Stage 1 overview
A time trial. A race against the clock and other riders. Zwift TTs are a little different, we all start together. Although there is no drafting from each other so there is no advantage from other riders it does allow you to have live splits and know exactly where you are in the race.
Most TTs on zwift are flat, typically on the desert I'm Wattopia. But for the first stage of the Virtual Joe Martin we used the Giro d'Italia course 'Bologna TT'. Those who are unfamiliar with this course, it's basically 2 thirds flat, then 1 third up a big climb. The climbs is also known as 'the wall' with a section at 16% for a few hundred meters.
The race
For us in the UK the race started at 0:30am, this meaning it was a late one, or early depending on how you look at it. This meant we couldn't go about the TT in the same way as we would normally, for example caffeine for me personally was completely off the table as I want to have a good night sleep.
We set off like I said in a big group of riders, some guys sprinting off like a cyclo cross start. Going along the flat roads of Bologna the group of riders from first to last atleast a minute long only 3 minutes in.
Coming into the bottom of the climb, the first section is a steady 10% gradient untill the first corner where it ramps up to 15-16% for a few hundred meters. The race was going to be won on those sections, the flat part of the race meant very little.
In my naivety I assumed I could do PBs at midnight, meaning I set off a little to hard. Which I paid for going up the climb at the end.
Tomorrow and results
Stage 2 is tonight at 17:00 - 76km of rolling roads!
You can view the results from the TT: https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=902919
Thanks for reading. Special thanks to 'E-Stellas' for the guest ride and Pedal Potential for supporting me at the moment!