Get Ready to Leapfrog: The Women’s Ladder League Has Arrived!

Last May, we were wondering if and how a women’s ladder league could launch — and now it’s finally here and thriving! We’re excited to see how this new league integrates with the mixed ladder while offering something unique to women racers. Here’s a quick rundown of what makes it stand out…

The ladder league is a unique team-based one in a ladder tournament format. Instead of using ZwiftPower categories or the newer Zwift Racing Score for categorization, teams are ranked according to the Zwiftracing.app vELO rankings. Each team can have up to 15 riders, with the requirement that no more than three vELO ranks can be represented on the roster (for example, copper, bronze, and silver).

This format adds an interesting strategic layer to the competition: teams can challenge other teams no more than 7 places above them on the team ladder. Races are structured as 5v5 events, with the challenging team selecting both the route and the powerups. Race points are awarded based on finishing positions, ranging from 10 points for 1st place down to 1 point for 10th. The team with the most points wins the race and takes over the loser’s position, causing everyone else to drop a place. Essentially, this creates a dynamic “leapfrogging” effect as teams climb the ladder.

For a more detailed breakdown of the rules and the amendments for the women’s ladder, head over to the official rulebook.

Currently, several women’s teams are participating, with a lot more set to join in the current transfer window. Stay tuned for updates!

Top 5 Cool Things About the Women’s Ladder:

1. Race with Teammates Across 3 vELO Categories: This is a fantastic opportunity to race with riders you wouldn’t normally get to team up with, making it even more exciting.
2. Short and Sweet Races: Races are shorter than ZRL events, which can sometimes be intimidating for new racers. With flexible race times that fit around training schedules, it’s a great option for beginners looking to dive into competitive racing and learn from more experienced teammates.
3. Tactical Races Like No Other: The strategy goes beyond just riding hard. From choosing the route and powerups to discussing tactics with your teammates based on the roster of 5 teammates and 5 opponents, it’s a true test of teamwork and adaptation.
4. Every Woman’s Contribution Matters: Even if you fall back during a race, the battle for 9th and 10th place can be decisive. Every point counts, and the race is never really over until the finish line!
5. Competitive, Evenly Matched Teams: In the Women’s ladder, teams are more evenly matched regarding their short-term power compared to competing against heavier men. This creates a level playing field, ensuring competitive fun for everyone.

BONUS: Every race feels different and exciting, even if you’re facing the same team again. With changing participants, the dynamics are always fresh and unpredictable.

And if you feel ready for a challenge, you can still compete against mixed teams too!

Are you ready to join us? Learn how to join, and don’t miss out on the ladder race commentary video below for more details and examples of women’s ladder racing:

We can’t wait to see you on the starting line!