Zwift Racing League 2021/22 Season 1 Details

Zwift Racing League has taken racing to the next level on Zwift. It’s well-organized bike racing on an unprecedented scale, with eight weeks of team-based points competition held across multiple timezones catering to thousands of teams. And that’s why serious Zwift racers show up week after week: because everyone knows ZRL is where competition is the fiercest.

With three seasons completed over the course of the past year, the good people at WTRL have performed admirably, streamlining systems and tightening rulesets to provide a fair, engaging, and competitive platform for Zwift racing. Kudos to WTRL for the good work they’ve done fine-tuning the biggest race league in Zwift’s history!

The next ZRL season begins September 28th, and it’s officially named 2021/22 Season 1 – the first season of a new racing year. We’ll use this page to display all the key info and links in one place.

Rule Changes for Season 4

The updated Season 4 ruleset is available as a PDF linked from this page. (It’s important to understand WTRL’s ruleset does not govern the Zwift Racing League Premier Division, which instead falls under the Zwift Cycling eSports Ruleset.) For everyone racing in the lower Community divisions outside of the Premier Division, here are the key ruleset changes you’ll want to know for season 4:

• 16+ age requirement: riders must be 16 or older by the event start date to be eligible to participate.
• Playoff Structure: WTRL is giving more details about playoff schedules and other specifics – see section 4.3 of the rules for details.

If you’re new to ZRL, you’ll definitely want to get familiar with the ruleset and points structures, as these will inform strategic decisions made as a team.

Timeslots and Divisions

Three new leagues (effectively three new time slots) have been created: Oceania, Atlantic, and EMEA Central. Race start time schedules are always a bit tricky this time of year, with 3 major clock changes happening mid-season. Here are the start times week to week (learn more about the schedule on WTRL’s ZRL About Page):

Teams and Registration

New teams can register now at wtrl.racing/zrl-registration.

Want to race, but don’t have a team? Post your info on the Facebook group, and teams will get in touch. Alternatively, email WTRL at [email protected] , sharing your info, and they will pass that info on to other team leaders.

Registration closes September 25, 2021 at 3pm UTC. All teams are required to have at least 4 confirmed squad members by this time.

Race Routes and Dates

Note: “Intermediates” are sections on the course where riders compete mid-race for additional points. Intermediates include both Fastest-Through-Segment (FTS) and First-Across-Line (FAL) points – see the scoring page for details.

Premier Division races are on Mondays, while Community Division races are on Tuesdays.

The first 2 races are normal races for returning teams. For new teams, however, WTRL will use these races to evaluate whether they have been placed in the correct divisions.

September 28, 2021: Watopia’s Waistband (TTT)

The first of only two TTTs in the ZRL regular season, this one will be hard and fast, with no major obstacles to slow teams down. That last uphill haul from Ocean Boulevard is going to hurt, but it’s where teams will be caught!

• 1 Lap (30km)

October 5, 2021: Watopia’s Figure 8 Reverse (Points Race)

A classic Zwift race route, Figure 8 Reverse has something for everyone with two different sprints and two different KOM intermediates. Watch for climbers trying to split the pack on the first reverse KOM, while sprinters teams push hard at the front to keep things together.

• 1 Lap (30km)
• PowerUps: Aero Boost, Burrito, Feather
• Intermediate(s):
  • JWB Bridge Sprint REV
  • Hilly Climb REV
  • Hilly Climb FWD
  • JWB Bridge Sprint FWD

October 11/12, 2021: Makuri Islands’ Flatland Loop (Points Race)

With 99m (325′) of climbing per lap, this route isn’t exactly flat – but the uphill is quite gradual and just wears on the legs. Watch for long breakaway attempts on the last lap, and brace yourself for a crazy-fast finishing sprint on the twisting descent to the line!

• A/B: 3 Laps (39km), C/D: 2 Laps (26km)
• PowerUps: Aero Boost, Draft Boost, Feather
• Intermediates:
  • Country Sprint REV
  • Village Sprint REV

October 18/19, 2021: France’s Casse-Pattes (Points Race)

The longest race of Season 1 centers on the Petit KOM – a steady 4% grade for around 2.7km which leads into a long descent to the finish. Can the climbers break away on the final climb and stay away to the finish, or will the sprinters be there to battle for the podium? (It appears that C/D riders will finish halfway into the second lap.)

• A/B: 2 Laps (46.6km), C/D: 35.7km (~1.5 laps, finishes between end of Pavé Sprint and Start of Aqueduc KOM)
• PowerUps: Draft Boost, Anvil, Burrito
• Intermediates:
  • Pavé Sprint REV x2 (FAL only)
  • Aqueduc Climb REV x2 (FAL only)
  • Petit Climb FWD x2 (FAL & FTS)
  • Marina Sprint REV x2 (FAL & FTS)

October 25/26, 2021: Watopia’s Two Bridges Loop (Points Race)

This race course rewards those with the punch to hit it hard up the beginning of the reverse KOM and hold power across the top. Who will survive repeated efforts so they can be in the mix for the final sprint?

• A/B: 6 Laps (43.5km)
• C/D: 3 Laps (21.7km)
• PowerUps: Aero Boost, Draft Boost, Feather
• Intermediate: JWB Bridge Sprint REV

November 1/2, 2021: Yorkshire’s Tour of Tewit Well (Points Race)

Like all Yorkshire routes, this one is never flat. Watch for big moves on the reverse KOM, and sneaky uphill sprint breakaways on Pot Bank’s 15% incline, especially on the final lap.

• A/B: 4 Laps (41.6km), C/D: 3 Laps (31.2km)
• PowerUps: Anvil, Draft Boost, Feather
• Intermediate: Yorkshire Climb REV

November 8/9, 2021: London’s Greatest London Flat (TTT)

A “mostly flat” route, this one really hurts in a TTT as you work to maintain speed on the many false flats and slight inclines.

• 1 Lap (31.6km)

November 15/16, 2021: Makuri Islands’ Countryside Tour (Points Race)

Three trips up the Template KOM are going thin the front pack every lap. But the big question is, do you stop to swap bikes, and if so, when?

• 2.63 Laps (42km)
• PowerUps: Anvil, Draft Boost, Feather
• Intermediates:
  • Country Sprint REV
  • Temple Climb FWD

Questions or Comments?

We recommend checking out WTRL’s Zwift Racing League page for rules, team registration, results, and more. Their Facebook page is the place to go for discussion on all things ZRL.

Feel free to share questions or comments below!