Now in its 11th round, Zwift Racing League continues to take racing to the next level on Zwift. The first round of the 2023/24 season has just wrapped up, and it was the biggest in ZRL history! Signups for Round 2 open Friday, October 20th.
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s coming next for Zwift Racing League…
Table of Contents
Intro to Zwift Racing League (ZRL)
ZRL is the world’s largest virtual cycling competition. How big is it? 16,300 riders from 1,835 teams participated in the previous round (Sep-Oct 2023)!
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.
Below you’ll find all the latest info about the current ZRL round. This post 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.
For Round 2 we have four key ruleset changes:
- Transmitting cadence to the game will become mandatory for all.
- Any form of unconventional cadence technique (such as sprint-coast) will be outlawed and will result in an instant and automatic DQ.
- Scratch race scoring will change to 80 finish points for the winner, decreasing in 1-point increments for everyone else with all riders receiving at least 1 point for finishing.
- Teams may change up to 4 un-disqualified racers on their team BETWEEN rounds. If they change more than 4, their team will be entered into the reranking pool which may mean they are placed in a different division. (This is being done to prevent, for example, a team in Division 3 from removing all racers and bringing on much stronger riders.)
Timeslots and Divisions
Divisions and start times may be tweaked for Round 2, so make sure you pick the time slot that works for your team.
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 opens October 20 at wtrl.racing/zrl-registration. Teams signed up for Round 1 will be automatically registered for Round 2.
Want to race, but don’t have a team? Here are six ways to find a team:
- Recruit friends and family onto a new ZRL team, then sign up your team at wtrl.racing/zrl-registration/.
- 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 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 >
- 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.
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 (team time is taken from the fourth rider across the line).
“Intermediates” are sections on the course where riders compete for points. Intermediates award points for Fastest-Through-Segment (FTS) and First-Across-Line (FAL). See the scoring page for details.
Race #1: London Loop Reverse
November 14, 2023 (Scratch Race)
Round 2 starts off with a bang, taking racers straight up Fox Hill for an attritional climb… twice! Climbers may drop sprinters on the KOM, but can the sprinters pull it back on the descent and flat that follows?
- 2 Laps of London Loop Reverse (29.8km, 462m elevation)
- PowerUps: Anvil (KOM arch), Feather (Lap arch) 🛈
- Intermediate Segments: none
Race #2: Glasgow Crit Circuit
November 21, 2023 (Points Race)
Glasgow’s super-punchy crit circuit will be made even punchier with the addition of intermediate points on the Clyde Kicker and Champion’s Sprint each lap. No one can go all-in for 10 intermediates, so it’s going to take strong teamwork and communication to optimize your result.
- 5 Laps of Scotland’s Glasgow Crit Circuit (15.3km, 166m elevation)
- PowerUps: Feather (33%), Aero Boost (34%), Draft Boost (33%) 🛈
- Intermediate Segments:
Race #3: Watopia’s Waistband
November 28, 2023 (TTT)
Our first TTT of Round 2 is short and flat, so it’s going to be fast. Optimize your team formation, maintain a high speed, and give it everything you’ve got to the line!
- 1 Lap of Watopia’s Waistband (27.7km, 101m elevation)
- PowerUps: none
Race #4: Suki’s Playground
December 5, 2023 (Scratch Race)
Suki’s Playground is a sprinter’s delight… but it’s got a cheeky little kicker heading into the final stretch!
- 2 Laps of Makuri Islands’ Suki’s Playground (36.8km, 300m elevation)
- PowerUps: Feather (33%), Draft Boost (33%), Aero Boost (34%) 🛈
- Intermediate Segments: none
Race #5: The Muckle Yin
December 12, 2023 (Points Race)
Tackle every road in Scotland, including the Sgurr climb in both directions. This points race has it all: flat sprints, punchy and short KOM intermediates, and the longer Sgurr climbs. Maximize your team’s strengths across these intermediates and you may just come out on top for the day!
- 1 Lap of Scotland’s The Muckle Yin (23.7km, 282m elevation)
- PowerUps: Draft Boost (Champion’s Sprint arch), Feather (Lap arch), Steamroller (Breakaway Brae Reverse arch), Anvil (Sgurr Summit arch), Feather (Lap arch), Steamroller (Breakaway Brae arch), Feather (Lap arch), Anvil (Sgurr Summit arch), Aero Boost (Clyde Kicker arch) 🛈
- Intermediate Segments:
Race #6: Triple Flat Loops
December 19, 2023 (TTT)
Our second TTT of Round 2 is a bit longer and pitchier than the first, testing riders’ endurance and ability to stay in efficient formation on short climbs and rollers.
- 1 Lap of Watopia’s Triple Flat Loops (36.3km, 162m 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:
- You have to be signed up for ZwiftPower to participate. Instructions >
- You must create a WTRL account as well – 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 (new rule for Round 2).
- 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, Previews, 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.
Grand Prix Previews
For this round, the top Zwift teams in the world will be racing each ZRL event in the Zwift Grand Prix each Thursday before the Tuesday race. Want to preview the race course or see how top racers attack it? Watch the Grand Prix broadcast!
Learn more on our Grand Prix post >
Live ZRL Broadcasts
Select ZRL races will be broadcasted with commentary by Zwift Community Live. See their scheduled YouTube playlist, or watch below:
2023/24 ZRL Season Dates
- Round 1: Sept 12-Oct 24, 2023
- Round 2: Nov 14-Dec 18, 2023
- Round 3: Jan 16-Feb 20, 2024
- Finals: March/April 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!
It’ll be interesting to see how much rule #2 is enforced. I’ve seen them say that “unnatural pedaling styles” are against the rules since the sticky W sprint/coast thing first came up a while back, but hadn’t seen anyone dinged for it. Maybe they’ve figured out an algorithm to detect it now. Maybe it’s easier to detect now that there is less supertucking with the new pack dynamics.
Sounds like WTRL has an algo for detecting it now. We’ll see what happens!
Based on the requirement for cadence to be mandatory I suspect they will compare watts versus cadence. If cadence regularly hits 0 but power remains, then it is an indication of sticky watts. Now how to find it quickly and how to enforce it is up to WTRL. I’m game to give anything a try really.
What is sprint coast? Is that sticky watts? Because I do coast after I am done with a sprint segment. I actually might be coasting 10m before the segment end of the rider behind me is blown away.
Sprint-coast is repeatedly hitting high watts for a few seconds, then stopping pedaling, then going high again… a very unnatural pedaling technique. What you’re describing is normal – sprinting to the line, then stopping pedaling for a moment… that’s fine.
Sticky watts can be abused by sprint-coast technique, if your power meter is one that gives you sticky watts. More on that here: https://zwiftinsider.com/sticky-watts/
Here is an example, https://youtu.be/1mwjq0Y7Nfw
This rider later got a DQ after some debate. He went from pushing A+ watts and smashing up the front of the race, to now back to reality at B grade level. But to be fair, he was far from the only one, a huge amount of people are using this method. This is basically a modern version of the old sticky watts bug, more like gaming the sticky draft.
watts are not cadence! ~ this isnt a good example. the spin coast thing is best used for climbs.
It’s the exact example of what sticky watts/sprint coasting is, what are you talking about? Sprint coasting, is literally a quick sprint, then coasting for 5-10seconds, repeat, rinse..watch the whole clip. Climbs, flats, TTTs, it is used no matter the type of event.
The Galaxy and team Italy race are actually much better than the race recon. Both sharing the same route but the race recon loses the essence of the race. The essence of the race is to mimic the challenge of a segment. To get the timing right and to tail the draft. If riders are not pushing the limits of their cat then you are just soft pedaling around without knowing when to push.
I noticed the Watt bike in the gym at work had a bug in that if you sprinted and then kept the cranks at the quarter to 3 position the watts would remain stuck. glad they are in=troducing the Algo to stop that bug. anyone else notice that?
I know a team which could have troubles with the new rule #2… 😬
Let’s see if I’m right or if I’m just envious. 👍
Call them out here, don’t be chicken. Electric Spirit has had tons of sticky watts guys in the past
I think the sprint-coast technique is really something Zwift should fix as it affect all races and is becoming very common. I regularly see it in group rides and even robopacer rides. I don’t know if they are just practising it or maybe they ride like that all the time!
It’s really an old BMX riding style, pump and Coast , repeat…. Highly effective if you nail the timing right and can stand up a long time and not scrub your speed. Works in the real world on any bike. Makes hills much easier in my opinion, that being said …don’t do it on Zwift your FTP will shoot up putting you in the next category, making your WTRL racing impossible to be competitive. Causing a “hassle “ for your team for that round . I know personally from Round 1, now I am in cat B and had to… Read more »
Is there a promotion/delegation between divisions (eg top 3 teams from div 1 swaps with buttom 3 in div 2) or are we starting from Stratch with divisions based on a rerun of ZRL ranking of riders ?
I believe so, yes. But you’ve got it backward – bottom teams from Div 1 would be relegated to Div 2, while top teams from Div 2 would be promoted up to Div 1.
Thanks – and you’re right – that was a very bad and confusing example 🙂
Did wonder if we would see the new Wattopia routes in there.
WTRL typically doesn’t try to do brand-new routes as quickly as possible. Which is probably a smart move! Watopia’s new routes aren’t being released in time to plan properly for round 2, methinks.
This is a very nice piece, Eric.Well organized and clear.
I immediately ran out the Rules section of ZRL and I couldn’t find any of this. Sigh. This has a very Zwift HQ feel of having third parties announce stuff. Since Zwift has the first seat on the Commission, I look to them.
Yeah – the rules PDF on WTRL’s site isn’t updated yet. It will be soon, I’m sure.
Personally I think two TTT in a 6 race event is too much. Certainly when they go over pretty much the same course as these two.
Rather would see a ITT (without draft enabled) or something more for the climbers amongst us, like the Epic KOM or something like that.
I’m not a big fan of TTT racing personally, BUT… it’s such a radically different discipline compared to the points and scratch races. It really takes strong teamwork and communication. I like that they’re included, and I like the balance of 2 of each type of race.
But nothing for climbers
Nothing for heavy weight power riders.
It’s not like the routes are flat (except the TTT)
Agree – it really penalises teams who don’t have high level Zwift riders, and so they should stick to a max of 1. In the 1st TTT in round 1 a few team mates were stuck on the stock TT bike and unable to afford better – the time loss in huge – whereas the difference between bikes in normal races is neutralised better by the blob – although admittedly still giving an advantage to those who have levelled up significantly. It’s also incredibly punishing for lightweight teams, who could put out the highest wkg of the league and still… Read more »
I think 1 TTT out of 6 would be enough. Also agree with one of the replies here in that there isn’t anything for the pure climbers. I say this as someone who is much more of a sprinter than a climber, but I like the inclusion of long climbs (preferrably early in a round to weed out some riders who should be in another category).
I like to rub peanut butter all over my seat before I ride, does anyone else?
You need more races and better breakouts. 1 ITT flat, 2 scratch mixed (1 climb 1 mostly flat), 1TTT, 2 PTS races