Round 1 | Race 1
Avon Flyer | New York
6 laps · 21.6 km · Crit / Sprint
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks via Zwift Insider
Racing Without Borders × Cycling Ireland
eSPORTS SERIES 2026/27
Five rounds of fast, competitive Friday night racing on Zwift, open across five Zwift Racing Score categories.
Five Rounds. Four Provinces. One Championship.
5Championship rounds
20Championship race nights
Best 3/4Results count per round
Best 4/5Rounds count for the season
Cycling Ireland members
Register for Cycling Ireland results
Complete the Cycling Ireland series registration to link your Zwift ID to your Cycling Ireland membership. This lets us match your ZwiftPower race results and include eligible riders in the dedicated Cycling Ireland classifications throughout the series.
You only need to register once. Not a Cycling Ireland member? You can still race in the open RWB x Cycling Ireland eSports Series.
Welcome to the series
Friday night racing, all season.
Team RWB – Racing Without Borders, in partnership with Cycling Ireland, presents the 2026/27 eSports Series. The season runs from October 2026 through March 2027, with five separate rounds of four race nights.
The programme mixes criteriums, punchy road races, climbing, individual time trials, Tiny Races and Provincial Team Time Trials. Each Round is its own competition, with a rider’s best three results from the four race nights determining the Round standings. For the season-long Series Championship, a rider’s best four Round totals from the five Rounds count, even if the rider progresses into a higher category between Rounds. Category Championships remain separate and only include points actually earned in that category.
The series remains open to all riders. Eligible Cycling Ireland members will also feature in a dedicated Cycling Ireland classification, while Irish riders can represent Ulster, Leinster, Munster or Connacht in the Four Provinces Championship.
A+ results classification
A+ and A race together in the same Zwift A pen.
For RWB results and category scoring, riders whose Round-start ZRS is 890–1000 are classified as A+, while riders at 690–889 are classified as A. A+ is a results classification only and does not create another Zwift pen.
A+890–1000
A690–889
Zwift penA · 690–1000
Para-Cycling & Transplant Cycling
The series is open to Para-Cycling and Transplant athletes, competing throughout the full series alongside the wider cycling community. Athletes enter the same five open Zwift ZRS racing pens, with additional Para-Cycling and/or Transplant classifications provided where applicable and agreed with Cycling Ireland.Race programme
Championship rounds.
Open a Round to see its race nights. Rounds 1 and 2 include the full route maps and live entry links; later Rounds show the confirmed programme so far and can be expanded as routes are finalised.
Round 12–23 October 2026Crit / Sprint · Punchy · ITT · Climb Finish
Register for Round 1 on Zwift
Use this link to enter any of the four Round 1 races.
Round 1 | Race 2
Montmartre Mixer | Paris
1 lap · 27.5 km · Punchy Race
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks via Zwift Insider
Round 1 | Race 3
Croissant | France
1 lap · 12.5 km · Individual Time Trial
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks via Zwift Insider
Round 1 | Race 4
Legends & Lava | Watopia
1 lap · 24.6 km · 352 m · Climb Finish
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks via Zwift Insider
Round 230 October–20 November 2026Road Race · Watopia Tiny Races · Four Provinces TTT · Queen Stage
Register for Round 2 on Zwift
Use this link to enter R2.1, the three Tiny Races and R2.4. The Four Provinces TTT (R2.3) is entered through your Province / Pen Captain.
Round 2 | Race 1
Richmond UCI Reverse | Richmond
2 laps · 32.6 km · 254 m · Road Race
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks via Zwift Insider
Round 2 | Race 2
Watopia Tiny Races
3 short races · 1 night · Watopia
Animated maps provided by ZwiftHacks via Zwift Insider
Round 2 | Race 3
R.G.V. | France
1 lap · 24 km · 133 m · Four Provinces TTT
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks via Zwift Insider
Private event: contact your Province / Pen Captain for the entry link.
Round 2 | Race 4
BRAEk-fast Crits & Grits | Scotland
1 lap · 22.1 km total · 261 m · Queen Stage
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks via Zwift Insider
Round 327 November–18 December 2026Crit / Sprint · Punchy · Hill Climb · Christmas Tiny Races
27 NOVEMBER 2026 · R3.1
Crit / Sprint
Route TBC
04 DECEMBER 2026 · R3.2
Punchy
Route TBC
11 DECEMBER 2026 · R3.3
Hill Climb Championship
Route TBC
18 DECEMBER 2026 · R3.4
Christmas Tiny Races
Three short races · Routes TBC
2026/27 Calendar
Full race schedule.
Routes and formats marked TBC or provisional remain subject to confirmation.
| Date | Round | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | R1.1 | Crit / Sprint – Avon Flyer, 6 laps |
| 9 Oct | R1.2 | Punchy – Montmartre Mixer |
| 16 Oct | R1.3 | ITT – Croissant |
| 23 Oct | R1.4 | Climb Finish – Legends and Lava |
| 30 Oct | R2.1 | Road Race – Richmond UCI Reverse, 2 laps |
| 6 Nov | R2.2 | Watopia Tiny Races – Volcano Circuit (1 lap) · Canopies & Coastlines lead-in (5.1 km, Titans finish) · The Classic (1 lap) |
| 13 Nov | R2.3 | Four Provinces TTT – R.G.V., 1 lap |
| 20 Nov | R2.4 | Queen Stage – BRAEk-fast Crits & Grits, 1 lap |
| 27 Nov | R3.1 | Crit / Sprint – route TBC |
| 4 Dec | R3.2 | Punchy – route TBC |
| 11 Dec | R3.3 | Hill Climb Championship – route TBC |
| 18 Dec | R3.4 | Christmas Tiny Races – routes TBC |
| 8 Jan 2027 | R4.1 | Road Race – route TBC |
| 15 Jan | R4.2 | ITT / format subject to final review |
| 22 Jan | R4.3 | Crit / Sprint – route TBC |
| 29 Jan | R4.4 | Nationals Course Preview – provisional |
| 6 Feb* | – | Cycling Ireland eSports National Championships |
| 19 Feb | R5.1 | Tiny Races – routes TBC |
| 26 Feb | R5.2 | Four Provinces TTT II – route TBC |
| 5 Mar | R5.3 | Punchy – route TBC |
| 12 Mar | R5.4 | Queen Stage – RWB Grand Finale |
* National Championships date remains provisional until confirmed by Cycling Ireland.
Championship Format
Best three races. Best four Rounds. Progress is protected.
Each Round has four championship race nights and a rider’s best three results determine that Round total. The season-long Series Championship uses the rider’s best four Round totals from the five Rounds and follows the rider across category progression, so improving enough to race up does not erase the season already earned.
Season scoring
Best 3 of 4 races per Round · Best 4 of 5 Rounds for the Series Championship.
If a rider completes all five Rounds, their lowest Round total is dropped. A rider may also miss one Round entirely and still complete a full four-Round Series Championship score. Completed Round totals remain attached to the rider if they move category between Rounds.
Finishing points
1st30
2nd25
3rd20
4th16
5th15
6th14
7th13
8th12
9th11
10th10
11th–15th9
16th–20th8
21st–25th7
26th–30th6
31st–35th5
36th–40th4
41st–45th3
46th–50th2
All other classified finishers1
Tiny Race Nights
Three short races are combined into one championship result, occupying one of the four scoring slots in the Round.
| Finish | Internal pts |
|---|---|
| 1st | 10 |
| 2nd | 8 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 5 |
| 5th | 4 |
| 6th | 3 |
| 7th | 2 |
| 8th+ classified | 1 |
The three internal scores are added within the rider’s locked category. The combined ranking then receives standard championship points. Ties are broken by the better result in Race 3, then Race 2.
Two season classifications
Series Championship follows the rider. Category Championship points stay in their category.
A rider who moves category keeps every completed Round total for the season-long Series Championship. Their best four Round totals are counted regardless of which category those Rounds were raced in.
Category Championships remain category-specific. Points earned in C stay in C; points earned in B stay in B. Moving up therefore does not transfer, convert or rewrite category points, but it also does not wipe the rider’s Series Championship progress.
Most Improved Rider
Reward development across the whole season.
To qualify, a rider must complete at least 3 Rounds and 6 classified race starts. The score combines three things rather than relying on one easily-gamed number:
50% ZRS growth30% competitive improvement20% category progression
A live Most Improved tracker appears on the results page once a rider has two classified race starts, and updates after every race night. ZRS growth compares the rider’s ZRS at their first classified race with their latest classified race; a 25% increase earns the full component and anything larger is capped, so one extreme jump cannot dominate. Competitive improvement compares the rider’s relative position within their category in their first classified race with the average of their latest two classified races. Category progression awards 10 points per physical Zwift-pen step from first to latest classified race, capped at 20. The A/A+ results split is not treated as a separate physical-pen promotion. The official award still requires at least 3 Rounds and 6 classified race starts.
Four Provinces Championship
Every rider can contribute.
Five teams compete throughout the season: Ulster, Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Rest of World. Cycling Ireland riders are assigned from the CI Club on their Eventmaster registration. An unknown Irish club becomes Province Pending, never Rest of World. Riders who are not registered with Cycling Ireland score for Rest of World unless the Province / Pen Captains confirm the province they belong to.
ULSTER
Every classified finisher can contribute.
LEINSTER
Every classified finisher can contribute.
MUNSTER
Every classified finisher can contribute.
CONNACHT
Every classified finisher can contribute.
REST OF WORLD
Eligible non-Irish riders form the fifth team.
Four Provinces TTT · R2.3
One team. One common timing position.
The TTT is different from a normal championship race. The five pens are teams, not ZRS categories. A, B, C, D and E riders can therefore work together for Ulster, Leinster, Munster, Connacht or Rest of World.
How to enter: the TTT is a private Zwift event. Each Province’s Pen Captain shares the private event link with their team, so contact your Province / Pen Captain to get it. If you cannot find your captain, or you ride for Rest of World, contact RWB at info@withoutborders.online or through our social channels.
1Find the smallest teamCount the riders who actually start. DNS riders do not count. If the smallest team has fewer than 5 starters, 5 is used instead, so teams that assembled a full squad are not penalised.
2Take away twoThat gives the timing position used for every team.
3Use the same finisherEvery team’s official time is taken from that same finishing position.
Easy example
Imagine the five teams start with 14, 12, 11, 10 and 8 riders.
Smallest team = 88 − 2 = 6Official time = 6th finisher
So it does not matter that Ulster might have 14 starters and Connacht only 8. Every team is timed on its 6th rider. A team must have enough counted finishers to reach the common timing position to record a team time. If a team does not finish the required number of riders, it records no team time and receives no TTT placing points. Its classified finishers still receive the individual points they are otherwise eligible for.
TTT team points
1st: 502nd: 403rd: 304th: 205th: 10
Individual points
Every classified finisher: 15 ptsTeam participation: +1
The normal +4 / +3 / +2 Four Provinces category bonuses do not apply on TTT night. They are replaced by the 50 / 40 / 30 / 20 / 10 team placing bonus.
Guest rider rule
Guests can fill no more than 20% of the places that count towards your team time.
Your team’s time is taken on its counted finisher at the common timing position. At most 20% of those places, rounded down, may be taken by guest riders (for example 2 of 10). If more guests than that finish inside the timing position, the extra guests are ignored and the time is taken from the next rider who counts, moving down the finishing order until the places are filled.
Example: the timing position is 10 and three of your first ten finishers are guests. Only two guests are allowed, so the third is ignored and the team is timed on its 11th finisher, provided that rider is eligible for the team. If the 11th finisher is also a guest, we check the 12th, and so on. Guests still receive their own 15 individual championship points. They do not score a Four Provinces participation point for the team they guest for and cannot transfer their provincial allegiance for the night.
On normal race nights
Every classified team finisher: +11st team rider in each ZRS category: +42nd: +33rd: +2
Official Classification
Race eligibility & technical rules.
These rules determine eligibility for official championship placement. For all categories: a heart-rate monitor and a smart trainer and/or power meter are required; zPower / estimated power is not eligible.
ZwiftPower
Compulsory. Riders must be opted in / linked and appear in ZwiftPower results to receive an official classification.
Category enforcement from Round 2 onward
Zwift Category Enforcement is used for standard category races. From Round 2 onward, the rider’s first actual Zwift pen in the Round sets the category for that Round. ZRS is a reference for choosing the correct pen, not a trigger for an automatic mid-Round move. Riders close to a boundary are encouraged to race up. Once the Round has started, the rider must continue in the same physical pen for the remaining category race nights. Entering a different category pen later in the same Round is not a valid way to change championship category and may result in that race being excluded. Category choice is reviewed again at the start of the next Round. The 15-point protected-buffer system remains a Round 1-specific rule only.
Heart rate
A heart-rate monitor is mandatory for official result placement in all ZRS categories.
Power source
Only smart-trainer and/or power-meter users are eligible for official result placement. zPower / estimated-power results are not eligible.
TT bikes
Not permitted in standard mass-start races. Permitted only in events explicitly designated as an ITT, subject to event configuration.
PowerUps
Permitted unless an individual race page states otherwise.
Equipment & profile
Riders must use their own Zwift account, accurate height and weight, and properly paired/calibrated equipment.
Conduct & verification
There is no blanket dual-recording or video-verification requirement. RWB reserves the right to request additional verification where a result or performance requires review, and to disqualify riders for unsportsmanlike conduct or failure to meet the published eligibility rules.
Disputes
Disputes are directed to RWB by email at info@withoutborders.online, or by message through the RWB Instagram or Facebook page Messenger.
Provincial TTT team composition
The five geographic pens are open. Guest riders (riders not eligible to represent that team) may fill at most 20% of the places that count towards a team’s time, rounded down; any surplus guests are ignored and the time is taken from the next eligible rider. Guest riders retain individual championship eligibility but cannot score Four Provinces points for the team they guest for.
Cycling Ireland classification
Riders wishing to appear in Cycling Ireland-specific results must complete the Cycling Ireland series registration and provide their Zwift ID. This links ZwiftPower race results to their Cycling Ireland membership. Riders who do not register can still compete in the open series but will not appear in Cycling Ireland-specific classifications. Register with Cycling Ireland.
Racing Score
Category progression from Round 2 onward.
From Round 2 onward, categories are fixed for each four-race Round. The aim is simple: riders choose the right level at the beginning of the Round, race there consistently, and move up between Rounds when their development warrants it.
Progression rule
Moving up is success, not a championship penalty.
A rider’s completed Round totals continue to count toward the season-long Series Championship, even after promotion. The best four Round totals from five are used across the rider’s season.
Category Championship points do not move. A rider who scores in C and later races B keeps those C points in C and begins earning separate B category points, while both completed Round totals remain part of the rider’s Series Championship record.
1ChooseUse your current ZRS, recent racing and judgement to choose the correct pen at the start of the Round.
2Race up if closeIf you are on the edge of two categories, race in the higher pen rather than trying to sit under a line.
3Stay for the RoundYour first physical Zwift pen becomes your Round category. Later ZRS changes do not move you mid-Round.
4Review next RoundAt the next Round, reassess. If your performance now belongs higher, move up and keep your Series Championship progress.
| Category | Published ZRS range | Round 2+ approach | Boundary guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 690–1000 | Physical A pen | A/A+ split is results-only |
| B | 520–689 | Fixed for the Round once entered | Close to 690? Race up |
| C | 350–519 | Fixed for the Round once entered | Close to 520? Race up |
| D | 180–349 | Fixed for the Round once entered | Close to 350? Race up |
| E | 0–179 | Fixed for the Round once entered | Close to 180? Race up |
Example: Sam progresses from C to B
Improvement should help, not erase the season.
Round 178 ptsCRound total recorded
Round 282 ptsCStill racing competitively in C
Round 376 ptsCAnother completed Round
Round 4B ↑BMoves up at the new Round
Round 1 legacy rule
The 15-point protected buffer applies to Round 1 only.
Round 1 began under the original category-protection system. A rider’s category was established when they first raced in the Round, using the normal published ZRS ranges below. Once established, that rider was given a temporary 15-point buffer above the normal upper limit so a small ZRS increase during the four-race Round did not force an immediate category change.
From Race 2 onward, the Zwift pen limits for Round 1 are being set to the maximum protected ceilings. This is being done so riders who started Round 1 in a category and are legitimately using the buffer can continue to enter the same pen. The extended pen limits do not replace the normal category boundaries.
| Category | Normal ZRS range | Round 1 protected ceiling | Who should use it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 690–1000 | 1000 | Normal A riders |
| B | 520–689 | 704 | Existing Round 1 B riders only above 689 |
| C | 350–519 | 534 | Existing Round 1 C riders only above 519 |
| D | 180–349 | 364 | Existing Round 1 D riders only above 349 |
| E | 0–179 | 194 | Existing Round 1 E riders only above 179 |
1Already raced Round 1?Your first Round 1 category remains your category while your ZRS stays within its protected ceiling.
2Above the ceiling?If your ZRS rises beyond the protected ceiling, move to the next category for the remainder of Round 1.
3Joining Round 1 late?Use the normal published ZRS ranges, not the extended Zwift pen ceiling, to choose your category.
4Round 2 resetsThe protected-buffer system ends after Round 1. From Round 2 onward, the fixed-for-the-Round rules above apply.
Round 1 example
A C rider moves slightly above 519
Race 1515CStarts Round 1 inside the normal C range
After Race 1526CAbove 519, but still inside the protected ceiling
Race 2526CMay continue in C under the Round 1 buffer rule
If ZRS reaches535B ↑Now above the 534 protected ceiling, so the rider moves to B
Important for new riders: a rider joining Round 1 for the first time with a ZRS of 526 is a Category B rider under the normal published ranges. The fact that Zwift may technically allow entry to the C pen up to 534 is there to protect existing Round 1 C riders, not to create a new C boundary.
Round 1 results and category decisions already made under this system remain valid. From Round 2 onward, the revised fixed-for-the-Round category system replaces dynamic mid-Round ZRS movement.
Go full gas. Race hard. Enjoy it.
RWB x Cycling Ireland eSports Series 2026/27
#rideOn
Enter Here: https://www.zwift.com/uk/events/tag/rwbciseries
Cycling Ireland Members Register here
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