SISU Racing 2025/26 Club Championships – New York Edition
The SISU Racing Club Championships return for their third edition - and this year we’re taking the fight to the brand-new roads of Zwift’s New York world. Fast, technical, and unmistakably urban, New York sets the stage for a championship that rewards versatility, grit, and pure racing instinct.
Across four distinct race disciplines, riders will be tested against the clock, the pack, the gradient, and endurance itself. Every stage matters. Every second counts. One season. One set of champions.
New York
Zwift’s New York world first dropped on 18 October 2018 as a bold, “NYC… but 100 years in the future” concept: you’ve got real-world-inspired ground roads around Central Park, then the signature elevated, transparent “glass” sky-roads (where most of the map’s meaningful climbing lives). That original design was deliberately more “gameified” than the other early Zwift worlds—sci-fi skyline, flying cars, and dramatic elevation changes that feel like you’re riding on architecture.
The biggest evolution since launch arrived on 27 October 2025, when Zwift rolled out its largest expansion in years: about 30–31km of new roads that finally push riders beyond the Central Park bubble. This update adds faster, rolling surface roads through more of “today’s NYC” references—linking Manhattan into Brooklyn—and even introduces subway sections (a first for the map).
Landmark wise, it’s basically a greatest hits tour: Central Park remains the anchor, but the expansion layers in big, instantly recognisable beats like Times Square, then sends you over the Brooklyn Bridge (and also references/uses the Manhattan Bridge), before opening into Brooklyn via Flatbush Avenue, Grand Army Plaza, and laps of Prospect Park. The vibe contrast is perfect for championships: the glass-road sections deliver punchy, selective climbing and skyline drama, while the newer borough roads are built for speed, positioning, and late-race tactics.
Quirky New York facts that make the world feel very “Zwift”: it’s canonically set 100 years in the future, so you’re effectively racing a sci-fi NYC where the most iconic “bridges” are sometimes the roads themselves those gravity defying glass ribbons in the sky. And the expansion’s subway isn’t just scenery: it’s used for Zwift’s Power Segments (watt based challenges) and became one of the headline “new gameplay” hooks tied to the NYC refresh.
RACE READY
Be race ready with handy fueling tips by Andrea, SISU Racing’s resident nutritionist.
REGISTRATION
By registering you confirm you have read, understood and will comply with Zwift’s Rules of the Road and SISU Racing’s Code of Conduct.
Toefield Tornado (Individual Time Trial)
TUESDAY, 3 MARCH
The championships kick off with a true test of focus and pacing. Toefield Tornado is all about riding the knife-edge between power and precision as racers face the clock alone. Smooth lines, disciplined pacing, and mental toughness will define the early leaderboard—and set the tone for the battles to come.
Coaching tips & race approach
Pacing is everything: Aim for a controlled start at 95–98% of target power for the first 2–3 minutes, then settle into your planned effort. Overcooking the first half is the fastest way to lose time.
Cadence discipline: Hold a steady cadence you can sustain under pressure. Small fluctuations in power add up over 10 km.
Ride the course, not the clock: Break the effort into thirds - build, hold, then empty the tank in the final minutes.
Winning mindset: calm, methodical, relentless.
Avon Flyer x 8 laps (Criterium)
TUESDAY, 10 MARCH
Fast, furious, and relentlessly tactical, the Avon Flyer brings pure criterium chaos to the streets of New York. Expect tight racing, constant accelerations, and decisive moments in the blink of an eye. Positioning is everything, and only the sharpest racers will survive the speed and sprint for glory.
Points in each grade will be awarded as follows;
FAL (First Across The Line) at Centre Sprint at the end of laps 2, 5 and 6 to the first 20 riders
40, 38, 36, 34, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2.
The first 20 riders in each grade across the line at the end of the race will be awarded
250, 240, 230, 220, 200, 180, 160, 140, 130, 110, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10.
Powerups - Draft, Ghost, Aero.
Events will be held in multiple time zones with the total points determining the Club Championships (should there be a tie on points, the fastest time will determine the winner).
Coaching tips & race approach
Positioning beats power: Stay in the top 10–15 wheels without surfing the front. You want options, not wind.
Choose your moments: You don’t need every FAL - target one or two that suit your strengths, then race smart to the finish.
Sprint economy: Short, sharp accelerations > long drags. If you sprint for FAL points, recover fast and slot back in.
Winning mindset: alert, aggressive, and adaptable. This race rewards riders who think two laps ahead.
Stay PuFT Pursuit (Climb)
TUESDAY, 17 MARCH
The championships turn uphill on Stay Put Pursuit, where raw watts meet resolve. This is a climber’s proving ground—no hiding, just sustained effort and inner strength. Gaps open quickly here, and contenders will need to dig deep to stay in the championship fight.
Powerups - Draft, Feather, Aero.
Coaching tips & race approach
Ride your numbers: Stay just below threshold early. The riders who blow are the ones who chase too soon.
Smooth over savage: Keep cadence steady and avoid surging unless you’re responding to a genuine GC threat.
Mental chunking: Break the climb into segments and focus only on the next target wheel.
Winning mindset: controlled suffering. This is where resilience beats bravado.
Fuhgeddaboudit (Road Race)
SATURDAY, 28 MARCH
It all comes down to the Fuhgeddaboudit road race—longer, tougher, and packed with opportunity for bold moves. Endurance, teamwork, and race IQ collide on this iconic New York route. Championships will be won and lost here as riders empty the tank in one final showdown.
Powerups - Draft, Feather, Aero, Anvil.
Coaching tips & race approach
Fuel early, fuel often: This race is lost faster through under fuelling than lack of fitness. Fuelling tips by Andrea.
Stay calm in the chaos: Let others chase early moves. The decisive moments usually come late.
Race for your goal: GC contenders ride defensively; stage hunters look for late moves or reduced sprints.
Winning mindset: patient confidence. Survive first—then race to win.
The Finish Line: Virtual After Party
TUESDAY, 31 MARCH
Once the racing is done, the SISU community comes together for a virtual after party to celebrate another unforgettable season. We’ll relive the highlights, recognize the performances, and officially crown the 2025/26 SISU Racing Club Champions.
ZWIFT RACING SCORE
Riders enter using your peak Zwift Race Score from the last 30 days for category enforcement.
There are five standard categories in the Zwift Racing Score system. These categories are based on score ranges and divide riders into competitive groups depending on their racing performance and power output:
690-1000 (A Grade)
520-690 (B Grade)
350-520 (C Grade)
180-350 (D Grade)
1-180 (E Grade)
MORE INFORMATION
All riders are welcome - the SISU Club Champion title goes to the top SISU Racing member.
Overall GC decided on combined time across all four stages (iTT + Crit + Climb + Road Race).
Open events with separate Men’s and Women’s results.
Race one discipline or all four — specialists welcome, all-rounders rewarded.
Mass start racing with all riders visible, true to SISU spirit.
ZwiftPower profile required.
Z Power riders and riders without heart rate data will be excluded from results.
Championship Jerseys
Championships deserve jerseys with meaning and the SISU Racing Club Championships deliver exactly that. SISU Racing members are free to race in either the White or Blue in-game kit throughout the event - whatever feels fastest on the day.
Each discipline winner in every grade will pull on the Johtaja Jersey in spirit, a striking popping orange design that quite literally translates from Finnish as “Leader” — a bold reward for those who master their chosen battleground.
Above all sits the ultimate prize: the Laulujoutsen Jersey, awarded to the overall Men’s and Women’s Club Champions, who will pull it on in spirit as the highest symbol of achievement. Laulujoutsen, the Whooper Swan, is Finland’s national bird and represents the greatest honour in SISU Racing. Fittingly, Finnish sporting traditions proudly draw their identity from powerful native animals. This jersey carries real history too, with past champions including Jorge De La Flor (Spain, 2023/24), Martin Mathiasen (2024/25), and Finland’s own Mona Kangasniemi, the two-time Women’s Club Champion. These aren’t just jerseys—they’re symbols of leadership, legacy, and SISU.
Champions, Stories, and a Few SISU-Style Quirks
One of the great joys of the SISU Racing Club Championships is the diversity of champions it continues to produce. Across just two editions, the podiums already tell a powerful story: youth and experience, Europe and North America, sprinters, climbers, and all rounders - all bound by the same love of racing and SISU grit.
In the Men’s Overall and A Grade, the Championships have been ruled by two contrasting champions. The inaugural 2023/24 title went to Jorge De La Flor, an U23 rider from Spain, showcasing fearless racing and raw talent. A year later, the crown passed north to Martin Mathiasen, a Veteran from Denmark, proving that experience, patience, and race craft are just as lethal as youth. Together, they highlight a brilliant Championship quirk: the same jersey can be won by riders at completely different life stages.
Depth across the grades has been just as compelling. In B Grade, endurance and consistency shone through, with Howard Williamson (UK, 60+) taking the 2023/24 title, followed by Eddie Monnier (USA, 60+) in 2024/25 - proof that racing longevity is alive and well. C Grade has been truly international, moving from Martin Skapa of the Czech Republic to Martin Dompierre, while D and E Grades underline the strength of North American participation, with champions including Jared Stonkus, Andrew Grimwood, and Allan Crew.
On the Women’s side, one name is already etched into SISU Racing folklore. Mona Kangasniemi has claimed the Overall Club Champion title twice, dominating 2023/24 and 2024/25 and reinforcing Finland’s deep connection to SISU itself. Her presence across multiple grades speaks to both versatility and longevity. Alongside her, champions like Sabina Bremer (Switzerland) and Kathy Garrett (USA) highlight the truly global nature of the women’s competition.
Quirky but brilliant facts? In just two seasons, Club Champions have come from Europe and North America, spanning U23 to 60+ age groups, and representing countries as varied as Spain, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Canada, the UK, and the USA. It’s rare to see a championship where youth development, masters racing, and elite performance all coexist so seamlessly — but that’s SISU Racing. Different continents, different paths, one shared start line.
NEWS STORIES
AGAINST THE CLOCK: A REFLECTION ON THE SISU RACING INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL — AND THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
Men’s Overall Club Champion 2024/25
Martin Mathiasen, Denmark
