With the team-based Zwift Racing League on hiatus until Fall 2021, Zwift + WTRL have announced the Zwift Classics – a race series for individual riders.
This is the third year we’ve had a summer Classics series (see details for 2019 and 2020), but the first year WTRL has collaborated with Zwift to run the series. The solo racer format works well in the summer months, when Zwift racing numbers are down while riders are committed to outdoor racing.
One Race, Two Competitions
Each of the races in the 8-week series is a standalone event – there is no GC covering multiple weeks. And each race actually has two classifications (or competitions): time and points:
- Time: simple enough. The first rider over the finish line wins the race.
- Points: similar to the points system used for Zwift Racing League events. First Across the Line (FAL) and Fastest Through a Segment (FTS) points are awarded on certain sprint and KOM segments. Finish position points are always awarded. (Note: the only place we’ve seen the KOM and sprint points documented is in the event details after you sign up for a particular race.)
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Signing Up: Auto-Categorization!
For the first time ever (unless you count the audacious yet short-lived Cycligent Virtual Rankings system from 2017), these Zwift Classics events are using (testing?) a new “Autocat” system developed by WTRL + Zwift in recent months.
Instead of selecting the category you want to race, the Autocat system just asks you to select the timezone you desire (10 regions available). It then looks at your Zwift racing and power history to place you in appropriate “class”, numbered 1-6.
Read more about WTRL’s Autocat system >
Race signups >
Race Routes and Dates
July 13, 2021: 2019 UCI Worlds Harrogate Circuit
Starting off with a bang, we head to Yorkshire for some lumpy laps. This is one for the punchy climbers – those with strong VO2 power who can hit repeated short intervals on this route which is never flat.
- Class 1-3 3 laps (41.4 km, 720 m), Class 4-6 2 laps (27.6 km, 480 m)
- PowerUps: Aero Boost, Burrito, Feather
- Segments: Yorkshire Sprint Forward, Yorkshire KOM Forward
July 20, 2021: Everything Bagel
Another lumpy route, Everything Bagel covers all NYC roads in both directions – including the KOM! This is one course where you have to keep your eyes open and stay attentive throughout.
- 1 lap (34.2 km, 525 m)
- PowerUps: Aero Boost, Anvil, Feather
July 27, 2021: Downtown Dolphin
It’s the shortest course of the season, but a whole lotta laps! Most racers will be very familiar with Downtown Dolphin – expect a race of attrition, with short attacks on the brick prime each lap. It’ll be a bunch sprint finish, unless someone makes a cagey move early.
If you’re competing for points, you’ll want to know that points will be awarded every 3rd lap for both FAL and FTS. (Think of the segment as laps 3, 6, 9, etc.) The brick climb is not a segment!
- Class 1 20 laps (38 km, 160 m), Class 2 18 laps (34.2 km, 144 m), Class 3 16 laps (30.4 km, 128 m), Class 4 14 laps (26.6 km, 112 m), Class 5 12 laps (22.8 km, 96 m), Class 6 10 laps (19 km, 80 m)
- PowerUps: Aero Boost, Ghost, Steamroller
August 3, 2021: Richmond UCI Reverse
A backwards take on the classic Richmond UCI route, this is the longest race of the season. It’s all about the climbs on the first half of each lap!
- Class 1-2 3 laps (48.6 km, 426 m), Class 3-4 2 laps (32.4 km, 284 m), Class 5-6 1 lap (16.2 km, 142 m)
- PowerUps: Aero Boost, Draft Boost, Feather
August 10, 2021: Seaside Sprint
A list-minute course swap (this week was originally going to be on Muir and the Mountain), the Watopia Cup will be a fun circuit race for all comers.
- Class 0 7 laps (47.1 km, 273 m), Class 1-2 6 laps (40.8 km, 234 m), Class 3 5 laps (34.5 km, 195 m), Class 4-5 4 laps (25.2 km, 156 m), Class 6 3 laps (18.9 km, 117 m)
- PowerUps: Aero Boost, Burrito, Draft Boost
August 17, 2021: Innsbruckring
Can you hang with the front on the Leg Snapper? It’s an all-out short climb that will make or break your race, dropping more riders from contention with each lap. Those who survive can sprint it out for the finish.
- Class 1-2 5 laps (44 km, 360 m), Class 3-4 4 laps (35.2 km, 288 m), Class 5-6 3 laps (26.4 km, 216 m)
- PowerUps: Aero Boost, Burrito, Draft Boost
August 24, 2021: Bologna
This course is a replica of the TT prologue route from the 2019 Giro d’Italia, but we’ll be racing up to the top, down to the start line, then back up to the top once more. Frame and wheelset choice can be tricky here – read our tips.
- 2 laps (24 km, 495 m)
- PowerUps: Anvil, Burrito, Feather
August 31, 2021: London Classique
We wrap up the season with a classic race circuit for the sprinters.
- Class 1-2 6 laps (38.5 km, 154 m), Class 3-4 5 laps (33 km, 135 m), Class 5-6 4 laps (27.6 km, 116 m)
- PowerUps: Aero Boost, Draft Boost, Cloaking Ghost
Live Broadcast
Broadcast coverage will be provided by Zwift Community Live.
How to Sign Up
To sign up, follow these steps:
- Visit the Zwift Classics Signup page on WTRL’s website and click at the top-right to
- Log into your WTRL account
- Click to join the event timeslot you desire. Your class will be calculated, then you will be directed to a Zwift event login page where you should
- Click to join the Men’s event (category A) or women’s event (category B)
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
Looking forward to seeing how the autocat system pans out. We desperately need a better system than arbitrary FTP thresholds, hopefully this a significant step in the right direction. Extra categories are a welcome addition too, so long as the racer numbers can handle it, which shouldn’t be problem for a mainstream event like this.
Very curious about that new system. I think going away from w/kg is the right thing to do.
Is there a way to see what category I would be in? Relatively high w/kg (5.3) but low 1min and 5min absolute power due to low weight and almost never sprinting. Might be fun to be in category 2 for Muir and the Mountain.
Just sign up for a time slot to find out what class you are. You can always “unjoin” the event, or just not show up…
I’m wondering if classes will be different for different routes. I’m a C3 for this race in Yorkshire. Perhaps I’d be a C2 in Crit City? We’ll find out, I guess!
Thank you! Should have been able to figure that out myself.
The event page says “ZWIFT CLASSICS – Yorkshire Grand Prix C1” so I assume that means cat 1. If you get moved up and I get relegated to C2 for Crit City you can outsprint me 🙂
My event title says C3, but the title in the CATEGORY (A) said C1. Probably a weird bug/typo. I’m sure I’m not a class 1 rider in Yorkshire – I get dropped in B races every time I attempt it!
So did it change for you in the Crit City race? I ask because I am a barely B rider with no sprint and low power (but light weight) and I see it wants to put me in C2 for the seaside spring race which makes no sense at all if it is putting you in C3. I can barely hang on at the back in Crit City B races, so I’m not sure how the autocat is working and suspect it is “course blind”?
Are the times local? Thanks
Yes
Really excited to try the auto categories out. Signed up and ready to race. I think this is a great step by WTRL and at least something is being tried to make racing better. Plus I’m excited to be back on Zwift with this Summer series of racing!
As so often i’d like to complain about the race length in the lower categories/classes… this time the Richmond course really takes the cake… those races will be done in under half an hour, which im not a fan of.
Besides that i am looking forward to this series ever since it got announced, no GC is a bit of a bummer but will probably take a lot of work of WTRL’s shoulders.
Two points.
1 – women have 5 categories and they haven’t been clear about how many laps each of our categories do. Also worth noting these events are gender locked (which is neither good nor bad, just worth noting).
2 – yes, it will be interesting to see if any category changes happen through the series. Maybe that’s why there’s not a series point score?
Just to add, we obviously know when we’ve signed up but if we want to plan in advance we’re guessing.
My guess is the lap counts for ladies are same as men. There’s just no class 6. That would make sense and keep things simple.
No – cat3 has 2 laps not 3 for race 1. We’re a mix of low B and high C. About 1/3 B and remainder.C in Sydney timeslot.
Cat3 ladies has 2 I mean, rather than 3 like the guys.
Never really raced before, got put in C3 😱 Was hoping to do only two laps.
The FAQ on the Zwift forum post seems to indicate that they’ll just use your 1/5/20 minute power numbers if you haven’t raced… and that they’ll probably put you in a higher category than you should be in, because they don’t want to put you in too LOW of a category and mess up the race for others.
Easiest fix: do a race or two, then sign up again so it has race data in the system.
Really would love to do something like this, but I’m Diabetic – and have a life outside of cycling, so changing routine mealtimes to fit in with the scheduled starts is a no-go.
As there are no starts from 12:00pm local until 17:30pm – both in around meal times for me, there is no way for me to compete.
I’ve spoke to Zwift about this in the past with Bologna TT events following similar schedules. I understand the fewer participants in summer months, but we all pay the same and I don’t think its unacceptable to request more access to these things.
The world does not spin around you man. Sorry you have diabetes but the idea zwift is going to have more starts because it is an issue for an individual person instead of taking into account the costumers needs as a whole is just laughable.
I’m ranked B grade according to Zwift power and have being placed in C1 with A+ riders. Doesn’t seem right.
Does the EVENT title say C1 at the end, or is that what you’re seeing at the end of the CATEGORY title?
I think the event title is the accurate one.
If you’re really good on punchier routes I suppose it’s possible a B could be out in class 1, but that seems doubtful. You could always reach out to WTRL and ask.
Hi, I might be missing something but I can’t see how I sign up for these events? They don’t seem to be showing on the companion app, which I would normally use to sign up for events. Thanks
Read the “How to Signup” section at the bottom of the article. You don’t do it using the companion app.
Thanks, really should read the whole article first!
I’ve never done any WTRL events before. How do these races show up on zwiftpower, or do they? Do they count towards your ranking on zwiftpower or do they stay completely separate?
In the past, WTRL events showed up on ZP and counted toward rank, etc like any other race. But the new autocat setup doesn’t seem to play well with ZP, so I wouldn’t count on the Zwift Classics races counting toward ZP rank…
I had pretty much given up on racing in Zwift because all the sandbaggers and digital cheats just made it unenjoyable for me. I decided to give the Yorkshire Grand Prix a chance and it was the most fun I’ve had racing in Zwift. The auto-categorization was spot on- I felt everyone I was racing with was pretty evenly matched despite having different skills (some better climbers and others better sprinters). It was the first time racing in Zwift felt like a real race. Congratulations WTRL Racing for organizing this event and getting it so right the first time out. I’m hoping this is the future of Zwift racing.
Like many, I have almost given up racing because I can’t compete with those who show up. I’m a lesser B (3.5 wkg is about the best I can do. Each time I look at the B’s who are signed up for a race, they are 95% in the range of 3.6 to 4.2 wkg (4.2 for B’s! … I know).
I guess other lesser B’s stay away for the same reason. If I enter, it’s out the gate like mad and soon I’m on my own or waiting for the C’s to come along (I can hang on to A’s in real life).
NOW – I’m excited. The first Zwift Classic race was great. I was only 70th out of 130 but I could find a nice group to race with for a change and it was very enjoyable. Yes, Zwift, fine tune this system where the data categorises us fairly, and keep it up. Thanks
Hi, is there a running total of points that tally’s all the points from each race? I figured there might be an “overall” results board?
Each race is a standalone event – there’s no “GC” for the series. Results are on the WTRL site.