Week 4 of Zwift Racing League’s Season 2 is here, and it’s a repeat from week 9 of Season 1: 2 Laps of Yorkshire’s 2019 UCI Worlds Harrogate Circuit.
This is a lumpy course that is rarely flat. Key climbs come early, and extra points will go to those with the punch to make it over the climbs with the front group. Let’s dig into the course, including some tips for bike choice, strategy, and more…
Looking At the Route: Yorkshire’s 2019 UCI Worlds Harrogate Circuit
Here’s a route preview from Rick over at No Breakaways:
Route Breakdown
This route is never flat, and begins with one of the two key climbs right out of the gate:
Out of the start pens the road turns a hard right, and the first climb begins. The Otley Road climb is 1.8km long and averages just 3.1%. You can count on the first big selection of the race will be made here. With a rather low average gradient, speeds will be high enough for drafting to play a significant role, so hold onto those wheels!
A few lumps and bumps brings us to the steepest descent on the route, down Pot Bank. Play this one right with momentum and/or powerups and you may be able to bridge up to riders ahead. Play it wrong and you’ll get dropped!
Then we climb up a bit from Pot Bank, descend down to the river, and begin the timed Yorkshire KOM. At 1.2km and 5.5% average grade this is a second key selection point for the race, and your first chance at intermediate FAL and FTS points.
Descend from the KOM and turn a hard left onto Cornwall Road, AKA Millionaire’s Row. A short climb takes you to the first sprint intermediate of the route, then it’s a short descent before proceeding to a couple lumps and a quick climb back to the lap start/finish banner.
That’s one lap done. But you’ve got one more to go!
Read all about the 2019 UCI Worlds Harrogate Circuit route >
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Bike Frame/Wheel Choices
Like other lumpy routes on Zwift, the Harrogate Circuit makes bike choice a bit challenging. The Tron bike and S-Works Venge+Super9 disc turn in the same lap times in our tests, but the Tron bike is faster up the climbs, while the Venge is faster on the descents/flats.
So which do you choose? Most will go with the Tron, so they have a slight advantage on the most challenging parts of the route.
If you don’t have the Tron bike, the Canyon Aeroad + DT Swiss ARC 62s is a good choice for low-level Zwifters. Or a slippery frame like the Cervelo S5 coupled with lighter (but still aero) wheels like the ENVE 7.8 or Zipp 858.
Strategic Options
There are 2 intermediates on the Harrogate Circuit, each awarding first-across-the-line (FAL) and fastest-through-segment (FTS) points to the top 10:
- Yorkshire K/QOM
- Yorkshire Sprint
With 2 laps that means 4 chances to grab extra points. Strong riders pushing hard up the two key climbs (Otley Rd and the KOM) will create gaps and force a selection, and without any long descents or flat stretches, chances are good the riders who make the front group will stay away for the remainder of the race. So if you want any extra points, you’ve got to make it over the KOM in the front group.
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Riders with high ~3-minute power to weight would be well-served to attack the climbs in order to thin the pack and drop sprinters. For those not going on the offensive, keep in mind the road gradient is constantly shifting! Keep your eyes open and watch for gaps, as those will be constantly forming.
With all the lumps, this is a good route for a smaller breakaway to get away, perhaps on the final KOM with just 5km left in the race. There’s a lot of incentive here: any small group able to break away on the final KOM will be awarded significant intermediate points on the second time through the KOM and sprint, as well as top finishing positions.
Lastly, powerups: there will be six opportunities for a powerup on this route, and powerups given will be an even mix of the Helmet, Van, and Feather. Make sure you know how each powerup works, and use them wisely!
Your Thoughts
Care to share your thoughts about Tuesday’s big race? Comment below!
My version will be a bit different I believe . . . “Out of the start pens the road turns a hard right, and the first climb begins” as does the gap between the front of the pack to my position. I just know this will be an individual challenge for me, while working to make gains with small groups of gasping stragglers in similar positions. Finishing is the goal. No extra points, or breakaway thoughts, just turning the pedals and trying to convince the left lung to not give up . . . but should be lots of fun!
It’s a massive achievement for me just to get into the positions that give more than 1 point. But I agree with you too in that I love it.
This was such a cool race in season 1. Hard from the gun and unlike some of the courses there was no let up down the field because of the ever changing gradient. I’m not suited to this course but definitely a blast to race.
This course is brutal. It’s like a long interval training with short breaks (but not really recovery). It’s survival for riders who bring 78kg+ to the scale. My advice: make it over the first KOM as quick as you can and try to find a group to ride along up the second long climb. It’s game on before the second KOM. After that you will find yourself in a 5-10 rider group. It’s a mini race from there onwards. Good luck.
As Eric so rightly stated, we did this route on Stage 9 of Season 1. Although I am a big fan of ZRL I am getting the feeling it is getting a bit “same old, same old” – last week’s course was only marginally different due to the climb at the end but getting to it was torturous with 3 ascents up the Leg Snapper which favoured people with strong 1 minute power, as per many races in ZRL.
Again, Eric is right when he states this route favours people with a good 3 minute power to weight ratio but I am looking forward to the time when ZRL puts in a pure mountain stage, like a race up the Alpe or Epic KOM. Sure, people are going to complain about that but at the moment, being objective, what race has yet to cater for the pure climbers who get to demonstrate their abilities?
I appreciate ZRL caters for the masses and only a minority would want a mountain stage, but every Grand Tour has them for a reason – to make the racing more interesting. I think one needs to be included to keep it fresh as for me, the sparkle of ZRL is starting to fade. It’s not just the mountain stage, how about throwing in an individual TT. That would different too as again I am getting bored on Team Time Trials.
I would not fare well on a mountain climb type race such as Alpe, but I agree with you that it would make for a nice switch-up for ZRL. I’ve also already suggested direct to race director Charlie that an iTT with team member times added together would be an interesting addition
Let’s see what S3 brings