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Now in its 18th round, Zwift Racing League continues to take racing to the next level on Zwift! Registration is now open for the third round of the 2025/26 season, which begins on January 6.
This page contains everything you need to know about the current ZRL round, and is updated as WTRL announces new details.
Intro to ZRL
Zwift Racing League (ZRL) is team-based racing for all abilities. It’s also the world’s largest virtual cycling competition, with over 30,000 riders of all abilities participating in each of the past two seasons!
Organized by WTRL, this is a team-based points competition spanning multiple weeks, with teams divided into divisions based on time zones and ability. Races take place every Tuesday, and the season is divided into distinct rounds with brief 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.
Key Changes this Round
Zwift + WTRL continously collaborate to modify ZRL’s structure and rules with the aim of engaging as many racers as possible. Heading into this round, the rules have changed regarding team limits.
Riders were previously limited to membership on only two teams, but that limitation is now gone. The new rule says you may race for as many teams as you wish, but you are limited to a maximum of two teams per category within each league.
Examples:
- ✔️ A rider may race for Green B1, Lime B1, and Emerald B1
- ✔️ A rider may race for Green B Development, Green B1, and Green A1
- ✔️ A rider may race for Green B2 and Green B1
- ✔️ A rider may race for two teams in Green B2
- ❌ A rider may not race for two Green B2 teams plus a Green B1 team, as all three sit in the same league and category (Green B)
This gives teams and riders more flexibility while ensuring divisions remain fair and rankings remain transparent.
For details on ZRL rules, see the ZRL Rules page >
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: Neon Shore Loop
January 6, 2026 (TTT)
The round begins with a team time trial on a completely new route. This Makuri Islands route isn’t even in game yet, but we’ll be publishing details as soon as they’re available. Until then, please enjoy this press photo from Zwift, which shows how to ride as inefficiently as possible in a TTT:
- 1 Lap of Makuri Islands’ Neon Shore Loop (34.1km, 258m elevation)
- PowerUps: none 🛈
Race #2: 2019 Worlds Harrogate Circuit
January 13, 2026 (Points Race)
The first points race of Round 3 is on the tough Yorkshire circuit, with a KOM and sprint segment on each lap.
- A/B: 3 Laps of Yorkshire’s 2019 Worlds Harrogate Circuit (41.6km, 737m elevation)
- C/D: 2 Laps of Yorkshire’s 2019 Worlds Harrogate Circuit (27.8km, 492m elevation)
- Intermediate Segments (FAL+FTS):
- PowerUps 🛈:
- Feather at Lap banner
- Aero at KOM banner
- Feather at Sprint banner
Race #3: Countryside Tour
January 20, 2026 (Scratch Race)
The longest race of this round includes the challenging dirt Temple KOM on each lap. Will gravel bikes be in play?
- A/B: 3 Laps of Makuri Islands’ Countryside Tour (47.8km, 556m elevation)
- C/D: 2 Laps of Makuri Islands’ Countryside Tour (31.9km, 371m elevation)
- PowerUps 🛈 (equal probability at each banner):
- Feather
- Draft
- Aero
Race #4: Roule Ma Poule
January 27, 2026 (TTT)
Our second TTT of Round 3 kicks off with a tough lead-in: the steady climb up the backside of the Petit KOM. Then it’s a flat, fast route until we encounter that climb once more for the finish!
- 1 Lap of France’s Roule Ma Poule (26.1km, 263m elevation)
- PowerUps: none 🛈
Race #5: Cobbled Climbs
February 3, 2026 (Points Race)
Our second points race of Round 3 takes us to Richmond for multiple laps of a punchy course that includes three key climbs on every lap, although only two are points segments.
- A/B: 4 Laps of Richmond’s Cobbled Climbs (37km, 537m elevation)
- C/D: 3 Laps of Richmond’s Cobbled Climbs (27.8km, 403m elevation)
- Intermediate Segments (FAL+FTS):
- PowerUps 🛈 (equal probability at each banner):
- Ghost
- Burrito
- Draft
- Aero
Race #6: London Loop (A/B) + Greatest London Loop (C/D)
February 10, 2026 (Scratch Race)
Round 3 wraps up with scratch races in London. A/B teams are on a different route than C/D teams, but no matter who you are, the big selections will happen on the big climbs. Hup hup!
- A/B: 2 Laps of London’s London Loop (30.4km, 466m elevation)
- C/D: 1 Lap of London’s Greatest London Loop (26.2km, 360m elevation)
- PowerUps 🛈:
- Feather at Lap Banner
- Anvil at KOM Banner
Race Timeslots
Some divisions and start times are adjusted between rounds. Use the table below to find a time slot that works for your team:
Teams/Registration
Team registration opened December 10, 2025 (go to wtrl.racing/zwift-racing-league/participants/ and click “Register a Team”. Registration closes January 5, 2026 at 00:00 UTC.
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 into as many teams as they’d like, but only a maximum of two teams per league category (see “Key Changes this Round” above).
Want to race, but don’t have a team? Here are seven ways to find a team:
- Recruit friends onto a new ZRL team, then sign up your team at wtrl.racing/zwift-racing-league/participants/.
- 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.
- Join an official team-lead ZRL Group Recon Ride (see below) where several teams can be found looking for more riders. These run several times a day, starting two weeks before the first race.
- 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.
- 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.
- Reach out directly to WTRL and they can match you to a team based on race times, category, and team preferences.
- Use the new “WTRL Team Finder” tool once it becomes available at wtrl.racing/zwift-racing-league/teamhunt/.
First-Timer Tips
If this is your first time racing on Zwift, here are a few tips to get you started fast:
- You must create a WTRL profile linked to your Zwift account – do so at wtrl.racing/registration
- The minimum category you’ll race is determined by your power history on Zwift. See this post for details.
- 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.)
- Heart rate monitors are required. (You’re allowed to race without a HRM, but your points are cut in half.)
- Cadence monitors are required.
- 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 are forced to upgrade to a new category mid-round!
Race Recon Events
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.
Find a list of upcoming ZRL recon rides at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlrecon >
2025/26 ZRL Dates
- Round 1: September 16-October 7, 2025
- Round 2: November 4-December 9, 2025
- Round 3: January 6-February 10, 2026
- Round 4: April 7-28, 2026
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!
3 laps of Countryside Tour could be pushing 90 minutes for Dev B. That’s a long time for a weekday
Yup. It’s no joke. My PR on a lap is 24:36, and that was in a 2-lap ZRL race in the standard B1 division!
I am going to pass on this one. Still have nightmares on the elevation meters in the last season and this one has even more.
Think I’ll skip this round too.
It’s great having these punchy routes
Would be good for some of the heavier riders if there was a flatter but longer course. It’s good that the climbs are there, but you know you are going to get dropped and by pushing to hard you run the risk of upgrading
You’ve rather countered your own suggestion here haven’t you? I’ve been doing ZRL for around 5 years and seen plenty of monumental sandbagging and other “power management” in that time. I’m pleased that WTRL are picking routes that naturally limit the potential for this behaviour (even though the courses don’t usually suit me either)
With an average race length of 36.1 km, this is the longest round of ZRL since the first round of 2021/2022. For 2025/2026 the overall average over 35 km per race. That’s a sharp increase from just under 30km average from the past 2 years.
The length of races is starting to impact our own team’s attendance. Even myself, who has raced every ZRL race since 2021 (barring sickness and a couple of scheduling conflicts). I’m starting to reconsider some races. At this length, at this time of day, it starts to impact my ability to sleep and then go to work the next day. We’re a tight knit team of IRL friends who value this is our weekly social activity with friends. It takes a lot to get us to skip.
I have the utmost respect for the work and effort that the WTRL puts into the ZRL. It is literally the reason why I pay for Zwift.
I hope they consider that increasing the length of races makes it much more difficult for many of it’s racers.
WTRL isn’t picking the routes/lengths, that is Zwift. So complaints should be directed to ZHQ.
Thanks! I had assumed WTRL was picking race routes. I’ll make sure to forward my comments appropriately.
The technical guide you linked says “5.1.2. Racers may join a maximum of 2 teams per Round preferably in different division numbers.” Did you link the correct technical guide (or have they changed it to walk back the new flexibility you described above)?
Well, sort of neither. 😀 I linked to the latest technical guide WTRL has posted, which doesn’t include the latest rule changes. I’ll update the link once they update the guide. Team changes are definitely happening, though!
Hi Eric, I really appreciate all updates you post on the ZRL races. Really helpful to our teams. I guess only the team changes are not happening for this round, or did I miss the changed rules?
As far as I know, the team changes are in effect… although from what I hear, they may not be coded into the online team management tools yet.
Your first image on this post: There’s a chat on discord where you sourced the white rhino kit, looks like Libby hill, race perhaps, and female rider, we’re trying to find out Eric!
I didn’t create that image – it’s from Zwift!
Do you think Zwift will ever do an ITT within a series?
cant find my way to your race. I’ve logedon every fcking where