After 11 weeks of riding, the NCC Zwift Fall Hill Climb/Time Trial series ended today. The final event, just like the conclusion of the Spring and Summer series, required riders to ascend Alpe du Zwift.
Alpe du Zwift is only 7.59 miles; however, it ascends 3,398 feet at an average gradient of 8.5 percent. Alpe du Zwift is a recreation of Alpe d’Huez in France. The recreation includes the mountain’s 21 hairpin turns.
To give a brief summary of the series rules, participants must use a time trial bike, which prevents drafting. Points are awarded based on the number of competitors and individuals’ overall placing. For example, if there are 19 riders, the person with the best time is awarded 19 points, second gets 18 points all the way down to the last rider, who gets 1 point. At the end of the Zwift series, the rider with the most points will be awarded the NCC Zwift Series title.
Participants may ride any time during the day or participate in the group ride version at 5:30 PM. In the group ride version, we typically warm up together before individually completing the time trial.
With today’s challenge being much longer than our typical hill climb or time trial, double points were on the line. In addition, an extra point was awarded for a Strava PR. Part of the fun of today’s hill climb was that no one’s position in the final standings was guaranteed.
Everyone agreed that today’s ride was a mental and physical challenge.
Congratulations to Kevin Weinman and Melissa Warwick for winning the men’s and women’s series. Melissa claimed her third consecutive Hill Climb/Time Trial crown. Kevin is the third winner of the men’s series (Chris Niesen won in the spring and Jonathan O’Keeffe won in the summer).
Of the 15 riders today, we had twelve participants in the group ride.
There were several PRs today: Henry W., Kevin, Dusty, Zinj, Andrew, Melissa, Henry vdB, and Dan.
Here are today’s results:
1. Weis, Henry; Time: 0:49:14*; 9.3 mph; 31 points
2. Weinman, Kevin; Time: 0:50:33*; 9 mph; 29 points
3. King, Dusty; Time: 0:51:01*; 8.9 mph; 27 points
4. Leander, Jon; Time: 0:51:25; 8.9 mph; 24 points
5. O’Keeffe, Jonathan; Time: 0:52:23; 8.7 mph; 22 points
6. Guo, Zinj; Time: 0:53:02*; 8.6 mph; 21 points
7. Pazmany, Andrew; Time: 0:56:25*; 8.1 mph; 19 points
8. Warwick, Melissa; Time: 0:58:26*; 7.8 mph; 17 points
9. van den Broek, Henry; Time: 0:59:04*; 7.7 mph; 15 points
10. Lellman, Joseph; Time: 1:01:59; 7.4 mph; 12 points
11. Bello, Michael; Time: 1:07:09; 6.8 mph; 10 points
12. Bailey, Charlie; Time: 1:07:59; 6.7 mph; 8 points
13. Coleman, Jeremy; Time: 1:11:49; 6.3 mph; 6 points
14. Cahillane, Dan; Time: 1:16:38*; 5.9 mph; 5 points
15. Krause, Ashley; Time: DNF; 1 points
*Strava PR
Here are the final series standings:
1. Weinman, Kevin; Event(s) 11; Points: 127
2. O’Keeffe, Jonathan; Event(s) 11; Points: 110
3. Leander, Jon; Event(s) 11; Points: 98.5
4. Guo, Zinj; Event(s) 11; Points: 92
5. Bailey, Charlie; Event(s) 11; Points: 67
6. Warwick, Melissa; Event(s) 10; Points: 50
7. Bello, Michael; Event(s) 11; Points: 49
8. Weis, Henry; Event(s) 2; Points: 40
9. King, Dusty; Event(s) 2; Points: 38
10. Poe, Carson; Event(s) 2; Points: 24
11. Lellman, Joseph; Event(s) 3; Points: 23
12. Pazmany, Andrew; Event(s) 1; Points: 19
13. Gould, Marcus; Event(s) 3; Points: 17
13. Cahillane, Dan; Event(s) 9; Points: 17
15. Coleman, Jeremy; Event(s) 4; Points: 16
16. van den Broek, Henry; Event(s) 1; Points: 15
17. Johnson, Chris; Event(s) 3; Points: 7
18. Eichenlaub, Justin; Event(s) 1; Points: 4.5
19. Hempstead, Mike; Event(s) 1; Points: 4
19. Gorton, John; Event(s) 2; Points: 4
21. Daube-Valois, Ari; Event(s) 1; Points: 3
21. Cheikes, Brant; Event(s) 1; Points: 3
23. Lerner, Cooper; Event(s) 1; Points: 2
24. Robert, Tom; Event(s) 1; Points: 1
24. Krause, Ashley; Event(s) 1; Points: 1
24. Condon, Sean; Event(s) 1; Points: 1
24. Blake, Teddy; Event(s) 1; Points: 1
The Winter Hill Climb/Time Trial series will start next Thursday.
Here is the NCC Zwift schedule:
– Mon afternoon – Road Race (times will vary between 5 PM and 7 PM EST)
– Tue 8:00 PM – Social Ride (invite required)
– Thu 5:30 PM – Time Trial / Hill Climb (solo effort, TT bike required) (invite required)
– Sat 9:00 AM – Social Ride (invite required)
Follow “Michael Bello – NCC” on Zwift for invites to the invite-only rides.
Check the NCC calendar for full details on all events. To learn more about the NCC and Zwift rides, please visit our Zwift page.
