The fifth race of Zwift Racing League 2022/23 Round 1 happens Tuesday, October 11th. We’re back in Watopia for the penultimate race of round 1, taking on the varied and strategic Legends and Lava route.
Let’s dig into the race, including tips for bike choice, powerups, strategy, and crucial segments.
Looking at the Route: Legends and Lava
Created to host Zwift Academy Road 2021‘s “standard” Baseline and Finish Line rides, this route has three key segments to test riders’ power systems:
- VO2: Titans Grove Reverse KOM
- Sprint: Watopia Sprint Forward
- Threshold: Volcano KOM
Incidentally, those three segments are our three intermediates for this race as well! We’ll all be racing one lap (24.6km, with 352m of climbing).
Let’s dig into the key sections of our race lap.
Titans Grove Pre-KOM (1.5-3.2km): this rollercoaster climbs twists and turns as it brings you up through Titans Grove. Probably not smart to attack here with the first intermediate just up the road, so you’ll want to mind your pack position and ride as efficiently as possible.
Titans Grove KQOM Reverse (4.2-5.1km): a short, very draftable climb that many riders will finish in 1.5-2 minutes. You won’t have a powerup heading into it, so pace yourself well and use the draft on the final flatter section near the top, especially if you’re going for FTS.
JWB Sprint Forward (16.5-16.9km): a flat and longish sprint, you’ll want to pray for an aero powerup atop the Titans Grove KQOM so you can use it here. As with any sprint, knowing the start line location is key if you’re going for FTS, because you need to it that line at near max speed. If you do push hard here, watch that you don’t get dropped on the short climb and The Esses immediately following.
Volcano KQOM (20.9-24.6): saving the best (worst?) for last, we finish on the big climb of the day. This is a very draftable climb, so smart riders going for FAL typically won’t attack until the second half (after the straightaway bit through the middle of the mountain). If you have a feather powerup, save it for the final steepest bit. Draft and aero? Use them when you’re going the fastest.
The Volcano KQOM is the most important section of this race because it gives both intermediate points and finish points. Of the 525 points a team of 6 could potentially earn, 301 will be earned on the Volcano!
Read more about the Legends and Lava route >
PowerUp Notes
Riders will be awarded powerups through the KQOM and sprint banners, meaning we’ll get just 2 powerups in this race. Three powerups will be given out at each banner:
Aero Boost (helmet) (30%): makes you more aerodynamic (reduces your CdA by 25%) for 15 seconds. Use this if you’re contesting the sprint intermediate or attacking in the wind at high speed.
Draft Boost (van) (30%): increases the draft effect you are experiencing by 50% for 30 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents) when you are already drafting off another rider (since this powerup only helps when you are drafting.) Useful in sprints if you’re chasing FTS points by sprinting through the peloton. Useful for recovery since it’s 30s long.
Lightweight (feather) (40%): reduces your weight by 10% for 15 seconds.
Use on climbs, when weight matters the most. Save it on the Volcano for the final 150 meters.
Bike Frame + Wheel Choice
Bike Frame + Wheel Choice
With the Volcano KQOM being so important in this race, you might think this route is one for a lightweight rig. But you’d be wrong!
In fact, our extensive speed tests show that aero setups beat lightweight setups up the Volcano KQOM. And of course, aero always wins on descents and flats. So it’s really a no-brainer, if you look at the numbers.
At the top of the performance charts, the Tron bike turns in essentially the same Volcano KQOM time as the Specialized Venge S-Works + DT Swiss Disc combo. But the Venge + Disc will be faster on descents and sprints.
If you don’t have either of those rigs, go with the fastest you’ve got based on our “Fastest Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level” list.
More Route Recons
Many events are now being planned each weekend 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 Legends and Lava events.
Looking for a video recon, with lovely British commentary to boot? Check out Si’s recon below:
Si Bradeley
Oli Chi
Strategic Options
Points Distribution, Legends and Lava
These charts show the maximum points a team of 6 could earn in each race.
What strategies will riders employ in race 5? Here’s what we predict:
- Big Push Up and Over Titans Grove KQOM Reverse: climbers and punchy riders will push hard on the first KQOM in order to drop sprinters before the sprint intermediate.
- Targeted Efforts: Legends and Lava lends itself to particular riders targeting particular segments. Watch for sprinters and puncheurs to target the sprint and Titans Grove KOM. But the punchers and climbers will drop the sprinters on the Volcano KQOM, if they race it smart! With so many points on the line atop the Volcano, smart climbers will save themselves for this final crucial effort.
- Big Ease after Sprint: there’s no good reason for sprinters (who are the first through the sprint arch) to keep pushing after the sprint, and climbers will be saving their legs for the Volcano. Expect this to be an easier bit, but keep your eyes open!
- Sag that Start: first across the finish line earns 50 points (40 finishing + 10 KOM FAL). But cagey, confident climbers will sag at the start of the Volcano KQOM, sitting in the back of the group across the start line then pushing to the front in order to earn FTS points as well. Do it right and the Volcano KQOM could earn you 70 points!
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
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