Along with training, workouts and group rides, racing is also available on Zwift. If you are just a little competitive, joining in on a race is lots of fun and can be quite competitive. There are single event group races, weekly races, individual time trials as well as racing leagues. Given the competitive nature of cycling, you're bound to find a race that fits your ability level.
Getting Setup to Race[]
Assuming you're already setup on Zwift to cycle, there are just a few extra things you'll need to be able to race. If not, see the Beginner's Guide for Zwift.
First, you'll need a heart rate monitor (HRM). This is required to validate that you are a real rider and helps cut down on cheating. Even if you don't race much, an HRM is a valuable tool to have to help monitor your output and stress while riding. You will need to use your HRM for all races.
Second, you'll need to share your data with ZwiftPower and Strava. These are both free (Strava Basic) to sign up. Zwift Power is where your race results will be uploaded. Strava is often used to verify rider information and provides some useful data even at the free basic level. Log into you Zwift account, click on Account>Connections and 'Opt-In' for sharing with ZwiftPower. Next, click 'Connect' on the Strava application which will prompt you to share your data with Strava or create an account.
Lastly, you'll need to create and validate your Zwift account to the ZwiftPower account. Visit ZwiftPower and create your account. Once created, click on Connect and closely follow the instructions to validate your Zwift account. You will need to know your ZwiftID. Enter it as requested. Once completed, your Zwift account should be connected to ZwiftPower. If you get an error stating that is does not recognize your ZwiftID, be sure to check that you have 'Opt-In' turned on for ZwiftPower in Connections on your Zwift account.
ZwiftPower also tracks organized group rides as well. So if you want more details on a non-race group ride, you can log into ZwiftPower to see the specs and details of the ride along with others on the ride that have ZwiftPower accounts.
Finding a Race[]
Visit the events calendar on Zwift, use Zwift Companion or third party tools like ZwiftHacks Events (more robust search & filtering features) and look for a race that you would like to ride. View the event details to find out about any race rules, start times, route details, etc. Register just like any group ride in Zwift. Be sure to warm up prior to joining the race event at the prescribed start time.
Categories[]
Races are usually broken up into different categories to allow you to effectively compete against others at a similar level. These are based on your Functional Power Threshold (FTP). The basic category breakdown is as follows:
- A: 4.0 w/kg FTP or higher
- B: 3.2 w/kg to 4.0 w/kg FTP
- C: 2.5 w/kg to 3.1 w/kg FTP
- D: Under 2.5 w/kg FTP
Just select the category that best corresponds to your current FTP. However, as you can envision, allowing riders to purely select which category they want leads to an unfair advantage when a strong rider selects a lower category. Many races now use a rule called 'Category Enforcement'. This means that the category you will be able to select is based on an evaluation of your previous rides. If your average FTP for past rides is at 2.5 w/kg, you will not be able to join category D and must race at category C or above. You are always allowed to race in a category above your FTP but not below it. As racing evolves, expect more and more rules to help keep racing as fair and competitive as possible.
Completing the Race[]
Once the race is complete, be sure to save your results just like any ride. This will insure that the results are posted to ZwiftPower and Strava. You can view your results on ZwiftPower to see how well you did compared to to others. The top three riders are each category are awarded podium positions of gold, silver and bronze. If there are any anomalies with your ride, you may be flagged for disqualification. For example, if your normal FTP is 2.5 w/kg and you complete a race at 6w/kg, you would probably be flagged either for being out of category or using an external power source (e-bike). While there's always exceptions, this doesn't happen all that often as most people race honestly. Below is an example of race results on ZwiftPower.
Zwift Power Race Results (names obscured for privacy)
Time Trial Racing[]
Some races are Time Trial (TT) based. This means that you are competing against the clock as opposed to other riders on the course. These races use time trial bikes. The start is different than a group ride or race. Instead of a mass start, each rider is placed in a riding lane chute and the start is staggered. This allows you to focus only on your pace and finishing as quickly as possible against the clock. Race results are similarly shown on ZwiftPower.
Racing Leagues[]
With the competitive nature of cycling, the creation of racing leagues has become more prominent. If you enjoy racing, there are many leagues throughout the year that you can join. Some occur on an annual basis while others are either single race events or short duration events. League races may track individual, group or both results to declare 'winners'. For group racing, you can sign up as an individual and be assigned to a group or bring your own group to the race as defined by the race organizers. Some races may pit organized teams from different countries for bragging rights. There are many options and bound to be one that will fit your needs. Be sure to check the rules and guidelines are the league you are interested in joining. Some leagues to consider are:
- Zwift Racing League (ZRL) (now partnered with WTRL)
- World Tactical Racing League (WTRL)
Racing Tips[]
Here's a few tips from Zwift Insider to help you as you delve into Zwift racing. There is lots of discussion about racing strategy on Zwift Forums and the web should you want more information.
- Expect a fast start - The first few minutes of most Zwift races are tough, with riders pushing hard to break off weaker riders and establish a selection. Be warmed up before the race, time your start so you’re pushing big watts when the clock hits 0, and be ready to dig deep to avoid being dropped right away from the faster groups. It should settle down after a minute or two.
- Stay out of the wind - The draft effect in Zwift is strong and you won’t come close to winning unless you take advantage of it for most of the race. Just like the real world, drafting lets you conserve energy so you’ve got something left in the tank when you need it.
- Know your course and plan your attacks - Different races are different lengths on different routes. Get familiar with the route so you can properly pace yourself and attack your group at just the right times if you’ve still got legs.
- Be prepared - If you have to stop riding to grab water or turn on the fan, you’ve lost. Make sure you’re prepared before the race starts!
- Upgrade your ride - As you hit higher levels and achievements in Zwift you unlock faster bikes and wheels. Use them, because the time difference between the “basic” and fastest Zwift setups in a 1-hour race is over 60 seconds!
- Use powerups strategically - Powerups give you a slight edge when used smartly and most races include powerups.
Zwift Insider has a few additional articles for racing tips that may be helpful for you.