WHAT'S A CHASE RACE?

Chase races are an exciting alternative Zwift race format. In contrast to the typical category-based race formats, racers in handicap events compete against riders from ALL categories.

Riders are grouped according to ability and start times are staggered with the slowest groups leaving first. The goal is for each group to work together to stay away from chasers and catch anyone up the road. Typically two or more groups come together just before the finish for an all-out podium sprint, and it is this unique blend of team and individual efforts which keeps racers coming back for more.

WHAT IS AUTO-CAT?

IInstead of using the normal power-based categorization that you are used to seeing in Zwift or ZwiftPower, this system works a little differently: your historical finishing times for courses based on a difficulty rating of 1-5 within the most recent 30 days. This will be used to pair you with racers that are most similar to you in performance on that same difficulty of course. You are then signed up directly to the corresponding pen/category to ensure you’re racing in a fair and fun event. Z Racing Chase Races will use up to 5 separate categories/pens.

MATCHING KITS BECAUSE YOU ARE TEAMMATES

Riders in each category wear matching kits, making it easy to tell groups apart. After all, the focus for most of the race will be on working together as a team to stay away from any chase groups and catch any groups ahead! Putting in a hard group effort is both motivating and rewarding, and it’s the reason why chase racers return again and again to this format.

WHO WILL WIN?

With a variety of race routes and a fresh mix of riders for each event, it’s anyone’s game. A pro cyclist riding in the A group may catch the front then hold a long breakaway for the win, but a group of new D riders might also stay away and sprint it out for the podium. The final podium is anyone’s guess as every race features a different mix of riders on courses which vary week to week.

HOW DO I SIGN-UP?

In order to enter a Z Racing Chase Race you must have a Zwift Power and WTRL account. Here are the 3 steps:

1. Ensure you have a connected ZwiftPower account, that your Zwift profile is connected to ZwiftPower via your account connections:

https://www.zwift.com/settings/connectionsOpens a new window

For help on connecting to ZwiftPower go to:

https://support.zwift.com/en_us/connecting-to-zwiftpower-SyldRc_4HOpens a new window

2. Ensure you have a WTRL account and that your Zwift Profile ID has been entered correctly:

https://www.wtrl.racing/Opens a new window

3. Sign Up for your preferred event times at www.wtrl.racing/zracing-chase-race/Opens a new window

WTRL will then evaluate your power metrics and previous race performances before signing you up directly to the pen at Zwift. All you need to do is be logged into the game prior to the events scheduled start and you will be automatically transferred to the race in the usual way.

POWER UPS

3 Power Ups are on offer: Draft, Feather, and Aero.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ

Q: Do I need any special type of account to get access to these races?
A: You will need three accounts total: Zwift, ZwiftPower and WTRL. This ensures all data is shared and accurate.

Q: Why speed and time instead of using power to determine my category?
A: There are many factors at work in racing - fitness/endurance, ability, power to weight ratio, height and drag factors, drafting time and ability as well as several other variables. Zwifters can fine tune these factors but the outright result of this is speed and winning a race is about as much speed as possible with economical energy expenditure.

Q: Why six categories for men and 5 for women? How do these categories relate to the current A-E categorization on Zwift?
A: 6 categories for men and 5 for women aims to provide much closer, fine-tuned classes with less of a ‘performance’ gap between classes, regardless of if you’re racing on the high end or the low end. It also aims to ensure races still have healthy attendance. No one wants to race by themselves or with just one another person! Q: How is my category determined?

Q: What if I don’t have the data in ZwiftPower because I am new to racing?
A: It would be beneficial for Zwifters to have at least 1 race under their belt, with the ideal being 2-3 for best category placement. Ideally, these would be races of a maximal effort for you. Provision might be able to be made for a Zwifter with no race history by using their power-based data. If using this data, the system will calculate roughly where you should be. Please note that the system will be focused on placing riders in this way in higher categories, otherwise known as “catting up.”

Q: What happens to my category if I have a great race? What if I have a bad race?
A: Iff you are performing outside your assigned class, you will be automatically moved up or down for the next race depending on your performance.

Q: Do I need to be registered on ZwiftPower?
A: Yes! If you do not have a ZwiftPower account, here’s more info on how to get an account:
https://support.zwift.com/en_us/connecting-to-zwiftpower-SyldRc_4HOpens a new window

Q: Where do I see my results?
A: ZwiftPower.com

Q: How do you select the course data you will use if I haven’t been on the course I am signing up to race?
A: The system does not use course specific data - all courses are ranked 1-5 currently in terms of difficulty. Performance is compared based on course rank.

Q: What if someone hasn’t raced a course in the past, but has completed a social ride? Is that data used to determine their category? How is that fair?
A: Rides like fondos, group rides, or social rides are NEVER used to determine race categories. Rides are usually speed/power controlled in order for all riders to remain part of the group. While this will likely push a few people, it is not generally a competitive experience for the majority, and as such does not give a fair indication of efforts that might be seen in racing.

#wtrl