{"id":188625,"date":"2022-02-15T09:07:46","date_gmt":"2022-02-15T09:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=188625"},"modified":"2022-02-15T09:07:46","modified_gmt":"2022-02-15T09:07:46","slug":"tactics-and-tricks-for-racing-on-zwift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2022\/02\/15\/tactics-and-tricks-for-racing-on-zwift\/","title":{"rendered":"Tactics and Tricks for Racing on Zwift"},"content":{"rendered":"

Racing on Zwift is very different from most typical outdoor races. It\u2019s probably closer to time trials but you still have to consider power-ups and specific mechanisms Zwift uses for drafting and riding in groups. If you understand how these things work, you can be ready with a very good strategy for your Zwift race of choice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Get an industrial-sized fan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First things first, get a bigger fan! Just like having the latest bike will help you go faster outdoors, a heavy-duty fan in your indoor setup<\/a> will allow you to push harder on Zwift. The lack of airflow makes even a cool room feel like a sauna when riding hard. The better you\u2019ll be at keeping cool, the more power you\u2019ll be able to generate. To test how good your fan is, turn it on the highest setting and stand in front of it for 30 seconds. If you get cold, it\u2019s good enough. The pros often use more than one fan.<\/p>\n

Be ready early<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For you, the race starts minutes before the official start time. That\u2019s because you are lined up based on when you log in and join the event. Try to get to the start 10-15 minutes beforehand to get the front spots.<\/p>\n<\/lite-youtube>\n

Anticipate a sprint start<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Zwift racing always has killer starts. You should be warmed-up and ready out of the saddle sprinting with 2-3 seconds to go before the start. Hold that effort for at least the first 10 seconds of the race and don\u2019t get too comfortable after. Expect to settle into a hard tempo right after to keep up with the virtual peloton.<\/p>\n

Use climbs to your advantage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Zwift gives you the drafting benefit on most climbs. You can use that to your benefit and conserve energy. The pace usually settles at the top of climbs because they tend to be short and steep, let others lead. If you\u2019re at the top in front, use this time to recover.<\/a> If you\u2019re chasing, you can keep the power on over the top of climbs and get back into the pack as the leaders slow down.<\/p>\n

Know how to attack<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re planning to start a breakaway, it\u2019s best to signal to the game that you want to move forward with a short burst of very high effort. That will separate you from the group. Follow that up with a steady high pace to prevent you from sticking to the riders around you. If you\u2019re attacking in a smaller group, it can be useful to drop back to break the bond and then proceed to blaze past the whole group.<\/p>\n

It’s all about the finish<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most Zwift races are decided in the finish. The key is to know when to hit it full gas and how to use the group as a slingshot.<\/p>\n