The 2024/25 Restart Invitational Team-Based Series features realistic performance verification standards and Beastmode Prime prizes.
The six-race series aims to showcase elite cycling esports’ top teams competing on a curated set of challenging courses. The organizers at Restart want to reintroduce the core team aspect of the Zwift Grand Prix and Premier Division to elite racing that they feel is missing in this season’s Zwift World Series.
“With the course selections and distances we have created, we can deliver a good mixture of team-based racing that offers something for all of the differing rider types and allows their strengths to shine,” according to organizer Dean Cunningham of Restart p/b Alex Coh.
The teams will have ample opportunity to employ tactics and strategy on epic course offerings that depart from the trend, including the 79.2km Zwift Medio Fondo 2022, which has 922 meters of climbing for race #4 of the series.
Each race will also have a BEASTMODE Prime point, where riders can earn points toward a series-ending individual and team prize.
“Breakaways are something we all love to see in racing, and with the course types, we hope to see some exciting team dynamics and varied team-based racing in the series,” Cunningham shares.
Schedule and Scoring
| Race # | Date | Start Times (EST/UTC/CET) | Course | Laps | Distance (KM) | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday, Dec 14th | 1100 / 1110 EST 1600 / 1610 UTC 1700 / 1710 CET |
Watopia Sand & Sequoias |
3 | 60.3 | 525 |
| 2 | Saturday, Dec 28th | 1100 / 1110 EST 1600 / 1610 UTC 1700 / 1710 CET |
Yorkshire Duchy Estate |
18 | 54.0 | 738 |
| 3 | Saturday, Jan 4th | 1100 / 1110 EST 1600 / 1610 UTC 1700 / 1710 CET |
Makuri Wandering Flats |
2 | 50.2 | 292 |
| 4 | Saturday, Jan 11th | 1100 / 1110 EST 1600 / 1610 UTC 1700 / 1710 CET |
Watopia Zwift Medio Fondo |
- | 79.2 | 922 |
| 5 | Saturday, Jan 25th | 1100 / 1110 EST 1600 / 1610 UTC 1700 / 1710 CET |
London Greatest London Flat |
3 | 70.8 | 492 |
| 6 | Saturday, Feb 15th | 1100 / 1110 EST 1600 / 1610 UTC 1700 / 1710 CET |
France Casse-Pattes |
3 | 69.0 | 465 |
To enhance the race broadcast, there is a 10-minute time stagger between the race pens. Men start on the hour, and ladies start 10 minutes past the hour.
- Individual Scoring/League: Series Final Standings are based on each rider’s best five finishes.
- Team Scoring/League: The points for the top three riders from each team and the most points after all six races wins.
BEASTMODE Prime
- Points go to the First Across the Line (FAL) at one BEASTMODE Prime segment in each race, 3 for first, 2 for second, and 1 for third.
- After the series wraps up, the BEASTMODE Series Award will go to the female and male riders with the most BEASTMODE Prime Points
| Race # | Course | Key Segment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watopia - Sand & Sequoias | Lap 2 - Titans Grove KOM |
| 2 | Yorkshire - Duchy Estate | Lap 10 - Yorkshire Sprint |
| 3 | Makuri - Wandering Flats | Lap 2 - Country Sprint |
| 4 | Watopia - Zwift Medio Fondo 2022 | Finish Line - Epic KOM |
| 5 | London - Greatest London Flat | Lap 2 - Mall Sprint Reverse |
| 6 | France - Casse Pattes | Lap 1 - Petit KOM |
Performance Verification
The organizers at Restart are seizing the opportunity to implement performance verification standards that they believe are more balanced and achievable for racers. At the same time, they aim to use these standards to encourage fair play and promote good practices across all teams, regardless of the series or race.
The Race Control Team consists of Dean Cunningham, Organiser and Team Manager for Restart p/b Alex Coh, Leah Cuthbertson, Team Co-Manager for Restart p/b Alex Coh, and Alice Lethbridge, who is acting as our independent data/equipment verification analyst.
According to Cunningham, “The vision is that we have both male and female athletes on the Race Control. Female riders may only want to approach another female with issues or questions. Likewise for males. But also, and very importantly, we ensure we have an experienced independent member of the community to assure the teams and their riders of impartiality.”
Performance verification, permitted equipment and settings, height and weight video, dual recording requirements and other details are found in the Restart Esports Invitational Race Book.
How to Watch!
Broadcasting is provided by ZMS Esports Studio and will be streamed on the ZMS Esports Studio Facebook live, Twitch, and YouTube.
“The visuals and audio quality delivered by ZMS on various cycling esport races over the past few years has been excellent,” says Cunningham. “ZMS has shown a huge desire to promote the sport, our community, and its growth.”
“There is a big emphasis on this being a community-organized series, explains Cunningham. “Yes, there is verification in place, and it is an invitational series for teams racing at the top of the sport. But the full intention is to create something that is fun, competitive, and engaging so that, down the line, other teams want to be a part of it.”
“We really want to create a, “That looks awesome! We want to do that!” mentality within teams and racers and use the series to showcase racing and grow organically.”
Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
