Zwift Racing League 2023/24 Round 3 Details

Intro to Zwift Racing League (ZRL)

ZRL is the world’s largest virtual cycling competition. How big is it? Over 26,000 riders have participated so far in the 2023/24 season, making it the biggest season on record!

Organized by WTRL, this is a team-based points competition spread across multiple weeks, with teams organized into divisions based on time zones and ability. Races happen every Tuesday, and the season is broken into three 6-week rounds with short 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.

This page contains the latest info about the current ZRL round, and is updated as WTRL announces new details.

Ruleset Updates

If you’re new to ZRL, you’ll definitely want to get familiar with the ruleset and scoring structure, as these inform strategic team decisions.

There are no rule updates for round 3.

Timeslots and Divisions

Some divisions and start times get tweaked between each round, so make sure you pick the time slot that works for your team. Here are the divisions and time slots for 2023/24 round 3:

Teams and Registration

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.

Team registration opened December 22 wtrl.racing/zrl-registration. Teams signed up for Round 2 will be automatically registered for Round 3.

Want to race, but don’t have a team? Here are six ways to find a team:

1. Recruit friends and family onto a new ZRL team, then sign up your team at wtrl.racing/zrl-registration/.
2. 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.
3. Join an official team-lead ZRL Group Recon Ride where several teams can be found looking for more riders. These run several times a day starting two weeks before the first race. Learn more >
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Reach out directly to WTRL and they can match you to a team based on race times, category, and team preferences.

Race Routes and Dates

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: Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop
January 23, 2024 (Scratch Race)

We start with the shortest race of the round, on a route we’ve never raced before in ZRL. Be ready for fireworks on the climb up from the marina!

• 1 Lap of Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop (19.2km, 156m elevation)
• PowerUps: Aero Boost 🛈
• Intermediate Segments: none

Race #2: Island Hopper
January 30, 2024 (Points Race)

Another new route for ZRL, Island Hopper is quite flat apart from the two punchy climbs within a 3.5-kilometer window in the middle of the race.

• 2 Laps of Makuri Islands’ Island Hopper (36.1km, 259m elevation)
• PowerUps: Feather (33%), Aero Boost (34%), Draft Boost (33%) 🛈
• Intermediate Segments:
  • Boardwalk Sprint
  • Tidepool Sprint
  • Shisa Sprint
  • Tidepool Sprint

Race #3: R.G.V.
February 6, 2024 (TTT)

Our first TTT of Round 3 is on a familiar route. Flat and fast, R.G.V. lets you focus on smooth rotations and pushing your team to the edge of its capabilities. Save a bit for Les Intestins near the end!

• 1 Lap of France’s R.G.V. (24.9km, 133m elevation)
• PowerUps: none

Race #4: Innsbruckring
February 13 (Scratch Race)

A favorite circuit of many racers, Innsbruckring is all about the Leg Snapper climb in the middle of each lap. Do you have the punch to survive it three times?

• 3 Laps of Innsbruckring (26.6km, 232m elevation)
• PowerUps: Ghost (33%), Feather (33%), Aero Boost (34%) 🛈
• Intermediate Segments: none

Race #5: Chasing the Sun
February 20, 2024 (Points Race)

Raced in previous ZRL seasons, Chasing the Sun has something for everyone, with three flat sprints before the big Temple KOM that will surely force a big selection.

• 1 Lap of Makuri Islands’ Chasing the Sun (35.1km, 316m elevation)
• PowerUps: arch-specific, details coming soon
• Intermediate Segments:
  • Alley Sprint
  • Railway Sprint
  • Country Sprint
  • Temple KOM
  • Tower Sprint Reverse

Race #6: Out and Back Again
February 27, 2024 (TTT)

We finish this round with a TTT course that is very unlike what we typically see in ZRL. Not only is this the longest race of round 3, but it takes us up the Volcano KOM and the Hilly KOM Reverse! Teams will need to optimize for longer climbs, which can look very different from flat road rotations.

• 1 Lap of Watopia’s Out and Back Again (42.2km, 334m elevation)
• PowerUps: none

Tips for First-Timers

If this is your first time racing on Zwift, here are a few tips to get you started fast:

1. You have to be signed up for ZwiftPower to participate. Instructions >
2. You must create a WTRL account as well – do so at wtrl.racing/registration
3. The minimum category you’ll race is determined by your power history on Zwift. See this post for details.
4. 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.)
5. Heart rate monitors are required. (You’re allowed to race without a HRM, but your points are cut in half.)
6. Cadence monitors are required (new rule for Round 2).
7. 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 then are forced to upgrade to a new category mid-round.

Recons and Broadcasts

Official Recon Rides

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.

You can find a list of upcoming ZRL recon rides at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlrecon.

Live ZRL Broadcasts

Select ZRL races will be broadcast with commentary by Zwift Community Live. See their scheduled YouTube playlist.

2023/24 ZRL Season Dates

• Round 1: Sept 12-Oct 17, 2023
• Round 2: Nov 14-Dec 19, 2023
• Round 3: Jan 23-Feb 27, 2024
• Finals: April 9/16/23 2024

Questions or Comments?

We recommend checking out WTRL’s Zwift Racing League page for rules, team registration, results, and more. They also have a Help Center with lots of useful info, and their Facebook page is the place to go for discussion of all things ZRL.

You may also share questions or comments below!