Zwift Racing League S1

Dec 1st 2020: Race

Watopia - Watopia Waistband 28km Team Time Trial Race

The route itself is 25.5km – with the long desert lead-in of 2.5km on top, making this 28km all-in. The Team start in the desert pens, and what a start it was, after much practice on starts during the weekend training rides, all the riders shot out the pen hitting 300 watts and groups within the first halfkm, ABR then headed through Fuego Flats to Saddle Spring. Up the Col du Saddle Springs – the most arduous climb of the circuit (which tells you how flat this is), its at this point team Apache lost its first rider Tom, Tom had given his all in the first half of the race, a tactic that was agreed upon before the race and provided much support for drafting. The remaining Apache team members then rode  through the undersea tunnels. Turn left at the T-junction and carry on towards the fisherman’s village. From the upramp out of the tunnels to the land bridge to the volcano is probably the most challenging segment for the teams – it’s a mix of gravel, false flat, and downhill – nothing to break you… but the changing terrain will throw off momentum which proved to tough for Thomas who had to drop of the group which just left 4 riders to pushfor the finish line. Apache team then rounded the volcano across to downtown and back to the desert to race for the finish line.

The whole race was a quick one for all teams, with only a few minutes splitting the whole race, it was a much improved performance by Apache Brave Racing team, with a near perfect start and excellent group riding with strong wattage being produced by all team members, although team Aapche had 2 riders drop of this was expected so it was an alround great team effort with the team moving in the right direction as TTT goes.

Nov 24th 2020: Race 7

France - Petit Boucle 32km Road Race

The seventh week of Zwift Racing League, and it was to be prove a battle between the wattage workhorses and the punchy climbers as ABR tackle custom lengths of France’s Petit Boucle.The Pavé Sprint Reverse is an intermediate for points, so timing it well would be key for the Apache team as they were targeting race points.Only the top THREE get points on intermediates this week but that didnt stop sprinter Richard and Jared battling for the points with Richard taking a second spot for some bonus points. Then the team hit out first bit of climb, the Aqueduc KOM Reverse. This is really a sprint climb, but it’s for intermediate points, Ben gave an all-out push to the line! and again taking much needed points

Another sprint is just up the road, the Ballon Sprint Reverse. This is the last intermediate point option before the big climb which may see many of the top sprinters dropped. Again Ben was in the points as he battled for a leading position withion the race. Other team riders were starting to drop off after the sprint sections,

Final push from team riders Peter and Ben gave them top ten finishes, a great alround team performance saw team Apache finsih high and gain valueble series points and move up the league table.

Nov 17th 2020: Race 6

UK - Greatest London Flat 47km Team Time Trial Race

This week the route is Greatest London Flat – around the city of London itself, then over to Surrey with the flattest of the three paths through. Apache Brave Racing team done a TTT recce of this course on the the previous weekend, and practiced group riding.

It was a a much better start by ABR team, grouping together in the first 2km, the course is a fast one through the streets of London, ABR team members taking turns at the front and managing to keep the watts at a high level.

It was mid race before the first team caught up with the Apache team, and at the stage of the first hill climb, the climb proved to be tough for some and ABR started to fall back and loosing time on the other teams. A final hard push after all the hill climbs where done enable ABR to pull some time back and limit the damage done by the stronger teams.

More work needs to be done for the team to perform better in the WTRL TTT races.

Nov 10th 2020: Race 5

New York - Everything Bagel 43.2km Road Race

New York’s “Everything Bagel” is the longest route on the NYC course, and woulr prove a hard route to win. It covers nearly every road section, many of them in both directions. Apache Brave Racing would get several chances to test their legs against the leaderboard stronger teams as they hit the KOM and sprint sections in both directions.

It was a strong start by team manager Richard as he hit 400 watts plus to reach the first climb in the lead, half way up the climb Richard was caught by the chasing pack and was overtaken by the stronger climbers, thankfully ABR climbers Ben and Peter were in that pack. It's a long and steep climb to the KOM and Ben managed to finish in the points for the bonus section.

The whole race had been strung out thanks to the climb, the leading pack had made a good 30 second gap from the first chasing group which had another minute from the rest of the riders. The rolling route nevers allows any recovery so it's full gas from the Apache boys as they chase for maximum points. Having completed the sprint and the final climb Ben and Peter were still fighting for the stage win, legs burning and lungs feeling heavy with sweat soaked towels it was all or nothing to gain valuable points, Ben and Peter fighting for the win, Richard battling down in 25th place but trying his all for just a few extra team points.

A hard sprint finish encounted but it was to much for Ben and Peter, Ben came in 10th with Peter 17th which was the pick of the team performances, Jared and Richard finished with the extra points to help the team series positions. The team finished in 3rd place and now after 5 races Apache Brave Racing are sitting in 4th position in the league standings.

Nov 3rd 2020: Race 4

Watopia - Magnificent 8 28.6km Team Time Trial

The route begins in downtown Watopia for Apache Brave Racing team, riding from the start/finish banner in the reverse direction the team make a much better start keeping together from the start and quickly getting upto speed and taking turns at the front. The team ride around the volcano, across the land bridge, past the noisy waterfall and over the reverse Hilly KOM with Peter and Richard pushing at the front helping with the draft effect.

Next, the team hang a right onto Ocean Boulevard and start to up their pace now having completed the main climb, then a left to Fuego Flats for a spin through the desert the team was able to really push their speed and started to gain a few places on other teams.

This brings the team all the way around to a right turn onto the Ocean Boulevard/Epic KOM spur, where they make their way back to downtown Watopia for a fast sprint to the finish.

A much better performance by Apache Brave Racing team, taking turns at the front and keeping to a good speed, the time trial section is where the club needs to work on but things are starting to gel and work better.

Watch Apache Brave Racing Zwift Team Time Trial

Oct 27th 2020: Race 3

Richmond - UCI Worlds Course 32.4 Road Race

The Richmond UCI Worlds route is a replica of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships course in Richmond, Virginia, USA.

It’s a wonderful race course, with very flat first half and a nice mix of attackable climbs on the back half. Apache Brave Racing team captin Jared and team manager Richard planned a stragery to take advanage of the teams abilities of sprinters and climbs which would suit the course.

2 early sprints would be challenged by specialist sprinters Jared and Richard, this first sprint saw Jared break away early and power off to gain the first sprint and take maximum points, a more contested second sprint saw Richard just beated out of the points in 4th place. Next came the climbs with Ben taking second and several rider points with Peter just missing out on points but supporting and helping lead Ben out to make the challenge.

The race continued for a second lap with riders strung out overthe course thanks to the hill climbs, Peter and Ben still in the main leading pack and making a serious challenge for the win. The other club riders just rode round to complete the route having already done their job of sprints. With a tough final climb Ben managed to push hard and dig deep to finish second with Peter come in just a few place behind.

An amazing performance all round by the team and taking ma ny of the points on offer and to come in second place as a team.

Oct 20th 2020: Race 2

France - R.G.V 24.1km Team Time Trial

“R.G.V” stands for route grand vitesse, or “high speed road”. A fitting name, since this route is definitely one for the sprinters. Though only 24km in length, it includes three timed sprint segments! However, the route might have suited Apache Brave Racing riders but a poor start from the pen saw the team completely broken up and losing it's sixth rider early on. After 5km the team managed to bring things together and start to pull back on other teams.

With the route being flat it was easy to pace the ride with each rider taking turns at the front to keep the pace high. Keeping a check on Zwift Power live feed the team was able to follow other teams progress and to see how much time was either gaining or losing. A good second split in the race saw the team pull good time and to start to move up the leader board for the race

Oct 13th 2020: Race 1

Watopia - Big Foot Hills 50km Road Race

Big Foot Hills route takes on a meandering journey over the lower peaks of Watopia, including Titans Grove in both directions. After leaving the start pen Apache Brave Racing team hit the flat, fast desert roads to start. This is as flat as the journey will get! The team hang a right into Titans Grove (forward direction) after leaving Saddle Springs,  riding through Titans Grove with Apache Brave Racing rider Peter pushing strong at the front of the pack, the race takes a turn left to head toward downtown Watopia with the pace picking up and the pack starting to string out with the stronger riders at the front. At the intersection near downtown, a wuick turn left to head up the original Watopia KOM with ABR riders Ben and Peter keeping pace on the climb, descending down and turn left onto the gravel at the Italian Villas toward the volcano provides a short recovery.

At the volcano, the team take the first right for a CCW circuit around (and through)  magmatic mountain. The race had broken up with just a few riders in the leading pack include club rider Peter still looking strong, they then head up the Volcano KOM–the largest climb on the route.

Peter finished that climb, zipped down the volcano and rode to downtown Watopia, towards the main finish banner, it was a great start for the Apache Brave Racing Zwift team coming in second as a team and Peter being the clubs star rider finishing in the main points