This experiment, conducted by independent evaluation firm Robocurve using its
This experiment, conducted by independent evaluation firm Robocurve using its
Design-wise, the OnePlus 16 retains the raised square rear camera module, even
Design-wise, the OnePlus 16 retains the raised square rear camera module, even
BREAKING (Sept 22, 2026 @ 8am PT): Today’s races have been misconfigured, and TT bikes are being allowed, without penalty, into the events (see FB post from WTRL). You absolutely will want to use a TT frame for your races! I’ve revised bike recommendations below…
FOLLOWUP (Sept 22, 2026 @ 1:45pm PT): All remaining events for today have been set with TT bikes disabled, per the original plan.
The first race of Zwift Racing League 2025/26 is Tuesday, September 22, and it’s a race format we’ve never seen, on a route ZRL has never used!
That’s right: what makes this week most interesting is that it’s the first-ever Race of Truth, which is essentially a points race without drafting. This opens up lots of questions, which I’ll try to answer below. So let’s dig into the course, look at bike selection, talk strategy, and more!
All riders will race one lap of Paris’ Montmartre Mixer, for a total race length of 27.6km with 198m of elevation gain.
Broadly speaking, this is a rolling route full of slight descents and ascents, with back-to-back ascents of the Montmartre KOM featuring as the centerpiece:
Let’s look at how the route unfolds from a Race of Truth perspective:
The course ends at the lap banner you rode through at the end of the lead-in, and if everything goes as planned, you should get another 250 XP bonus at the lap banner, as long as you aren’t holding onto a powerup when you cross it.
Diving a bit deeper, the Montmartre KOM can be visualized as a 2-part climb. Click the 2D button below to see this clearly, and read the Montmartre KOM detail page for a more precise breakdown of the climb.
Read more about the Montmartre Mixer route >
Yes, powerups are being given out, even if you’re on a TT frame! You’ll want to use each powerup you receive before arriving at the next arch, since you can only hold one powerup at a time. Here are functional details for each powerup used in this race.
Aero Boost (helmet): makes you more aerodynamic (reduces your CdA by 25%) for 15 seconds.
Use at higher speeds (flats and descents). Everyone will be using this on the sprint segments, so you probably don’t stand a chance of a good result without it!
Anvil: makes you heavier for up to 15 seconds, so you can descend faster. The amount of weight added is based on a percentage of your body weight, and that percentage increases as riders get lighter. It won’t hurt you, as it only adds weight when the road is at a -1.5% decline or greater.
Use this on the Montmartre descent for an extra speed boost as you recover a bit from the KOM effort.
Lightweight (feather): reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds.
Use on climbs, when weight matters the most. The first two feathers you receive should be used on short climbs you encounter before the next arch, but the third and final feather should be held and used on the Montmartre KOM.
WTRL originally said TT frames would be disallowed in this race, but the events were misconfigured, allowing TT frames. Official word from WTRL (see their Facebook post) is that TT frames are now allowed.
So grab your most aero TT frame and disc wheelset. Because using a road frame is basically like giving yourself a ~60-second time penalty!
If you aren’t sure which TT frame and wheelset to use, see the fastest TT setups by level.
Also, a reminder that upgrading your frame makes a big difference, particularly with TT frames! The ~47 seconds of time savings across an hour for a fully upgraded TT frame translates to ~11 watts. Read all about the performance improvements from upgrades here.
Many ZRL recon rides are planned each week. If you’re unfamiliar with this course, jump into an event and familiarize yourself with the route! Find a list of upcoming ZRL recon rides at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlrecon.
Additionally, riders in the Zwift community do a great job every week creating recon videos that preview the courses and offer tips to help you perform your best on the day. See those below…
Note: Nathan does a great job of outlining the various ZRL rule changes in this video, as well as discussing the new Race of Truth format. He also released a video entirely focused on this race, which I’ve included below:
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chartArea:{left:0,top:0,width:’100%’,height:’90%’}
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var chart = new google.visualization.PieChart(document.getElementById(‘piechart_3d’));
chart.draw(data, options);
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Chart shows the maximum points a team of 5 could earn in a race with 60 participants. To learn how ZRL points races work, see this post.
How will these races unfold? What strategies will teams employ? Here’s what I predict:
Share below!
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