speeds are still decently high, will save you a few watts.
Riders will receive powerups at each arch, as noted above, for a total of 4 powerup opportunities. Specific powerups will be given at specific arches, and they have been chosen so they’re particularly useful on the roads just ahead. Here’s more info about how each powerup works.
Lightweight (feather): reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds. Use on climbs, when weight matters the most.With key climbs in this race, including the finish, the feather is a very useful powerup.
Draft Boost (van): increases the draft effect you are experiencing for 40 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents) when you are already drafting off another rider (since this powerup only helps when you are drafting.)Use this for recovery in the group on flats and descents. It will even give you an advantage when drafting on slacker climbs at race speed!
Anvil: makes you heavier for up to 15 seconds, so you can descend faster. The amount of weight added is based on a percentage of your body weight, and that percentage increases as riders get lighter. It won’t hurt you, as it only adds weight when the road is at a -1.5% decline or greater. Use this on downhills. Pair it with a supertuck to go extra fast with zero effort!
Bike Frame + Wheel Choice
This route is rolling in profile, which means a pure climbing rig will cost you more than it’ll help. Lots of different setups will perform similarly on the rolling hills, but the question many should ask is “What will help me most on three climbs?”
I ran a few tests at 5 w/kg on the Epic KOM climb – the first and largest climb of the race. I had to use Strava for times, which means they were rounded to the nearest second, which is a painful loss of precision. That said, the “aero-all-arounders” seem like the best choice:
Lots of recon events are scheduled on upcoming ZRL routes, led by various teams. See upcoming ZRL recons for this race at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlrecon.
With its three key climbs, this route as a scratch race has all the makings of a classic attritional Zwift battle. Make no mistake: the strongest riders will attack hard when the road tilts upward, and the pack will be whittled down significantly by the time you reach the base of the Titans Grove KOM Reverse.
That finishing climb will be an all-out slugfest. Save your feathers.
One last bit of advice: if you find yourself off the back over the top of a climb, don’t give up hope. You may just be able to chase back on. Find a friendly wheel, put in some work, and see if you can close gaps to riders ahead. Because everyone will be hurting at that point, and riders ahead may sit up, knowing they can beat you on the final climb. (And while that may be true, sitting in the front group’s draft will position you better than riding alone then getting caught by the slower chase group…)
As always, the win will go to the team who plays their cards best.
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
The final race of each round of the 2024/25 Zwift Racing League season features a new community-designed route, and it’s time to vote on the route for Round 3!
31 route ideas were submitted, and a panel of judges (including myself) narrowed the field to just three. Now the Zwift community gets to decide which one we’ll race on February 18, 2025!
