The Rapha Festive 500 is a challenge run on Strava where the aim is to accumulate 500kms cycling between Christmas Eve (December 24th) and New Year’s Eve (31st December). Traditionally, this was limited to outside rides only. However, for the first time this year, virtual rides were to be counted, which opened this challenge to new audiences, including myself.
I took up the Rapha 500 challenge but decided to make it a little more interesting by giving myself the target of doing at least one ride in each of the different worlds that Zwift offers, including trying to do many diverse events. I would include warm ups and warm downs in my total of kilometres ridden.
Here is my accounts of how I attempted to complete the challenge.
24th December – Day 1
Event: WRTL Team Time Trial, with Race3R Team AC/DC (TTT)
World: Bologna
Course: Time Trial Lap
This was the first event of my challenge, 2 laps of the Bologna course, in a Team Time Trial. This was a particularly novel event as it was 2 laps of Bologna and in a Team Time Trial, so I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to have a go.
For those who have never ridden a Team Time Trial, the premise is that there are 8 riders and you ride together and each rider takes a turn at the front of the group. Whilst you there, you cycle hard and your team members sit in your draft and recover from their previous hard effort. The more riders you have, the easier because you have longer to recover before it is your turn to cycle hard at the front of the group again. Sounds simple in theory, but to execute correctly is actually quite difficult because if you cycle too hard at the front of the group, riders behind will be forced to chase and expel unnecessary effort. The finish time is always taken from the 4th rider, so it is imperative to work together and finish with 4 riders.
We experienced our first issue and we hadn’t even started the race. One rider in the team could not connect to his trainer, there was some interference with his Garmin device that was in the garage and with no time to resolve, we were immediately down to 7 riders as we started the event.
We had a relatively straightforward ride to the base of the climb and it was my job to sit at the front of the group and pace the team up the climb. Initially I sat pushing 5 watts per kilo, but that proved too much for the team and so decreased the tempo. It was here on the first climb that we lost our second rider.
At the top of the climb, the remaining 6 riders descended in a group, however I got disconnected from the group and the 5 riders pulled away at lightning speed. There was nothing I could do. I tried the “supertuck” which is where you stop pedaling when traveling over 60kph and the avatar goes into a “tuck” position on the bike, but I lost more ground, so I started pedaling. I was still pedaling as I finished the descent and had to put in a huge effort to catch up with the team who had thankfully backed off the pace, allowing me to rejoin. At this point in the race I was in pieces. I had paced the team up the climb and had sprinted on the descent and now I was back in the group trying to recover.
Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one who was suffering and at the start of the second lap, it was decided we needed to slow down a fraction and “catch our breath” because as one of the team stated “we can make it back up on the climb.”
I don’t think we did make it up on the second climb as we lost another rider, meaning there was only 5. I again sat at the front setting the tempo and towards the end of the climb I continued this fast pace so that I would be first on the descent and get caught by the group. This plan sounded good in theory but on the descent, the 4 riders barrelled past me and I was again left chasing.
Once again, on the flat I was turning myself inside out to catch the group and was able to catch them and that was about it, I sat in the group to the finish. One of the most challenging rides I have done.
Race: 32.62 + 5.32 (Warm up)
Total: 37.94
Grand total: 37.94
25th December – Day 2
Event: Freeride (Badge Hunting)
World: Watopia
Course: Serpentine 8
One of the best things in Zwift is the sense of achievement you get from collecting a route badge. Being Christmas Day, I treated myself to the new Trek Super Caliber mountain bike and headed to the dreaded Jungle to do the new ‘Serpentine’ route that Zwift had released. With the turkey in the oven, I didn’t have time to hang around, so I blasted the route in 46 minutes and collected my badge, which was pretty good going.
Total: 26.51
Grand total: 64.45
26th December – Day 3
Event: Rapha Festive 500 in one go with Michael Knudsen (Endurance)
World: Watopia
Course: Watopia’s Waistband
This was a 100km endurance ride being hosted by Rapha in conjunction with Michael Knudsen, who is an ultra cyclist who has done some unique and massive cycling challenges such as Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme (read more about Michael here). Michael was attempting to do the Rapha 500 Challenge in one day and this ride was for 100km of his challenge, with the option to stay on afterward and ride with him. I declined to do so, having got my own challenge to complete.
The event had an extensive turnout. Over 1000 people, which made finding the right group somewhat of a challenge. It soon became apparent that near the front of the event, it had turned into a bit of a race. I had worked my way through the masses and was in a group of about 30 riders and we were making good progress and the kilometres were being ticked off. The mini-map showed we were not too far from the front of the ‘race’ and little by little, our tempo increased and after 60kms we caught this group, only to realise that this was actually the second group on the road and the front riders were still way out there.
We never caught the front group. The pace at the front was clearly intense because after around 80kms, we started picking up riders who had been dropped from the lead pack. It was a really strange situation to be in because we didn’t actually know where we were in terms of position on the road and we were still riding at a good pace, without actually feeling like we were racing.
In the last few hundred meters of the event, there was the customary sprinting for Zwift Power placings which I didn’t take part in because in my mind, this was an endurance ride and not a race. Interestingly, it transpired that our group had caught every rider and only 3 finished ahead of us, some 2 minutes up the road.
Start 
Middle 
End
En route, it was interesting to hear about Michael’s adventures. He outlined that he is a sponsored athlete of Rapha, which is how he is able to undertake such sporting endeavors.
Total: 101.87
Grand total: 166.32
27th December – Day 4
I decided to do two shorter events to reach my daily quota of kilometres.
Ride 1
Event: EVO Steady State Group Ride (Timed Event)
World: France
Course: R.G.V.
I decided to do a timed group ride, lasting 75 minutes. This was something I rarely do and made a nice change. Four things can be said about this ride;
- We were all decked in a florescent pink jersey which was bright. I liked it.
- The group ride was fantastically marshaled by Russ “The Colonel”
- The event was well attended and the pace very steady
- Certainly a group ride to do again
O 
Riding with Cav
After the steady group ride, I decided to warm down in a different world, so jumped into London. I was pedaling along and who should pass me by, surrounded by half a dozen riders, but Mark Cavendish, one of the world’s all-time greatest sprinters and winner of 30 Tour de France stages. The group wasn’t going particularly fast so it was easy for me to slip in and the 7 of us tootled around London and I totted up another 10km towards my total along with having the pleasure of riding with Mark Cavendish.
Total: 51.58 + 10.14 (Warm down)
Grand total: 228.04
Ride 2
Event: Lotto Soudal Special Guest – Mice with Tim Wellens (Chase Event)
World: Watopia
Course: Magnificent 8
This event was an interesting one and was a bit of game, which is why I thought it would be fun to take part in. There were two groups which were led by riders from the pro team Lotto Soudal. The first group was led by Tim Wellens and the objective was to ride between 2.5-3 watts per kilo whilst the second group on the road – led by Caleb Ewan – would start 10 minutes later and their job was to try and catch our group.
A sort of “Cat and Mouse race.” Not wanting to cycle “full gas” I was happy to ride in the group led by Tim Wellens. The race was good in concept but the actual delivery fell flat. The problem was that the chase group had an impossible 10-minute disadvantage to make up and never got close to our group. Furthermore, our Group Leader, Tim Wellens, suffered technical difficulties and dropped from the ride for a period of time. For me, it turned out to be the perfect=paced ride and I accumulated more kilometres without over-exerting myself but for others wanting the “thrill of the chase” it didn’t happen.
Total: 41.07
Grand total: 269.11
28th December – Day 5
Like the previous day, I opted to do two events. The Rapha 500 would not be complete without a ZWC Hill Climb Battle, so I had to do that event, followed later by an easier recovery ride.
Ride 1
Event: ZWC Hill Climb Battle (Hill Climb)
World: Watopia
Course: Mountain 8
Easily my favourite race on Zwift, the ZWC Hill Climb Battle thakes place on the reverse ascent the Epic KOM.
I was on form today and was right to the front of the bunch at the start of the race. At the front with me was Florian Vogel, a Swiss professional cyclist who competed at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. As we hit the start of the climb, Florian started pushing 6 watts per kilo and so I knew I wasn’t racing for first place today. He zipped up the road along with a couple of other riders as I found my rhythm.
As I pushed on up the climb, I was part of a small group with two other riders. I led us up the climb as they sat on my wheel, happy to get any minor drafting benefit that may have been on offer. As we entered the last switch-back, they seemed to drop away from my wheel and I carried on up the climb at around 5 watts per kilo. However, out of nowhere, came a rider pushing in excess of 6 watts per kilo. I was a little taken back to be honest. Here I was, at between 5-5.3 watts per kilo, having one of my best climbs up the mountain and this rider just blew past me.
I followed him up to the turn off to the Radio Tower and he started surging, with his watts increasing to 6.5. I then watched as he tore across the gap to the 4th-placed rider on the road, pushing some incredible numbers up the steepest part of the climb. At this point, most riders, myself included are just maintaining our pace, praying for the end of the climb. Not this rider, he was up the road and soon he was just a spec.
I finished in a strong 6th position and managed to hold off a late challenge by Illi Gardener, an upcoming British professional cycling superstar who currently rides for the UCI Women’s Continental Team CAMS–Tifosi.
Total: 33.22 + 11.03 (Warm up)
Grand total: 313.36
Ride 2
Event: Ventouro Social Group Ride (Group Ride)
World: London
Course: London Loop
I hadn’t actually undertaken an event in London, although I had done plenty of warm ups and warm downs. Having already done a hard session earlier in the day, I was not in any state to be racing hard, so I took part in the Ventouro Social Group Ride. This was supposed to be a nice gentle 2-2.5 watt per kilo Group Ride around London. However, there was no Group Leader or Beacon. So what happens when there is no Beacon to organise the masses? Carnage.
It simply became a free-for-all. I tried organising the group I was in, but quickly gave up and so in the end I just cycled round at my own pace. This showed me that actually, it’s really hard to lead a group. To do it well is a real skill, so huge respect to those who actually lead groups on Zwift.
Total: 26.51 + 5.03 (Warm down)
Grand total: 344.9
29th December – Day 6
This was my busiest day on the bike, with 4 rides scheduled across 4 different worlds, It proved to be a challenge.
Ride 1
Event: Koa Sports League Time Trial (ITT)
World: Watopia
Course: Tempus Fugit
This was 17.6km of pure pain. I started steady, at a good pace, and maintained throughout, finishing with a PB of 23 mins 48 seconds. I was literally at the limit throughout and the previous heavy days in the saddle were now starting to tell. There is not really much to report about the race, partly because when you are on the edge like I was, you just focus on your data and try and keep it consistent and the world around becomes a haze.
Towards the later few kilometres, the vision blurs further and even keeping your rhythm becomes your only focus as each undulation on the road felt like a mountain. They call Time Trials “the race of truth” – well, truthfully, that was painful.
Total: 20.07 + 10.04 (Warm up) + 10.30 (Warm down)
Grand total: 385.31
Ride 2
Event: 3R LaGuardia Super Sprint
World: New York
Course: LaGuardia Loop
The 3R LaGuardia Super Sprint is a 4km, high-intensity race, so I needed to be warmed up before the start. As I cycled in Watopia beforehand, British Professional cyclist Adam Yates, who races for the UCI WorldTeam Ineos Grenadiers passed by. He was heading up the Epic KOM, clearly for a bit of mountain training. Having done that already yesterday, I wasn’t interested in following, plus I had my crazy super sprint race to attend.
Having raced the TTR Mini event in Bologna, I was recommended the 3R LaGuardia Super Sprint event to try. I raced it once before and found that with the route being only 4km and with some hills, it was even faster and more intense than the TTR Mini race. To succeed you really have to “blast from the blocks” at the start and fight to the front of the group.
Warm up with Adam Yates 
3R Super Sprint race
Sat in the pen, waiting to start, as I ramped up the cadence, I could feel I had absolutely nothing in the legs. I was still fatigued from the time trial of a few hours previous. As people exploded over the start line, I was left struggling at the back. I didn’t have the legs, and I never got near the front of the group. When the pace increased and we hit the first small climb 1.7km into the race, it was like I had hit a wall. Riders sped past me and I found myself in a small group. Our small group pedaled the final few kilometres to the finish, finishing in 50th out of a sizeable field.
This was a lesson in how not to ride this event.
Total: 5.08 + 4.32 (Warm up)
Grand total: 394.71
Ride 3
Event: EVO CC Sprint Race Series
World: Yorkshire
Course: Queen’s Highway
This was a 4 lap Criterium style race. I wasn’t really looking forward to it, but like many things in life, the thought of doing something is often worse than actually doing it. Once I started I actually really did enjoy the race, because the field was small: 9 riders in Cat A.
In the pen, before the start, I enquired how rapid the start was, this was because I was fearful of another explosive start, like the race only a few hours previous. To my relief, the response was “Gentle” – they were right, it was a nice gentle start, we all got away together with no excessive watts being expelled. This turned into a nice ride, a few times people tried to break away from the group, but they were chased down and halfway round, I started getting the feeling that I may be in with a chance for a win. This was based on the fact that when a break did go, I was able to pull it back.
On the final lap, I put in a little acceleration to see if anyone would follow and they didn’t. However, realising that I had done a time trial already, I would be better off to drop back to the group and try and win the race in the sprint, so I sat up and got caught. As we approached the final 300 meters, I decided to sit near the back of the group and watch and wait for the sprint. As soon as one rider went, two immediately latched on and the final sprint started. That split second was the difference and I lost the race there. The 3 riders had too much, I put the power down and just couldn’t bridge the gap, which was now growing. Desperate, I used the “Feather” power-up. It made no impact, I missed the crucial move and finished 3 seconds behind.
In pro cycling, I have witnessed firsthand where sprinters who have just missed victory, bang their handlebars in frustration, I can now relate to that feeling. It just goes to show you that when racing on Zwift, the margins of winning and coming nowhere near are so finely balanced that if you are fortunate enough to win, then victory should be celebrated.
Total: 17.06 + 2.66 (Warm up)
Grand total: 414.43
Ride 4
Event: ZZCR Sub 2
World: Crit City
Course: Bell Lap
The final session of the day was a gentle group ride around the Bell Lap. It was exactly what I needed after 3 difficult and tiring races.
The main group was slightly slower than advertised but what was really good was smaller groups formed that were both slightly slower and faster and everyone cycled at their most comfortable pace. This was all coordinated brilliantly by the leader, David.
This was a very relaxed ride and despite being a new member to the group I was welcomed to join in the group chat and the 16 laps just flew by as concentration was more on the group discussions than cycling. Before long some of the faster groups caught the slower ones and they all merged.
The relaxed ride was a complete contrast to the previously intense sessions and before I knew it, the session was over. I made a point of thanking leader David because the camaraderie shown was appreciated and had got me through the final ride of the day.
It is clear to me that there are some people who are quite natural at leading group rides and David was certainly one of these people.
Total: 32.05 + 3.96 (Warm up)
Grand total: 450.44
30th December – Day 7
There were three worlds left to ride: Paris, Richmond and Innsbruck. So, it was another busy day on the bike.
Ride 1
Event: ZHQ FutureWorks Circuit Race – Anti-sandbagging
World: Paris
Course: Champs-Elysees
I was keen to see what new things Zwift has in store so I opted for a Future Works event, hosted on the Champs-Elysees.
Disappointingly but not surprisingly, I didn’t hang with the front group for too long; in fact, only half a lap. I was always at the back of the group, dangling by an invisible bungee cord, where one minute I was in the group, the next hanging out the back, and around the Arc de Triomphe, the invisible bungee cord snapped. I chased to get back on but after 20 or so seconds, I quickly gave up and sat up, waiting for the next group behind.
The second group on the road was a mixture of A and B category riders and I just sat with them until the final lap where the B riders mysteriously disappeared. I later learned that they only did 2 laps, whilst I still had one to go. Our group was miles off catching the front, so I made sure I saved some energy to bag, surprisingly, 5th place. 40 seconds behind the top 4 riders.
There was no time for a warm down as I went straight into my next ride in Richmond.
Total: 24.01
Grand total: 474.41
Ride 2
Event: Social Ride – Meet-Up
World: Richmond
Course: 2015 UCI Worlds Course
This was a gentle social ride and catch-up with a friend using the “Meetup” facility. It was during this social ride where I discussed my challenge and it was highlighted that I needed to do a “Workout” – it was true, this was one of the only features I seemed to have not utilised. So mid-ride a new meetup was scheduled and we opted to do the shortest work out programme.
Total: 17.41
Grand total: 491.82
Ride 3
Event: Workout – Emily’s Mix
World: Innsbruck
Course: Innsbruckring
After close to 500km I really didn’t want to do this, but this 30-minute stood session between me and the target, so I just got on with it. Emily’s mix is a session that is short but intense, finishing with 3 minutes of efforts above FTP. I had to hit 385 watts for 3 minutes.
It didn’t happen.
I lasted probably 1 minute at that level before I entered the death spiral where the watts decrease faster than the time on the clock. Nevertheless, I completed the session and mission accomplished.
Total: 20.99
Grand total: 512.81
Epilogue Part 1
Event: Guayaba Race by PETA-Z
World: Watopia
Course: Road to Sky (Start only)
Whilst planning my quest to complete the Rapha 500, I had come across a very bizarre race run by PETA-Z. It was called the Guayaba Race and was 2.2km in length.
This was easily the shortest race I had done and it fascinated me. I got in touch with the organisers who explained that this was just a one-off event and a bit of fun. The route was from the start pens used for the Road to Sky race and the finish was just at the start of Jungle, just after the first bit of dirt. The challenge was to select the right bike for the event, sort of road bike vs mountain bike vs gravel bike.
I decided that I would spend some of the drops I had just earned over the last week and buy a gravel bike. In doing so I opted for the middle ground, thinking the mountain bike would be too slow on the road, and the road bike too slow in the Jungle. I was confident in my choice of equipment and was in the start pen cranking the watts just before the start.
Within moments of the start, it was clear the gravel bike was the wrong choice. The road bikes were miles quicker and I was being swamped by people who had selected them. Riders on road bikes were pulling away on the descent into the Jungle and as we hit the dirt, I was expecting to start overtaking people. I didn’t. The finish line was getting closer and it was clear the race was lost. To add to my misery, I even got passed by someone on a mountain bike. At that moment, I wished the Dropshop offered a refund on my new purchase, which will never get used again – I reasoned that Zwift needs to offer a Bike rental shop, especially for one-off events like this!
In conclusion, it was evident that the quickest bike to use was the road one because the Jungle section was too short for the mountain bikes to make up any ground, and the gravel bike, well, I was mid-pack, so it was something of nothing.
Total: 5.02 + 3.77 (Warm up)
Grand total: 521.6
31st December – Day 8
Epilogue Part 2
Event: WRTL Team Time Trial, with Race3R Team AC/DC (TTT)
World: Watopia
Course: Road to Sky
Having started the Rapha 500 with a Team Time Trial, I decided to finish the challenge with one. This week’s TTT was up the Alpe du Zwift. I couldn’t miss this.
I’ll keep the report brief, we started with 8 riders and finished with 5. Whilst leading the group up the first section of the climb, I had a dropped connection. This was quickly fixed and there was no panic as I was able to climb at my own pace, back into the group, before anyone had time to miss me. We worked together for the rest of the climb without any drama and reached the summit in 45 minutes. I’m not sure of any drafting benefits whilst climbing but I think the group support certainly contributed to us achieving a good time.
Total: 33.6 + 6.69 (Warm up)
Grand total: 561.89
My thoughts on the Rapha 500 challenge
I was pleased to complete the challenge, I certainly made it more complex by attempting to cycle in every world and by combining multiple events on the same day. In truth, I found cycling 100km in one hit easier than breaking the day into 3 or 4 different events as it was always hard to start the next one.
But riding different specialised events kept things interesting and what really was highlighted was the fact that each day, there is always some ride, at some time that you can take part in and enjoy. And they’re often organised by very excellent Group Leaders.
In Watopia, when I see people wearing the jersey that is obtained through completing the challenge, I am sure to give them a “Ride On”, because I know it is hard-earned.
wpDiscuz
