DIRT Racing Series S12: Stage 2: ZG25 Queen – Taking Punches.
Hey fellow Zwift enthusiasts. I have another race review for you from the DIRT Racing Series S12. This time stage 2 on ZG25 Queen with a custom finish.
Before we delve into my subpar racing and all-round inadequacies here are my stats so we can all see what we’re dealing with:
- M, 180cm (5'11) – 78.3kg (173lbs) - ~270W FTP – vELO 1309 (Amethyst)
- Zwift setup; Tarmac SL-8 [Lvl 5] + ENVE SES 4.5 PRO.
- IRL setup: Wahoo KICKR Core [w/ Zwift cog, click & play controllers] + Road bike frame.
- Playlist: None
So, a little note on Stage 2. The route is the “ZG25 Queen” route, however it has a custom finish at 27.1km. This is just after the start of the Itza KOM. This stage is also a Team Timed Race (TTR) - not to be confused with a TTT – where the time is taken from the 4^(th) rider of each team. Basically it’s a normal race, with draft and group start, but you are reliant on your 4^(th) placed rider having the highest finish.
At first, it took me some time to get my head around the format. The group chat for LEQP and the Ruby and Emerald team was full of interesting discussion on how best to approach this race. We, in Emerald, had 6 entrants for this stage. It was decided that we would all try to hang onto the front group hoping to get to the bottom of the Mayan KOM together. Personally, knowing I’m the weakest rider in our team made my job simple, try and hold on!
Anyways, onto the race in hand. The six of us were primed and ready. We all rolled out of the pens in a fairly standard Zwift fashion. The pace wasn’t mad and I assume this was because the first punch was incoming, the Jarvis KOM.
I positioned myself right at the back of the bunch trying to preserve as much energy as possible. As you can see, I managed to hold my watts into high Z2/low tempo. My thinking was by being at the back I could try and surge through the group draft. This is one thing I feel I’ve really improved on as when I first started racing, I was always ‘twitchy’ to be on or near the front.
The effort is a short one that suits my style of riding but a lot of that is nullified by the fact I’m against a strong field so using as much draft as possible was key.
Jarvis KOM comes in a quick double-punch effort. The first being a bit of a drag then rise and the second being a steep kick. I used the draft well on the initial section, but I didn’t move through the pack as much as what I would have liked. So maybe a slight mistake, but I am still firmly in the bunch.
I see a few other LEQP jerseys so at least I’m not off the back just yet! I get out the saddle on the second kick and make sure to keep on the power over the top – Zwift 101 right there. A few people use their feathers, probably not realising that we only get 1 power-up this race.
The group forms up quickly over the top and with the sound of banjos playing were off down the descent.
We rolled around and approached the “Dirty Sorpresa” (if that’s how it’s spelt) and the pace dropped right off. A few riders even traded jokes in the chat, which, in my limited experience, is not a good sign.
Pre-race I was really worried about the Sorpresa. This dirt kick can be one hell of a leg zapper and with it coming right before the start of the Epic KOM I was worrying that I would be fighting to get back on before the real fireworks went off.
As it was the pace was manageable through the dirt stretch, around 280W (3.57w/kg). The speed of the pack was so high, and I was so focused on keeping my heartrate down, my legs from burning and taking on some water that I didn’t realise the Epic KOM was upon us.
I think you know how this climb is going to go. The start of the Epic KOM is one of the worst sections to race. The initial section is so steep it zaps all the speed from the group, and with it, all the draft. It then levels out before there’s a secondary punch and then the dreaded long drag. The long drag that’s made even worse by the fact this route turns right and continues to the top of the Jungle section.
I decided to position myself towards the back of the pack again. And again, this is perhaps a minor mistake, I did benefit from the full draft of the pack but being a bit further up would’ve reduced the pure distance I had to make up to the leaders.
There is nothing for it here, I must commit to a max effort. I keep it in the back of my mind that the long drag is coming up but if I get dropped here there is no chance I'll get back on.
I did pretty well initially. As the group compressed, I flew up and into the back, never losing any draft which I was really happy with. My heartrate was now climbing quicker than my bike and seeing some of the numbers the other riders were putting out was very worrying. This just reinforced my effort, and I made sure to keep on the power as best I could.
We reached the little section where it levels out ever-so-slightly and I take the opportunity to put in a quick dig just to keep my momentum high as the others began to slow. I was hoping that this would push me up through the group a bit more and I could then sag-climb™ the rest of the way.
I drifted past teammate Paul on the right of me and feel happy in my positioning as me and Pual were earmarked for protection before the race. I then notice my other teammate Marlot slowing to offer her wheel.
Right, we all know that feeling, yes that feeling. We’re on the redline and the pack slowly but surely begins to pull away. I’m holding numbers that are completely unsustainable for me. Luckily, I’m still in the draft and Marlot was there to pull. Paul had come flying past like the front of the peloton owes him money, so all there was for me to do is grin-and-bare-it.
We hit the drag and I go into pure survival. At the time I had such brain fog that I was unaware of the race around me. I was just trying to tap out a pace that would get me to the descent into the jungle.
Watching it back, after the fact, I can see that Christophe had dropped along with Marlot to help us out. I also caught a glimpse of Martyn flying up the drag hopefully feeling much stronger than I was.
The race was now one big line and I could see that a group was beginning to split off the front. I was really trying to hold the tail of the elastic and praise the (insert whomever you praise here) for LEQP and Marlot, without her and the team pulling I would never have held the back of the second (main) pack.
The descent passed without incident. The front group got about 15s ahead, but that gap quickly shrank and before we knew it we were all back as one. The bridge was also horrible as my legs were completely (profanity filter)!
We hit the flats and I knew I was done. I wish I had more to give for the team but luckily all six of us arrived together giving us a great chance for a high placed team finish. I told the team I was cooked and to not wait for me. They said to try and push for the best finish as an insurance, so that’s what I did.
The lower slopes of the KOM weren’t too bad as there was plenty of draft. But as soon as we hit the punchy section my legs were gone. My head was gone as well knowing that the position was taken from our 4^(th) rider and I was currently 6^(th).
I was pleased to have made it this far, but, like a cheap chain I was finally dropped. I saw that Paul was also dangling precariously off the back. As it is with Zwift it’s hard to know what’s going on ahead when you’re dropped but I’m told by the team that Martyn had some technical problems where he was disappearing which sounded like it was making coordinating the final Kms difficult.
As it was, I pushed on solo so as not to get caught behind, hoping to protect my vELO and maybe gain a decent boost. +31 in the end! When the dust had settled LEQP had finished 3^(rd), a very solid team effort.
Here are my final stats for this stage:
- Position 40/52
- Time 42:40 (+1:13)
- Watts 249 (3.18W/kg)
- Power splits (W/kg): 20 min 265 (3.38) - 5 min 337 (4.30) - 15s 510 (6.51)
Another really tough race. I liked the format as it led to some unique discussion around racing and the best tactics. If you rode this one, how did you find the format? I will never not be amazed by how strong some riders are.
Congrats on surviving my ramblings and thanks for reading!
TLDR
Team = Good.
