The OG KOM – Tips for WTRL TTT #108 – Watopia Hilly

Each week I give you a profile of the upcoming WTRL TTT route, guidance on bike choice, and some target times if you want to aim for the Premier League (top-teams in each coffee class get to be in a special race televised on YouTube). 

If you can’t ride, or even if you can ride, but want more action, don’t forget to tune in to the live TV show on Zwift Community Live’s YouTube Channel at 6:15 (UK time).

Review of TTT #107 RGV

How did I do? Gluttons for punishment can look at my live stream, but somehow I messed up the audio. Saving you the effort – I was dropped by the strong Bs in our Frappe team. I’d like to be recovering better but the legs can only do what they can do!

Thursday 13th May – Three laps of Watopia’s Hilly Route

From France back on Watopia… in fact, this week it is the oldest route in Zwift if you exclude Jarvis Island! This route hasn’t seen a lot of TTT action, though – just once last year, then all the way back in December 2019!

We will be doing three laps of Watopia’s Hilly Route for a total of 27.4km. Starting at the downtown pens go straight up the original climb, Hilly KOM. Down the long descent into the Italian Villas and through the sprint – then it’s across the Esses and back to downtown. 

Hilly KOM is the obvious test here – but the Esses always add a piquant flavor to a team event too!

What to ride?

Hilly describes this course well – it’s not flat like last week, but it’s also not mountainous. Use the bike to balance your weaknesses so you can stay with the team. That means if you are weak on the hills, lighten your bike and wheel combo. But if you are strong on hills and struggle to keep with the team on the downhill and flat, go completely aero! 

I’m taking the balanced line – I will be on my Tron, which I hope will give me a helping hand over Hilly, while not giving up too much aero on the descents and flats. 

Here are some recommendations at various levels – but definitely head over to Eric’s page on what to buy at each level.

I know I say it every week but it is doubly important this week. Get the Tron! There is no better ride this week, and if you are Level 45 without having completed the Everest Challenge, shame on you (yes you, Simon Schofield!)

Route Recon Rides

There are lots of rides on ZwiftHacks but good news, I did the ride so you don’t have to! 

Here are some key moments if you don’t want to watch the whole thing:

• Route overview
• How to get a great team time on Hilly KOM
• Bike recommendations
• Recon Ridethrough
• Target times
• DS tearoff sheet

Race breakdown 

Two areas of this route will define your success – up and down the Hilly KOM, and then through the Esses. 

You will climb the Hilly KOM with fresh legs at 1km, then again at 10km, and a final time at 19.5km. Each visit will have a different story! Just under a kilometer in length, the climb comes in four distinct parts – how much you feel the distinction will depend on how tired you are.

1. The first 400m is steep, averaging 7% but up to 10%
2. It flattens for 50m as you round the bend, then
3. Tightens back up to 6% again for 300m, then
4. Eases to 2-3% for the remainder of the climb.

Talk about how you will handle this among the team – but make sure you stay together.

The other area to watch is the Esses. Going in this direction, you start with the hill which is 300M long, averaging 4%. I find this harder than it should be… and I’m not sure why. After that, the Esses themselves are a sequence of four rollers. Not hard to ride, but the ascent/descent causes some instability in the team with different riders’ momentum causing some challenges.

Target times

Here are my target times if you want to bag a PL spot.

Wrap up

This race is all about getting the team up the Hilly KOM, and whether you accelerate or break apart through the Esses. It’s a short TTT in distance, but technical in nature. As is often the case – quick decision making and good communication will be critical.