*(new TTT functionality version from 18th August 2022 #174)
Admin
- You will need a zwiftpower (ZP) profile, linked to your zwift account
https://zwiftpower.com - You will need a WTRL account, linked to your ZP account
https://www.wtrl.racing/ - Your team / team captain will provide you with a link from WTRL (Called a ‘Race Pass’) which will add you to your team for the race in WTRL and then automatically enter you in the race in Zwift (Note that the pen letters do NOT necessarily correspond to your individual category eg a team made up of D cat riders may be riding in the A pen).
Virtual bike selection
You can use any bike to race the TTT including TT bikes – in the TTT, TT bikes will both draft and create a draft (this is currently unique to the TTT). Unless the course is particularly hilly, the most aero bike is usually best. A good guide to the best equipment at each level is here.
https://zwiftinsider.com/fastest-bikes-at-each-level/
How it works
The main details of the events are here: https://www.wtrl.racing/ttt-home/#tttrules
- Teams of 4-8 riders organised by zwiftpower class (A,B,C,D) into ‘Coffee Categories’ (Mocha, Latte, etc) depending on the numbers of different classes of riders in the team
- Each team aims to complete the course in as short a time as possible
- The team’s time is taken from the 4th rider over the line except if there are only 3 or 4 riders in which case the 3rd finishing rider’s time counts
- The course changes every week – some are flat, some hilly, always fun.
All riders in a team must be in the race pen before their team’s start time – there is no late start.
The race starts at the time you see in Zwift Companion app – there are no longer delays. Eg if you see your race scheduled to start at 6:24pm that is the exact time your team will all cross the start line. No need to wait in the start pen for longer than you choose.
The event clock (blue “1:12” at the top right on the screenshot below) counts down to zero to show when your race will start. Your team will be lined up in a row across the conveyor belts. At 10 seconds to your start time, you will start to hear beeps every second. In the last 5 seconds, the blue countdown will disappear but the big yellow numbers will continue to show. Note that the yellow numbers show the time to the next team starting – if your countdown (blue) is under a minute then you are next to start and the blue and yellow numbers will match
In the past you could not pedal before your start time or you would cross the line. Now you can pedal right up to the start time so you will start to power up with 5-10 seconds remaining to ensure a fast start.
When the clock reaches zero, all riders in your team will start together.
The Race
Once the race starts, it’s pretty simple – get to the finish line with your minimum number of riders as quickly as possible. The more complex part is doing that efficiently and that is achieved by riding as a team – drafting each other, avoiding gaps, keeping consistent pace and recovering when not on the front. Typically the aim is to ride in a line rather than a blob but this takes a lot of discipline and practice particularly when not on the flat.
When riding in a line and changing over (eg the front rider ends their turn at the front and the second rider takes over the front), the rider at the front should drop their power to ensure they drop off the front. The second rider who will then be taking over at the front should up their power only to the target power number rather than trying to overtake the rider at the front. This helps avoid ‘yoyoing’ which happens when riders go too hard, create a gap then back off and then lose too much speed, get over taken by their team and then repeat the cycle. TTTs are all about making smooth and small changes to power rather than constantly up and down. Because of the lag in Zwift between the power you actually are producing and what Zwift registers (about 3s) you need to factor that in which means lowering the power before a gap is closed or upping the power slightly before it is needed. This is the art of TTT!
Overtaking / being overtaken
You are not allowed to draft other teams or riders so if your team is caught by another team, you must slow down to let them past smoothly (typically dropping approx 0.5w/kg) and then let them get 3 seconds ahead before getting back to normal pace. Similarly if overtaking, you should aim to get through the other team quickly and avoid the dreaded ‘sticky draft’ if you catch and then slow down.
Communication
Most teams use some form of voice comms during the race to organise, encourage, tell jokes, etc…
Discord and facebook messenger are the main apps used. A set of sports headphones are pretty much essential for this.
Warm up
Many teams will organise a Zwift meetup before the race so that the riders can get warm, practice their formation, and check that their comms are working before the race. Most teams will transfer to the race pen (eg click on the ‘Join Event’ button) about 5 minutes before the team’s start time
More
Info on drafting (short version, save up to 30% power from 4th rider): https://zwiftinsider.com/speed-tests-ttt/
TTT skills: https://zwiftinsider.com/ttt-master-class/
https://www.wtrl.racing/ttt-home/
- Teams can consist of 3 to 8 members.
- WTRL encourages teams of mixed Zwift category riders.
- Mixed Gender and Women’s Only (Vienna) categories.
- Use the WTRL TTT Coffee Class grid image to work out your Coffee Class.
- If the team that races on the day works out to be above or below, WTRL automatically re-classify the teams Coffee Class in the results.
- There are no DQs for changes in Coffee Classes or categories.