Today concluded the NCC Zwift Winter Hill Climb/Time Trial series, our fourth consecutive indoor hill climb/time trial series.
As has been our tradition as the finale for each series, we ascended the Alpe du Zwift. The climb 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.
Throughout the standings, there were battles for positions. At the top, Henry W. went into the day with a mere three point lead over Dusty. Kevin and Jonathan were tied for third. With less than ten points between Charlie, Henry vdB., and Melissa, anything could happen today.
Being April 1st, Zwift’s “special feature” was changing everyone’s bike to a trike. Fortunately, when we started the meet up at 5:30, we all were back on normal time trial bikes. Ashley rode earlier in the day and ascended the Alpe du Zwift on the trike, but she got a PR.
We had ten participants in the group ride. Zinj still did not get the Lightweight wheels at the top of the climb, but Dusty did.
Over half of today’s participant earned PRs: Ashley, Ben, David, Dusty, Henry, Joe, and Melissa. Melissa improved her NCC women’s record for the Alpe du Zwift climb.
Here are today’s results:
1. Weis, Henry; Time: 0:46:47; 9.7 mph; 23 points
2. Weinberg, Ben; Time: 0:50:40; 9 mph; 21 points
3. King, Dusty; Time: 0:52:01; 8.8 mph; 19 points
4. O’Keeffe, Jonathan; Time: 0:53:17; 8.6 mph; 16 points
5. Warwick, Melissa; Time: 0:54:19; 8.4 mph; 15 points
6. Guo, ZInj; Time: 0:55:42; 8.2 mph; 12 points
7. Lellman, Joseph; Time: 0:56:01; 8.1 mph; 11 points
8. Bello, Michael; Time: 1:02:38; 7.3 mph; 8 points
9. Goodwin, David; Time: 1:07:00; 6.8 mph; 7 points
10. Krause, Ashley; Time: 1:12:39; 6.3 mph; 5 points
11. Yarosh, Scott; Time: DNF; mph; 1 points
Here are the final series results:
1. Weis, Henry; Event(s) 10; Points: 130
2. King, Dusty; Event(s) 11; Points: 123
3. O’Keeffe, Jonathan; Event(s) 10; Points: 106
4. Guo, Zinj; Event(s) 11; Points: 94
5. Weinman, Kevin; Event(s) 8; Points: 90
6. Pazmany, Andrew; Event(s) 9; Points: 70
7. Warwick, Melissa; Event(s) 11; Points: 66.5
8. Bailey, Charlie; Event(s) 9; Points: 58.5
9. van den Broek, Henry; Event(s) 8; Points: 55
10. Weinberg, Ben; Event(s) 3; Points: 44
10. Bello, Michael; Event(s) 11; Points: 44
12. Lellman, Joseph; Event(s) 8; Points: 41
13. Krause, Ashley; Event(s) 6; Points: 21
13. Goodwin, David; Event(s) 6; Points: 21
15. Poe, Carson; Event(s) 1; Points: 13
15. Niesen, Chris; Event(s) 1; Points: 13
17. Coleman, Jeremy; Event(s) 5; Points: 6.5
18. Condon, Sean; Event(s) 2; Points: 4.5
19. Kothe, Kathryn; Event(s) 3; Points: 4
20. Cahillane, Dan; Event(s) 1; Points: 3
21. Yarosh, Scott; Event(s) 1; Points: 1
21. Wise, Greg; Event(s) 1; Points: 1
Congratulations to Henry W. and Melissa for capturing the Winter series titles. This is Melissa’s fourth consecutive NCC Zwift Hill Climb/Time Trial title.
Don’t forget that the outdoor time trial/hill climb series begins on Tuesday, April 6th. With the indoor hill climbs and time trials held over the past twelve months, the times outdoors will hopefully be fast!
