This weekend’s notable events are headlined by Cycle Nation’s annual 24-hour charity ride, and we’ve also selected two popular community-organized races, a beginner-friendly community group ride, and of course Zwift’s popular Zwift Unlocked series. See details below!
✅ Good Cause ✅ Endurance Challenge ✅ Beginner Friendly ✅ Popular
We didn’t see this event before this post was published, but it’s got a crazy number of signups. A rubberbanded event with star hosts Mathieu van der Poel and Freddy Ovett! 45 minutes on Tempus Fugit for “a no-drop spin packed with banter, Q&A, and laid-back vibes”
✅ Good Cause ✅ Endurance Challenge ✅ Beginner Friendly ✅ Popular
One of the most popular events this weekend is from the Cycle Nation team, who are hosting their third annual 24-hour charity ride on Zwift to benefit Distance For Difference (D4D).
You don’t have to ride all 24 hours to take part… 12 different 90-minute events are scheduled over the weekend, so you can jump in whenever you’re able. All events are held on Watopia’s Tempus Fugit route, and paced at 1.8 W/kg.
Tour de Andrasta is a women-only stage race that kicks off today (Friday) and runs for three stages: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It’s proving very popular, with hundreds of ladies signed up, so even if you can’t make all three events, you might want to join one or two just for the experience of racing in a larger all-women field!
Team Foudre’s weekly “medio fondo” is proving quite popular, with its age-based groupings and a women-only category. The first four events, held on four consecutive weekends in October, serve as a sort of “pre-series,” where your best two results count towards the overall. An overall 2025/2026 begins in November (see event description for details).
The friendly Bikealicious crew is leading a banded group ride on the brand-new Watts of the Wild route (42.2km, 309m). Grab this route badge if you haven’t done so yet, which comes with an 840XP bonus, plus you’ll earn double XP for your distance since this is a Zwift Unlocked route!
✅ Double XP ✅ Popular ✅ New Routes ✅ Jersey Unlock
The Zwift Unlocked series is now underway, with stage 2 wrapping up this weekend. The series includes double XP, double powerups, and fresh routes. For stage 2, you have a choice between a long ride on Watts of the Wild (42.2km, 309m) or a shorter ride (or race) on Electric Break (19.6km, 203m). Runners are on the new Track Meet (6.5km).
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!
Zwift Racing League 2025/26 Round 2 Details: Routes, Rules, Registration + More
Table of Contents
Now in its 17th round, Zwift Racing League continues to take racing to the next level on Zwift! Registration is now open for the second round of the 2025/26 season, which begins on November 4.
This page contains everything you need to know about the current ZRL round, and is updated as WTRL announces new details.
Intro to ZRL
Zwift Racing League (ZRL) is team-based racing for all abilities. It’s also the world’s largest virtual cycling competition, with over 30,000 riders of all abilities participating in each of the past two seasons!
Organized by WTRL, this is a team-based points competition spanning multiple weeks, with teams divided into divisions based on time zones and ability. Races take place every Tuesday, and the season is divided into distinct rounds with brief breaks in between.
ZRL is Zwift racing at its highest level. Its unique structure and varied race formats drive serious Zwift racers to show up week after week while providing a place for new racers who jump in and find their first team home.
Key Changes this Round
Each year, Zwift + WTRL collaborate to modify ZRL’s structure and rules with the aim of engaging as many racers as possible. The vast majority of these changes were put in place for Round 1, so read that list here if you didn’t race the first round.
Each ZRL round comprises weekly races which are either scratch races, points races, or team time trials (TTT). Scratch Races and Points Races are both actually points-based in terms of final results, but Points races include intermediate segments while Scratch Race points are all earned at the finish line. TTT winners are the teams who complete the race course fastest, with team time taken from the fourth rider across the line.
Race #1: Greatest London Flat November 4, 2025 (TTT)
The round kicks off with a team time trial in London, on rolling roads that will be familiar to Zwift racers. No big climbs here, but those false flats will make you work. Hup hup!
Race #2: Rising Empire (A/B) or Everything Bagel (C/D) November 11, 2025 (Points Race)
The first points race of Round 2 is also the first proper climbing race of the 2025/26 season. Riders will take on the New York KOM in both directions, with A/B teams hitting it both ways, twice!
A/B: 2 Laps of New York’s Rising Empire (41.4km, 750m elevation)
Our second TTT of Round 2 will be on an as-yet-unreleased route. Watch this space for details…
Race #5: Glasgow Crit Circuit December 2, 2025 (Points Race)
Our second points race of Round 2 takes us to Scotland for multiple action-packed laps of the city’s crit course. Will you contest the punchy Clyde Kicker, the flat Champion’s Sprint, or just try to hang on for dear life?
ZRL is a team-based competition – you cannot sign up as an individual rider. Teams can have up to 12 racers rostered, but only 6 can race in each event. Teams must have at least 4 riders on their roster, and a rider can be rostered on no more than 2 teams per round.
Want to race, but don’t have a team? Here are seven ways to find a team:
If you’re already a member of a larger Zwift Club, contact a senior Club representative to see if you can join one of your Club’s ZRL teams.
Join an official team-lead ZRL Group Recon Ride (see below) where several teams can be found looking for more riders. These run several times a day, starting two weeks before the first race.
Join the ZRL Facebook Group and post preferred race times/league, Pace Group Category, and any other preferences under the #zrlteamhunt tag where many teams are eagerly waiting.
Reply to one of the #zrlrecruiting posts that teams make in the ZRL Facebook Group if you don’t want to post your own request.
Reach out directly to WTRL and they can match you to a team based on race times, category, and team preferences.
The minimum category you’ll race is determined by your power history on Zwift. See this post for details.
Riders must use a power sensor to transmit power to the game – this would be a smart trainer, smartbike, or power meter. (You’re allowed to race C and D categories with a “classic” trainer and virtual power, but your points are cut in half.)
Heart rate monitors are required. (You’re allowed to race without a HRM, but your points are cut in half.)
Cadence monitors are required.
You’ll want to have at least a few races under your belt before you try to join a team, so you are confident that you’re in the correct category. It causes a lot of hassle if you join a team and are forced to upgrade to a new category mid-round!
Race Recon Events
If you’re unfamiliar with a particular week’s race course, join a ZRL recon ride! These happen multiple times per day and are led by experienced racers who may share route info and racing tips as you ride.
Review: Zwift Watopia Essentials Kit by Pedal Mafia
I’m a sucker for fresh cycling kit, and being an avid Zwifter, I’ve owned every kit Zwift has released! Along with short-term kits for special tours like Tour of Watopia, Zwift has almost always had a general “Zwift kit” for sale. There was the “skinny Z” kit (OG Zwifters only), the high-end Giordana FR-C kit (pricy but so nice), the Expression kit (affordable yet unbreathable), and now, released just last month, the Watopia Essentials collection.
Designed by Zwift and produced by Pedal Mafia, the Watopia Essentials kit is understated and indoor-friendly, with multiple color options. Based on Pedal Mafia’s workhorse “Core” line, this kit is well-made without breaking the bank. Read on for my full review…
Note: In the interest of full disclosure, Zwift sent me this kit free of charge. Also: sizing can be tricky with cycling kit. For reference, I’m 5′-10″ tall (179cm) and around 190 lbs (86 kg). I put my actual measurements in the text below where appropriate.
Watopia Essentials Bib Shorts
Priced at $168USD, the Watopia Essentials bib is from Pedal Mafia’s Core collection. (This is the more affordable “do everything” collection vs the more expensive “Pro” line.) The most distinctive thing about these shorts is the metallic printing of the Zwift logo, Scotty emblem, and Pedal Mafia logo on the small of the back. These metallic accents carry over to the jersey and base layer as well, as you’ll see below.
I have a 34.5″ waist and 39.5″ hips, so I went with the medium bib as recommended by the sizing chart.
The Watopia Essentials bibs aren’t indoor-specific, so they don’t include some of the extra-breathable features indoor kits often have, like mesh panels, minimal chamois, or super lightweight strapping. That said, the brace paneling on the back and lower front is nicely perforated, even though the straps themselves are not, and the main short fabric (75% recycled warp knit lycra) is just the right thickness to allow sweat to evaporate indoors while still working well outside in most conditions.
While I haven’t had time to run the Watopia Essentials bibs through the wringer across many rides (since they were just released), I do own multiple pairs of Pedal Mafia’s core bibs, so I know what kind of durability to expect. I’d say these shorts hold up as well as other mid-range bibs, with the first point of failure for me being some frayed stitching in the inner leg area due to saddle rub. (This hasn’t affected the feel or wearability of the bibs, but it’s something worth noting.)
Chamois fit is a very personal thing, but I prefer thinner pads, especially for indoor riding. I’d say the Watopia Essentials’ chamois is on the thin side as chamois go, while still having plenty of thickness for all-day/outdoor wear.
Leg length on Pedal Mafia bibs tends to be on the longer side, as this “pro look” is the trend in today’s kits. I don’t particularly love super-long legs, as they aren’t helpful for indoor riding. That said, I ordered the medium bibs, which fit great on my frame.
If you look closely, you’ll see some nice finishing touches on these bibs. The metallic logos are fun, but you’ve also got a little pocket on the back brace to hold a gel or even your phone, Pedal Mafia-branded extra-wide leg grippers, a logo on the chamois, plus the feel-good factor of 75% recycled lycra composition… these aren’t just basic bibs.
Watopia Essentials Jersey
The Watopia Essentials jersey, like the bibs, is based on Pedal Mafia’s “core” line. Priced at $128USD, this is a well-made, indoor-friendly jersey with lots of finishing touches. Based on my chest measurement of 38″ (and my experience with wearing other PM Core kits) I went with a medium jersey, as I prefer a tighter fit.
A note regarding color: I chose the “frost” color, and what you see in the pictures below is, to my eyes, a fairly accurate presentation of the actual color of the jersey. What I see on Zwift’s website for this color looks significantly bluer than it really is.
While the sizing chart would have placed me in a large jersey (just barely), I went with a medium because I prefer a tighter fit, and because I got a few medium Pedal Mafia core jerseys in my closet already. These jerseys fit nicely, with plenty of length in the arms and rear torso without being too long in the front. (I hate it when jerseys bunch up in front when you’re hunched over the bike.)
While this isn’t an indoor-specific jersey, it is a very breathable top that works well outdoors in summer heat as well as indoors on the trainer. I’ve complained to ZHQ in the past that the kits they’ve sold aren’t indoor-friendly, particularly their previous Expression Jersey, which is one of the least breathable jerseys I own. So it’s nice to see Zwift selling a top that works well indoors. The arms and side panels use a 3D mesh material that keeps you dry and cool without being so fragile that it breaks down in the wash, while the front and back use a denser but still lightweight perforated fabric that provides more coverage but still wicks sweat and allows airflow for drying.
In my experience, it takes a lot of riding to wear out a jersey, unless it’s a super-light one made specifically for indoor riding or hot weather. All of my Pedal Mafia Core jerseys have held up well with no tears from washing or frayed stitching, so I expect the Watopia Essentials jersey to do the same.
Even though the design is far from flashy, there are lots of small finishing touches on this jersey. These include a PM-branded waist gripper, a tag with spaces to write your emergency details, a zippered side pocket, and a pizza slice in the back-left pocket. The inside of the collar (shown above) even lists all the Watopia expansions, in chronological order. A super-nerdy Zwifty touch! (And while I’m being nerdy, the back-left pocket includes “Four Horseman” in the list of routes… but it should be “Four Horsemen“.)
Watopia Essentials Base Layer
The Watopia Essentials base layer is priced at $50USD. I chose the frost color to match the jersey, and went with the Medium size as well.
While many riders don’t wear a base layer, especially indoors, they do help keep things, as Zwift says, “cool, dry, and breathable.” Adding a layer to increase breathability and cooling doesn’t seem intuitive, but that 3D mesh wicks the sweat from your skin then increases the surface area for air to contact that sweat and cause it to evaporate.
It all works quite nicely, and it also means you can unzip your jersey without showing too much skin. You can also wear it in place of a jersey, at least indoors.
My medium base layer fit tightly, as it should. Not so tight that it restricted breathing, but tight enough that it stayed in contact with my skin and didn’t feel “baggy” beneath my jersey.
The entire base layer is made of the same 3D mesh, which is an even lighter/more open mesh than the arms and sides of the jersey. It’s about as breathable a fabric as you’ll find, if you want something that also wicks sweat (and you do).
Super lightweight 3D mesh fabrics can suffer small tears in the wash if they snag on something sharp like the pointy half of velcro glove straps. Some people will wash their more fragile fabrics in a laundry bag to avoid this, but that’s too much hassle for me. I just keep my gloves velcroed together and it (usually) works!
With a base layer that will generally be covered by a jersey, I don’t want to pay for lots of fancy visual touches. The Watopia Essentials base layer keeps things pretty simple, with a Zwift logo across the chest, a metallic Scotty logo on the front-bottom-right corner, and a Watopia logo on the top back, just like the jersey.
Watopia Essentials Socks
Like most cyclists, I love a good pair of socks. Aero socks, colorful socks, merino wool socks… I’ve got more than I can fit in one drawer, for sure. Because it’s always fun to get a new pair in the mail and take them for a spin!
Keeping with the theme, Watopia Essentials socks are from Pedal Mafia’s Core collection. I got the Small/Medium size because I’ve found Pedal Mafia’s socks run quite tall. And I went with the “frost” color to match the top.
If you’re looking for “pro-length”, these are your socks. Like I said, I went S/M. But if I had gone for the L/XL, they would have been gone up over part of my calf. Size-for-size, Pedal Mafia’s Core socks quite a bit higher up the leg than most of the socks in my drawer. This isn’t good or bad – it’s a question of what look and feel you prefer.
These are lightweight, which is to be expected for cycling socks. I’d describe them as “medium-thick” when compared to the current crop of cycling socks. They aren’t super-thin like some, but they aren’t as thick as others. They make a good all-around sock suitable for riding in most conditions, although I may prefer something thinner for indoor riding.
Final Notes
Overall, I’d say the Watopia Essentials kit does a very good job of walking the line between quality and price. It performs where you want kit to perform, without soaring into the upper price ranges. I like the design, too: distinctively Zwifty, but not garish. And there are three color options to choose from, which is a first for Zwift.
I should also note that there’s a t-shirt, bottles, and sweatshirts included in the Watopia Essentials line. Along with a women’s jersey and bibs, of course!
Unless you plan to always ride alone, drafting is an essential skill for the cyclist – both indoors and out. Here’s everything you need to know about drafting in Zwift.
Why Draft?
The goal of drafting in Zwift is to conserve energy, just as it is outdoors. The amount of energy saved by drafting is no “marginal gain” – it is literally the difference between winning and losing in every bike race.
Estimates vary, but the most common figure mentioned outdoors is a 30% power savings when drafting behind just one other rider. It’s just physics: air resistance is the number one force slowing you down when you’re moving at speed, so if a rider just ahead is in the wind and you’re on their wheel, you’ll be able to travel at the same speed with less effort.
Example: you could put out ~210 watts while drafting and maintain the same speed as the rider ahead of you who is putting out ~300 watts, assuming you’re both the same size, weight, CdA, etc.
Riding in a large pack will reduce wind resistance even more, resulting in greater power savings. Scientists studied the draft effect of a large peloton (121 riders) and found that wind resistance in the “sweet spot” of this large group was only 5-10% what a solo rider would experience. Incredible!
Drafting Power Savings in Zwift
Based on our tests, drafting in Zwift behind a single rider gets you a power savings of approximately 25%. Using power emulators on a closed course, we had one rider sustain 300 watts while another rider drafted behind. We found a rider could stay in this 300-watt draft at ~225 watts while on relatively flat ground.
Changes in pitch affect these numbers, as gravity comes increasingly into play. Using the above power numbers, the front rider will pull away on an incline. But when a decline hits, it will take even fewer watts to stay in the draft. For more on how gradient affects drafting, see Saving Watts In the Draft: Climbs vs Descents vs Flats.
The draft effect in Zwift is enhanced in larger groups, although it’s not as significant as we see outdoors. See our most recent tests of 4-rider drafting for more info.
The Challenges of Zwift Drafting
Zwift HQ has done a commendable job with their drafting algorithms to create something that works well in small and large packs for a variety of riders. That said, drafting in Zwift takes some getting used to, even if you are familiar with drafting in real life. Here are the differences:
No steering: outside, you can steer in and out of a draft, but on Zwift, many riders don’t have steering devices, which leaves their left-right positioning up to the game’s pack dynamics algorithm. This means sometimes the game doesn’t position you for maximum draft effect.
No brakes: when you ride outside, you can tap your brakes to maintain the proper distance off the back tire of the rider in front of you. Unless you have Zwift Play paired and braking enabled, you don’t have braking capability in Zwift, so your front-to-back position in the pack becomes a matter of putting down the right amount of power at the right time.
Limited and delayed sensory feedback: outside, you can feel when you’re in the draft: the air resistance decreases and you don’t have to work as hard to keep the pace. On Zwift, there are very limited cues as to when you are in the draft or not, and resistance does not decrease when drafting. Additionally, if you need to modify your power output to stay in the draft, the response (your avatar moving in response to your power change) is not as immediate as it would be in real life.
Drafting Cues
In the drops, not draftingSitting up in the draftRiders on the Tron bike never sit up
Zwift uses the visual cue of sitting up (riding with your hands on the hoods instead of the drops) as an indicator that you are in the draft. It only shows your avatar sitting up, though, and not those around you, even though they may be drafting.
This is what you’ll see at typical speeds when riding on Zwift. But there are exceptions, which mean your avatar sitting up doesn’t always mean you’re drafting, and being in the drops doesn’t always mean you’re out of the draft:
Zwift will also have your avatar sit up at slow solo speeds (~32kph or slower)
Zwift will put you back on the drops at high speeds (~50kph+) on descents of 3% or more, even though you’re drafting
From a stop, your avatar will begin riding on the hoods, but as you speed up to 32-33kph your avatar will move to the drops. If you are in the drops and begin to slow down, your avatar will move to the hoods as you hit 29-30kph. This, obviously, mimics what riders might do IRL, as does moving to the drops at high speeds on descents.
A few more details: the Tron bike has no “sitting up” animation, so even though you are experiencing the draft effect, your avatar will never change position on the Tron. TT bikes have no “sitting up” animation either. And on mountain bikes, your avatar sits a bit higher when not drafting.
More Drafting Tips and Notes
Draft Boost (Van) Powerup
The draft boost powerup increases the strength of whatever draft you are experiencing for 40 seconds. It only works if you are in the draft, so use it in the pack to save some energy.
Dial It In
Because of how Zwift’s pack dynamics work, there is a “wattage window” within which you can hold a rider’s wheel. For example: you may be holding a wheel at 240W, but if you reduce your power to 220W you’ll may still be able to hold the wheel.
In a small group, it’s worth easing off the pedals to figure out just how much power you actually need to hold the wheel, so you aren’t putting out more power than necessary.
Steering Challenges
Since Zwift steers for you automatically, you may at times find yourself being steered out of the draft. If this happens while you’re attempting to stay in the draft, simply keep your power at a level that keeps you in a good position to get the draft, and Zwift will typically steer you into the draft soon enough.
Alternatively, if you have a steering device, you may find that manually steering will place you in a stronger draft position than the game’s automatic steering.
TT Bikes Do Not Draft
On Zwift, TT bike frames do not experience a draft effect unless you are in a special event (usually only team time trials) where TT drafting is enabled. You can draft behind a TT rider, but the TT rider will not get any benefit from riding behind anyone else.
Flick that Elbow!
The elbow flick
Just like outdoors, you can use the elbow flick motion (F1 on your keyboard, or in your list of motions on the Companion app) to signal to other riders that it’s their turn to take a pull.
The Supertuck and Drafting
The supertuck may be outlawed by the UCI, but it’s legal on Zwift. There’s just one caveat: you have to be out of the draft in order to supertuck! That means in a race, only the rider on the front of the pack will be able to supertuck, assuming the other conditions are met (~36MPH/~58km/hr, -3% or more downhill, power below 11W). Read more about the supertuck here >
Breakaway Burrito Powerup
As the name lightly suggests, the Breakaway Burrito is the only powerup that affects those around you. When the Burrito powerup is activated, it turns off the draft benefit for riders in a cone shape behind you, for 20 seconds. Learn more about the Burrito here >
Get Saucy
If you run Zwift on Windows or Mac, you might consider installing the Sauce for Zwift add-on, which includes a helpful draft gauge which supposedly displays how many watts you’re currently saving. (That’s up for debate, but in practice, the gauge is helpful because it shows how strong the current draft effect is, regardless of what it’s actually measuring.)
Racing is one of the best ways to stay motivated and engaged while riding on Zwift. In this week’s top video, hear from one Zwifter as she shares her experience from her first race on Zwift.
We’re also featuring videos about VO2 Max, pain cave set ups for small spaces, a test of the KICKR Core 2’s compatibility, and more exciting Zwift racing content.
I got dropped in my first Zwift race!
With Zwift Unlocked recently starting, Jessica Strange saw it as a great opportunity to do her first Zwift race. Hear from her as she talks through it!
VO2 Max: What Your Lab (and Watch) Aren’t Telling You
How accurate is the VO2 max estimate on your sports apps? What does the metric really tell you? In this video, Sarah Does Sass breaks down everything you need to know about the metric.
My Pain Cave 2025 – More Space Saving Solutions!
Looking for some inspiration for your indoor cycling setup? Not Pogi gives a tour of his pain cave.
The BMX Bandit, Will it Zwift?
Can you truly use Zwift Ready trainers with any bike? Ryan Condon puts this to the test by assembling his own BMX Bandit and mounting it atop his new Wahoo KICKR Core 2.
Digging Deep… My First Zwift Race in 4 months
After his season came to an early end, Jeff has started his offseason and training for the 2026 season. Watch as he tackles his first Zwift race in 4 months.
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Indoor bike racing has evolved into a cycling discipline of its own, and every platform has its own idiosyncrasies. The more you ride on Zwift, the more you’ll learn strategies and tricks that can give you an edge. Here are five intermediate-level tips for next-level eRacing on Zwift.
Stay within a few bike lengths of the front so you don’t lose sight of the pack or get gapped on an attack
Watopia and Makuri Islands have several dirt sections, and even though it’s virtual, riding in the dirt is different than riding on tarmac! Dirt has a higher rolling resistance on Zwift, so your smart trainer’s resistance will increase a bit on dirt sections, and your speed will drop compared to riding on tarmac. Additionally, dirt sections are dusty, which limits visibility in larger groups.
Another way to look at it: these dirt sections essentially behave like small climbs, with the added benefit of reduced visibility. If you’re feeling good and want to attack, consider the dirt.
Attacks in the dirt are what dropped GCN’s Simon Richardson from the lead group in the famous “Si vs the Volcano” race in Zwift’s early days. The takeaway is: if you’re barely holding onto the pack and are approaching a dirt section, try to start near the front of the group and be ready to put in an extra dig to avoid getting dropped.
This also gives you better visibility, because unless you’re near the front, you won’t be able to see more than a few bike lengths ahead in a large pack. (Pro tip: for visibility, you can also change the camera angle – hit 9 on your keyboard for an overhead view without dust.)
#2: Don’t Over-Power It
Thanks to updates in pack dynamics, Zwift’s draft isn’t nearly as “sticky” as it used to be, but there is still a wattage range that will keep you in the draft. That is, if you are drafting behind someone who is pulling at 300 watts, you will stay in their draft if you do 250 watts… but you may also be able to stay in the draft at ~225 watts. So why put out the extra wattage?
Racing is all about conserving energy so you’ve got the watts when you need them most. So try to maintain the minimum wattage necessary to hold your desired position in the pack. This will require constantly adjusting your power output, but once you’ve spent some time doing it, it becomes second nature. (Riding with Robopacer groups is a great way to practice efficient pack positioning.)
#3: Know Your Draft Status
One key aspect of efficient pack riding is knowing whether or not you are currently drafting. Zwift uses the visual cue of having your avatar “sit up” on the hoods to indicate when you are in the draft on a road bike, with two key exceptions:
Your avatar will also sit up at slow solo speeds (but in a race situation, this rarely applies).
When riding the Tron bike or a TT bike, your rider will never sit up, even though it is drafting. This is simply because Zwift never created those rider positions for those bikes!
If you are moving at 33kph (20mph) or more and your avatar is sitting up, you are in the draft. If you’re hunched down in the drops, you are out of the draft and probably working harder than you want to be. Here are side views of the two positions (for road bike and MTB):
The only other exception to this is if you’re drafting on a downhill of 3% or more, going ~50kph or faster, Zwift will put you back into the drops (normally the “non-drafting” posture).
Drafting in Zwift actually introduces some randomness into group riding, as the game positions you right to left automatically unless you are actively steering. Sometimes this means you get moved out of the draft – when this happens and your rider crouches down, be prepared to work a little harder to keep pace with your group until Zwift takes you back into the draft.
One last tip: if you’re on Windows or Mac, the Sauce for Zwift add-on includes a draft meter. Learn more here >
#4: Cruise with a Supertuck
Supertucking can be the most efficient way to make others work hard to stay with you on a descent. But you need to know how the supertuck works in order to use it to maximum advantage! Supertucking in Zwift requires four conditions to be met:
You must be traveling at least ~36MPH (~58km/hr)
The gradient’s decline must be at least -3%
Your power output must be below 11 watts
You must not be drafting (safety first!)
Because of these requirements, supertucking is most efficient if you’re in a group where others aren’t fighting for the supertuck slot. When others aren’t fighting to be the rider in the front who isn’t drafting (and thus is able to supertuck), you can stay in that slot with little or no effort apart from what’s required to move to the front of the group at the start of the descent.
If others are fighting for that slot, though, it may be easier to simply ride the wheels of the supertuckers, sitting in their draft with as little effort as possible. You will need to pedal, though!
A word of warning: the supertuck works great until you hit a flat section or slow down enough that the game sits you up. At that point, if you’re with a group that is hammering, you can get dropped very quickly. Pay close attention to the road and other riders, and start pedaling hard if you see flat road just ahead or riders begin to pass you quickly.
In races, do you typically overtake riders on short climbs, then need to put down extra power to stay with the pack on descents? This can happen if you’re a strong climber or if you’re racing against riders who have turned down their Trainer Difficulty. (For the details behind why this happens, read “Hanging with the Group Over Gradient Changes“.)
One way to reduce this yo-yo effect is to adjust your trainer difficulty settings under Menu>Settings>Hardware to something in the 10-30% range. Doing so will make your resistance change less in response to gradient changes, helping you keep power more consistent so you can ride more efficiently.
Trainer Difficulty set to approximately 30%.
Reducing Trainer Difficulty also means you won’t have to shift as often, which some people prefer. Of course, the lower you set Trainer Difficulty, the less “realistic” your trainer resistance will actually be. So if you want your trainer to reproduce the actual in-game gradients, go ahead and slide this setting all the way up to 100% and get ready to shift.
Note: this tip only applies to smart trainer users – but that’s pretty much everyone these days.
Share Your Tips
Got any racing tips of your own? Share them below!
Announcing the 4-Race TSE Tour of Europe (Sponsored by Epica Sport)
A new 4-race series begins this Wednesday (October 15), complete with cycling gear prizes provided by Epica Sport. It includes custom 4-category ZRS-based rider groupings, team and individual classifications, and a fresh route on a European Zwift map each week. Read on for details!
Categories
Riders are grouped according to custom Zwift Racing Score ranges, and each group starts and races separately:
Category D: 0–300 points
Category C: 301–550 points
Category B: 551–800 points
Category A: 801–1000 points
Race Schedule and Routes
The 4-race competition lasts for 4 consecutive weeks (October 15-November 5), with races each Wednesday at 5:05pm UTC/1:05pm ET/10:05am PT.
Riders are ranked by points for the overall 4-race series. For each race, points are awarded based on the final position within your category:
1st place = 100 points | 2nd place = 90 points | 3rd place = 80 points |4th place = 75 points | 5th place = 70 points | 6th place = 65 points | 7th place = 60 points | 8th place = 55 points | 9th place = 50 points | 10th place = 45 points | 11th place = 40 points | 12th place = 35 points | 13th place = 30 points | 14th place = 25 points | 15th place = 20 points | 16th place and below (for all finishers) = 15 points (for all finishers)
Note: if your Zwift Racing Score increases so that your category threshold is exceeded, you will automatically move up to the next category starting from the next race. Points scored in the lower category will carry over.
Individual and Team Classifications
The overall individual ranking is calculated by adding the points earned over the four weeks.
The team classification will be based on club affiliation using your club tag in ZwiftPower. There is no limit to how many riders from a club may participate. However, for all races, the top 4 rider scores for each team will count towards the team classification.
The team ranking is given by the sum of the points obtained by the four best in each of the four races.
Individual and team classifications will be available at the following links once the series begins:
Everyone who finishes at least 2 of 4 races will receive a €30 discount code on all cycling gear at epicasport.com (minimum purchase required, valid in EU area). Riders finishing all 4 races will receive a €60 discount code (minimum purchase required, valid in EU area). Top 3 in individual series classification and top 3 teams (defined by ZwiftPower team tag) will receive cycling gear. Click here for the latest prize list.
Last Monday morning, I climbed into my truck and drove to two hours to the Sacramento airport so I could fly to Atlanta, then LaGuardia, to take an Uber into Manhattan and check into the Roxy Hotel for two nights.
Why fly across the country for such a short stay? Zwifty fun, of course! Zwift was holding an NYC map expansion launch party, and I wanted to be a part of it. Here’s the story…
The party at Rapha was on Tuesday night, and I arrived in NYC on Monday night. After grabbing some quality coffee, I met up with Jon Mayfield (Zwift’s co-founder, read that story here) and VP of Product Mark Cote for a quality New York bagel experience bundled with a stroll past the Ghostbusters firehouse and some boldfaced lawbreaking from Jon:
This sign only makes sense when you learn they’ve glued real bagels to the walls of the restaurant…Ghostbusters firehouse
While Mark was in meetings all day, it turned out that Jon was planning to ride down to Prospect Park to see the real version of the roads Zwift would be launching soon. I asked if he’d be up for me joining him, and soon enough, we were making our way to Brooklyn aboard two poorly-maintained hotel bikes:
As we planned our ride on the fly, I learned that Zwift’s new roads (which I still hadn’t seen) include not just the Brooklyn Bridge teased in previews, but also the Manhattan Bridge. We decided to cross over the East River to Brooklyn via the Manhattan Bridge, then take the Brooklyn Bridge on our return so we could see them both.
The Manhattan Bridge was noisy, with subway cars running next to us as we climbed to the center of the bridge and descended the other side. At the bottom, we rode around and found the famous “DUMBO” (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) spot for a photo or two:
Working our way to the Manhattan BridgeCrossing the bridgeJon earning that XPJon at the DUMBO
From here, we worked our way south to Prospect Park, taking various unplanned detours to avoid traffic or construction and because we simply weren’t following a precise route. This was a voyage of casual exploration, and we weren’t in much of a hurry apart from our hotel bikes having a 3-hour time limit.
The road to Prospect Park from the northwest is basically uphill, but not steep. My bike kept it interesting by refusing to shift consistently, which was particularly noticeable since it only had three gears when working properly! Eventually, we arrived at the park and began a counter-clockwise lap, looking for something to drink since neither of us had brought any water on what Google maps showed would be a 9-mile ride.
We found a vendor set up near the ballfields on the northwest side of the park and sat down in a shady spot on the grass for drinks and strawberry popsicles. Jon and I were carrying on sort of two parallel conversations, one focused on the road and our surroundings, the other about how Zwift could gamify fitness in new and interesting ways. (If you ever get the chance to talk to Jon about anything Zwift-related, be sure to do it. He’s a super-smart guy who shares his mind clearly and succinctly.)
The lap of Prospect Park took longer than I had expected, but only because my expectations weren’t based on any sort of reality. I come from a place where towns are small, and so are the parks. It still baffles me that a green space the size of Central Park can exist within a tightly-packed city like NYC.
Prospect Park, it turns out, has an outer loop around 6km long. The road is quite wide, with dedicated lanes for cyclists and striders. Much of the loop is nicely shaded, thanks to tall trees on either side of the road.
We were passed by lots of riders, most of whom looked like roadies cruising on recovery sessions. My bike refused to shift into its highest gear, forcing me to set aside the urge to chase their wheels and instead work on high cadence pedaling as we coasted down the slight descents.
Reaching the end of our loop, we made our way to the Brooklyn Bridge. The newish bike lane runs down the center of the bridge, and while it’s clear and easy to ride, the NYC skyline view we had hoped for never materialized.
After crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, we had just a bit more riding to get back to our hotel. Arriving, we saw we had ridden nearly 30km and were just a few minutes shy of our 3-hour window.
While Zwift co-founder Eric Min spent his junior racing years racing in Central Park, it wasn’t a familiar place to Jon Mayfield. So Jon told me that when Zwift decided to create the original NYC map (which launched in October 2018), he flew out and rode through Central Park to record video for Zwift’s art team, ensuring they captured the feel of the place just right.
They didn’t follow that same process with the upcoming expansion, preferring to use Google Streetview and other sources as inspiration. And while Eric Min has ridden in Prospect Park many times, this was Jon’s first time!
I asked him how closely the expansion’s roads map onto the IRL GPS coordinates of the roads we’d ridden, and he told me they map directly on top of them. I’m not sure if this includes subway routes (I doubt it), but I believe it includes the location and size of the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, and Prospect Park, as well as their location relative to Central Park.
Near the end of the Rapha event, I realized one of the Zwift Rides was streaming a video of the expansion’s roads. So, like any good Zwift Insider, I stood in the middle of the crowded room and recorded it. For all of you! You’ll hear Dave Towle in the background, wrapping up the night with some awards and thank-yous…
A few things to call out in this video:
It isn’t a continuous shot of all the new roads, but rather high-speed clips of specific sections
There are lots of subway tunnels with cool graffiti, and you can see a 20-second power segment 4s into the video
At 28s you are riding through Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza (you can see the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch to the left), then turning right to enter Prospect Park
You go through what appears to be a lap banner at 38s, before exiting the Prospect Park loop (see the Memorial Arch to your right)
There are some things you don’t see in the video that are worth mentioning:
The Prospect Park road is a single loop around 6km long, with an additional cut-through road down the middle.
There are new start pens in Prospect Park
Prospect Park also includes at least one sprint segment and one KOM segment
Times Square is just south of Central Park, so it makes sense that it would show up in the expansion. I don’t think I saw it on any screens at Rapha, though.
At the Rapha Launch Party
Of course, the real reason I’d flown across the country to NYC was for the party at Rapha’s New York clubhouse. Held from 6-9pm on Tuesday, you had to sign up for a ticket beforehand in order to get in, since space was limited. And the place was packed! I’d guess around 150 people attended, with closer to 100 milling about at any given time.
It was a classic Zwift gathering, with a DJ bumping tunes, Dave Towle as MC, and a constant stream of stone-fired pizzas coming through the front door from the mobile oven parked in the street.
Two Zwift Ride + KICKR CORE 2 setups were parked near the front, and they would be the scene of some tag-team races throughout the night. These were special Zwift Rides, too: two of just five custom-painted frames from Fat Creations:
Both frames were given away at the end of the night to two lucky winners, one of whom was Tara Seplavy, Deputy Editor at Bicycling magazine:
Note: two more of these frames are being given away to two random finishers of the Zwift Unlocked series – read more about that here.
Everyone who walked in the door was given a green or blue wristband, and this determined which team you were on. Riders then paired up with others of the same color for a tag-team 2km uphill race in NYC, where the first rider hopped off the bike at 1km so the second rider could finish the second half (which was actually more than half, because it was steeper than the first kilometer!)
While the races went on for most of the night, everyone was free to hang out and chat in the (noisy) clubhouse, or in the open air in front of the shop or out back.
I had nice chats with Holden Comeau and David Lipscomb, both legendary OG Zwifters. It was also good to see Makesi Duncan (@dadbodcyclinginc), whom I’d first met at Zwift Community Live in Mallorca, and many other East Coast Zwifters.
I always enjoy attending Zwift gatherings, because I get to meet and chat with Zwifters I’ve seen in game for years but never met face to face. And I get to meet new friends, too! Many thank me for running Zwift Insider, which is always encouraging to hear.
Overall, the party at Rapha was just a fun gathering of Zwift lovers who were excited to hang out with their friends and see what’s coming next. If you ever get a chance to attend one of these, you should do it.
Tour de Andrasta Women’s 3-Day Race Series Announced for October 17-19
The Warrior Games, organizers of the popular Iceni and Tour de Boudicca series, have just announced the next edition of their annual Tour de Andrasta women’s 3-stage race series, starting October 17. See all the details below!
About the Name
Andrasta was an Iceni war goddess invoked by Boudicca in her fight against the Roman occupation of Britain in AD 60. Described as “their name for Victory,” her name has been translated as meaning “indestructible” or “unconquerable”.
Schedule and Route Details
The races have just one time slot, at 10:30 PT/13:30 ET/17:30 UTC. Stage 1 has an extra time slot at 16:00 PT/ 19:00 ET.
Welcome to the Tour de Andrasta! The race begins with a right turn out of the pens, following a reverse Innsbruck loop. Riders will power through the sprint, tackle the Leg Snapper, and make the most of the final flat stretch before facing the decisive big climb.
Format: Hilly Points Race
Length: 12.9km
Elevation: 479m
Finish Line Points: based on the number of riders participating, down to 1 point for last place.
Stage 2 – Saturday, October 18: Coast Crusher (1 lap)
Stage 2 is here to test your legs! Roll through a charming seaside village, tackle a challenging climb, and loop around the midway point – halfway there! Then descend through a tunnel and head back along the coastal road, hitting multiple sprints as you pass scenic forests, bustling towns, and themed settlements, finishing strong at the final sprint.
Format: Points Race
Length: 42.7km
Elevation: 210m
Intermediate Points (scored 10,8,6,4,2,1):
Stoneway Sprint (FTS)
Acropolis Sprint (FAL)
Sasquatch Sprint (FTS)
Woodland Sprint (FAL)
Woodland Sprint Reverse (FTS)
Sasquatch Sprint Reverse (FAL)
Acropolis Sprint Reverse (FTS)
Finish Line Points: based on the number of riders participating, down to 1 point for last place.
Stage 3 kicks off in downtown Watopia before winding past volcanoes, waterfalls, and the route’s only big climb. After a blast through the flats and coast, it all comes down to the final push back to town. Get ready for a fierce finish!
Format: Scratch Race
Length: 29.1km
Elevation: 155m
Finish Line Points: based on the number of riders participating, down to 1 point for last place.
Powerups: Ghost/Feather/Aero
Sign Up
Want to race the series? Start by signing up for the race events! Numbers attract numbers, so women are encouraged to sign up early.
Both a team and individual GC will be calculated for the series:
Team GC: Points earned across Stages 1, 2, and 3 will count toward the Tour de Andrasta Team GC league to decide the 2025 champions.
Individual GC: Determined by cumulative finish time over all three stages, with the overall winner crowned Tour de Andrasta 2025 champion in every category.
