Zwift Racing League Week 1 Guide: Scotland’s Rolling Highlands

The first race of Zwift Racing League 2023/24 Round 1 happens Tuesday, September 12. We’ll be on Zwift’s newest map (Scotland), riding the first official scratch race in ZRL’s history!

With Pack Dynamics 4.1 in play and ZRL’s unique scratch race setup there’s much to discuss along with our usual topics of bike choice, strategic options, and crucial segments. Let’s go!

Our First ZRL Scratch Race

This is the first time* we’ve had an official scratch race in ZRL. How does it differ from the typical ZRL points race format? Simple: you don’t have any intermediates to contest! The only points available are those you earn based on your finishing position, and those finishing points follow the same finishing points scheme as a ZRL points race.

*We actually had an “unofficial” scratch race when we raced Road to Ruins in March 2022. Officially, this was a “points race,” but since there were no intermediates on that route, the only points you could earn were at the finish line!

Looking at the Route: Scotland’s Rolling Highlands

Each lap of Scotland’s Rolling Highlands route is 9km (5.6 miles), with 77m of climbing. But don’t miss that there’s a long 5.1km lead-in to the start of that first lap, ending with the short Breakaway Brae KOM! All categories are racing three laps for a 31.9km long race with 260m of climbing.

This is a constantly-undulating course, but none of the pitches are particularly steep or long. Our advice: keep your eyes open, mind your pack position, and do a few test laps before Tuesday if you aren’t familiar with the route.

This route has three notable climbs, and everything else is a minor undulation or downhill. First, we have Breakaway Brae – the only climb that is an official segment:

620 meters long at 2.4%, this one starts easy but turns into a bit of a slog over the top through the banner. Try to start near the front, and know there’s a short downhill after the banner where the pack will typically regroup.

The other two climbs are worth mentioning since they provide platforms for hard attacks/pushes:

1. The climb up through the Cliffs area is the longest uphill of the route, but it’s not a continuous grade, nor is it very steep. This climb begins just after you ride through the mystical roundabout.
2. The sneaky “Corkscrew Castle Climb” serves as an excellent attack point due to its punchy steepness and proximity to the finish line (1.5km up the road). This one arrives after the longest descent on the map, so rest your legs and prepare to hammer!

Read more about the Rolling Highlands route >

PowerUp Notes

In a fresh twist on powerups, WTRL tells us riders will be awarded feathers at the banner near the start pens, and burritos at the Breakaway Brae banner. If you haven’t been racing on Zwift much lately, it’s worth noting that Zwift rebalanced several powerups (including the feather and burrito) in May. Make sure you know how they work!

Lightweight (feather) (given at banner near the pens): reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds. Use on climbs, when weight matters the most.

Burrito (given at Breakaway Brae banner): turns off the draft effect for riders in a cone-shaped window behind you for 20 seconds. Use when attacking off the front so opponents have to work harder to follow you, or in the peloton to make others work harder.

Bike Frame + Wheel Choice

None of the climbs here are long or steep enough for a true climbing bike to be the sensible choice. A full aero bike will deliver the fastest overall lap time at steady state wattage, but with the course’s rolling hills and uphill finish, the Tron is probably going to be the most popular choice since it’s a bit more nimble on the climbs, where every second will count.

See Speed Tests: Tron Bike vs Top Performers (Scatter Plot) for more nerd-level detail on frame and wheel performance.

More Route Recons

Many recon rides are now being planned each week on the upcoming ZRL route. If you’re unfamiliar with this course, jump into an event and do some recon! Here’s a list of upcoming Rolling Highlands events.

Si Bradeley

Strategic Options

How will the race unfold, and what strategies will riders employ in the first race of the season? Here’s what we predict:

• Breakaways galore: racers are learning that Pack Dynamics 4.1 slows down the peloton and greatly increases the chances of breakaways surviving. Every category should expect repeated attempts to establish a breakaway, and all the team tactics that go along with it.
• Sneak attacks: the small climbs on this loop lend themselves well to a coordinated breakaway attempt from 2-4 teammates. If that happens, everyone else will have to decide between chasing or letting it go. And with Pack Dynamics 4.1, if you let a group of teammates go, you may never see them again…
• Going long on the Corkscrew Castle Climb: the sneaky Corkscrew Climb begins just 2km from the finish line on the last lap. Surely someone will try to go long… for season opener glory!
• Saving it all for the Brae: in the end, every single point will be decided on the final ride up Breakaway Brae. Many racers will simply ride as efficiently as possible apart from this final short climb.

Your Thoughts

Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!