Here's a brief preview of the Zwift Grand Prix 23/24 Round 3, along with a recap of the exciting action from Round 2.
Zwift Grand Prix 23/24 Round 3, a two-lap scratch race on the London Loop Reverse, will be as intriguing for fans as thrilling for the racers. The event is a throwback to the Premier Division days when elite riders raced the same course as community riders in the Zwift Racing League the following week.
Only the Men will contest this round, the first of three (Rounds 3-5) paralleling the ZRL courses and formats. It’s a chance to watch the action while reconning the course to plan your winning strategy.
The $100,000 Zwift Grand Prix 2023/24 series specifics are here! First, let’s recap last round’s action!
Round Two Recap and Team Results
Women's Race
Round 2 of the Zwift Grand Prix was highly anticipated and lived up to the hype. The race featured a blistering ascent of the Alpe du Zwift, including three intermediate sprints and a time cut-off that eliminated riders from each field.
S. Etienne (Hexagone), Kristen Kulchinsky (Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24), Katie Hill (Aeonian), L. Harris (Toyota Elite ECycling), and Gabriela Guerra (Saris | Nopinz) separated themselves on the lower slopes. Only 3K into the climb, Etienne rode away for a dominating win, followed by Guerra for second and Hill rounding out the podium.
Men's Race
After a fierce battle of attrition during arguably one of the most physically demanding races in elite esports history, three world-class climbing talents rose to the top. Martin Maertens (Toyota Elite ECycling) set a relentless pace, causing Lionel Vujasin (Coalition Alpha) to gradually fall behind with 1.8km remaining, leaving only two riders in contention.
Maertens and Lennert Teugels (ABUS-Synergy) entered the last bend of Alpe du Zwift neck and neck, but it was the German rider who seized the opportunity. With just a few hundred meters left, Maertens made the decisive move, leaving the pre-race favorite behind and securing a commanding victory atop Alpe du Zwift.
Congratulations to the racers and teams for an amazing performance in Round 2. Now to preview the Round 3 race format, course, teams, and where to watch!
Men’s Series Round 3 - Zwift Racing League - Scratch Race
At the request of the competitive community and the elite racers themselves, the Zwift Grand Prix is reconnecting with the Zwift Racing League.
In Round 3, the men will toe the line of a Scratch Race, completing two laps of London Loop Reverse in London. The rules are clear-cut, with points based solely on riders’ finishing positions. With two ascents of the formidable Fox Hill, the race will be anything but straightforward.
Total Riders: 80 (16 teams of 5)
Course: London Loop Reverse
Laps: 2
Distance: 29.3 km (18.2 mi.)
Ascent: 460m (1,509′)
Points: Finish only
Course—London Loop Reverse
The 14.8 km (9.2 mi.) course is flat to rolling until it isn’t. The Fox Hill climb figures to be a deciding factor in this race.
Fox Hill Key Details
Length: 2.4 km (1.5 mi.)
Elevation: 120.7m (396′)
Avg Grade: 4.3%
Expect the front group to go over the top at around 4 and a half minutes. OUCH!
Teams
Only the men are racing this week. You’ll have to wait until next week for the Women’s race.
| Men's Teams | Women's Teams |
|---|---|
| ABUS – Synergy | Aeonian |
| Beastmode p/b ROSE | ABUS – Synergy* |
| BL13 p/b Level Velo* | Beastmode p/b ROSE |
| Coalition Alpha | BL13 p/b Level Velo* |
| dPAC-ELITE* | Coalition Alpha |
| Foudre Punchers Coalition* | Hexagone* |
| Hexagone | Movistar eTeam |
| Movistar eTeam | NeXT eSports p/b Enshored* |
| NeXT eSports p/b Enshored | Primór RWB esports Femmes* |
| Primór RWB esports* | Rocacorba Collective |
| Restart p/b Alex Coh* | Saris | Nopinz |
| Saris | Nopinz* | Team Castelli p/b Elite* |
| Team Castelli p/b Elite | Team Swedish Zwifters |
| Team Swedish Zwifters | Toyota Elite ECycling |
| Toyota Elite ECycling | Wahoo Le Col |
| Wahoo Le Col | Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24 |
* Teams new to the Zwift Grand Prix in 23/24
How to Watch!
Zwift Grand Prix 23/24 Round One action will be live on October 26, 2023, at 6 pm UTC on the Zwift YouTube channel. Check the times in your viewing area!
| Location | Local Time at 7 pm UTC |
|---|---|
| New York | 3 pm Eastern Time (ET) |
| California | 12 pm Pacific Time (PT) |
| Britain | 8 pm Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) |
| Sydney, Australia | 6 am AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) |
Click the image for more discussion on the controversy surrounding Round One of the Zwift Grand Prix!
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Semi-retired as owner and director of his private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice after over 20 years, Chris is blessed with the freedom to pursue his passion for virtual cycling and writing. On a continual quest to give back to his bike for all the rewarding experiences and relationships it has provided him, he created a non-profit. Chris is committed to helping others with his bike through its work and the pages of his site.
In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to New York to support the charity he founded, TheDIRTDadFund. His “Gain Cave” resides on the North Fork of Long Island, where he lives with his beautiful wife and is proud of his two independent children.
You will read him promoting his passion on the pages of Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. Chris is co-host of The Virtual Velo Podcast, too!
