The London Classique route is a very popular racing layout on Zwift. The course part of it is very flat with only 15m of climbing, however there is just enough of a rise for riders to attempt breakaways. For the "Bag That Badge" series, Zwift have reversed the Classique course to add some more variety. But will a course with an identical lead in and 2 short flat laps really feel that much different? It was going to be another fun 30 minutes finding out.
I have raced on the original course 3 times with increasing results each attempt. All have been with Category C riders in the Z-Racing monthly series. On my first attempt, I couldn't hold the lead group on the lead in and was instantly dropped. I had a good sprint finish but it was only for 30th position out of 42. With experience, my next two attempts were much stronger. On my second attempt, I held with the front group till the finish line. My sprint finish wasn't so great though, and I could only scrape 15th across the line. It was definitely 3rd time lucky, I managed to take the win by escaping on a solo breakaway during the final lap. After that victory I was looking forward to this one in the hope of another good result.
My plan to be ready for a Zwift sprint finish
The reversed version of the course looks to favour a sprint even more. The ramp section I used to breakaway on is replaced with a longer rise and a shallower gradient. The route has a very similar profile to the Champs-Élysées course where you have a long push up one side. It also has the same lead in to the original Classique course which a lot of experienced riders will use to test the legs of the group. As for my plan, I can't really see any places to worry about. I also can't see any areas to attack on. So my main focus will be to try and save as much energy as possible to hopefully use for the final sprint.
My first race of the 'London Classique Reverse'
I started my race not listening to my own advice. I had plenty of time to get ready for the start, yet I still seemed to end up joining late. To my horror, it was a big lunchtime group of 90 and I was dropped right at the back. As the start counter hit zero, I hit the watts hard to try and get to a safe position. As expected, the start was fast but it settled quickly in less than a minute. This might have been because of my early surge though, it soon picked up again and the lead group grew. After 2 minutes of racing, the speed and group finally settled to a good pace with a peloton of about 60. I focused on keeping the front of the group in sight, but also trying to use as little energy as possible. My first course marker was easy to spot on the map, it was the right turn that rose up to the cross road section. I engaged my flywheel technique to test what would happen, it surged me to the fount of the group as the gradient increased. This ended up being a key decision as a few other riders had a similar plan to attack here. Before I knew it, I was powering hard up the ramp with about 5 other riders and the possibility of an early breakaway. Looking at the map I could see the group explode as a lot were caught napping, it only got worse as we turned left and down the only real descent on the course. When we got to the bottom, I was in a group of about 25 with a good gap to the chasing pack. I had survived the first test, what would be next.
The lead group pushed on, trying not to let the second group catch up. It was working, the pace only briefly settled to recover before the long rise past the finish line. As expected, this rise was just like the one on the Champs-Élysées route. The group really stretched out in single file with it's tail dangling dangerously close to the chasing group. But as the race settled again at the top, our hunters didn't have the energy to merge back up. They would slowly drift away as we continued with a good rhythm on the first lap. I focused on recovery and waited for the next return to the finish ramp.
As we crossed the finish line to start the second and final lap, the pace once again rocketed. I somehow managed to keep sight of the front in 6th place, as more riders were starting to get dropped. Halfway through the final lap, the group had diluted down to just 20 riders. I was happy with the feeling I'd worked my way to a good result already, but I wanted more! In the final 2KM to the finish, I planned when to launch my sprint while looking out for the final surge. The pace ramped up with a kilometre to go, I was ready and stayed with them. My only mistake was drifting to the front a little too early, I was left waiting to see if anyone would engage their attack early. 3 riders blasted past just before I dropped the hammer with 300m to go. A few more came past me as I hit 900 watts. I just managed to hold off one rider, but 6 others had already escaped to the finish line.
Summary
My personal feeling of the new reversed course, is that the original Classique course is slightly better. The new reversed course feels like just a watered down version. But then again, that was always going to be the case because it's so flat. I think Zwift would have been better reversing some of the hilly courses and making some new flatter routes for sprinters
I was really happy with my result and being 7th across the line. More so because everything had gone to plan. My final sprint was one of the strongest I've ever done in terms of power numbers. The next route will be in New York and definitely not one for the sprinters. If your planning to take on the Classique, good luck and thank you for reading.
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VeloHunt Steve