Rule Book

Purpose and Mission

The Online Winter League has run during the first part of the year since 2020 as a way for local riders (and friends of local riders) to come together and have fun during months when training is boring and outside weather is unpredictable.  We aim to bring people from across multiple cycling disciplines into events where they can compete against one another and enjoy both camaraderie and competition.  There are no USAC or UCI points on offer, and so while we want everyone to compete hard and train for their upcoming seasons or goals we still emphasize the fun of racing.  

Platform

Since 2025 we've been hosting the series on the TrainingPeaks Virtual app.  Previously we had been using Zwift, and while there can be debate about which cycling app everyone prefers it is objectively clear at this point that TPV offers more options for race diversity and more tools for race organizers.  Additionallly, TrainingPeaks Premium subscription--which provides both the analytic software and the TPV app--is still cheaper than Zwift's annual cost.  We understand the inertia to leaving Zwift, even if only for a single series, but TPV is much more suited to racing at this point.

You can download the TPV app here: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/virtual/

Scoring

In each event points will be awarded based on an individual's finish.  There are no team scoring events for the 2026 series.  While riders may race and compete as a team, all scoring is based on individual results.  Series standings will be based on the cumulative score for the series, tabulated after each event.

Scoring Races

In each event first place will be awarded thirty (30) points, second place will be awarded twenty-nine (29) points, and so on all the way to a single point for thirtieth place.  In the unlikely event that there are ever more than thirty riders there will be zero points awarded for each place after thirtieth.  This will be the same for all events and race types.  Unlike past years, there is no weekly bonus for cumulative omnium performance in a week; each individual event is equally weighted for scoring.   

Leaders

We will track the overall leader in the series.  Additionally, we will keep separate leader standings for Women and Junior as categories.  A rider may lead in more than one category.  Leaders for the series can be found on the Results page.

Event Rules

Expectation of Integrity: You are expected to race fairly and honestly.  There is no handicapping this year, so all riders are expected to compete with accurate height and weight information.  (We don't require day-of weigh ins, but if you're still using a weight from four years ago and just assuming it's accurate you might need to consider finding a scale.)  It is recommended (but not required) for race integrity that you weigh yourself at least once a week.  Ensure that your equipment is properly calibrated and in good working order. The TrainingPeaks performance verification will be set to a minimum to allow wider participation (no heart rate required, no second power source, etc) but because this series is meant to be both friendly and fun we ask that you race with integrity.  You're on the honor system.  You are required to race on your own account, unless a minor/junior racer needs to race on a guardian account for privacy reasons.  

Contesting or Amending Results: If an on-course result needs protesting or there is any reason to contest the results of event you have one hour from the conclusion of that evening's event to contest an in-race occurrence.  Once results are posted you will have until noon on the following day for corrections.  So if the results/scoring is posted the Thursday evening on the same day as the event, you will have until noon on Friday.  If, for some reason, the results are not published until Friday you would have until noon on Saturday to protest or request corrections.  We try to be accurate--and it should be easier this year with TrainingPeaks providing a CSV of all results--but we have made mistakes in the past.  Please check your results to ensure accuracy.  If we discover an error on our end we reserve the right to make corrections without a racer's initiation until the beginning of the following week's event.  

Schedule

See the 2026 Schedule  page for dates and a list of all events, including formats.  Please note that racing begins at 7:00 PM U.S. Central Standard Time each Thursday.  The starting pens for the events will open well before the events, but close one minute prior.  So for a 7:00 PM race you must be in the pen no later than 6:59 PM in order to race.  Each event will have its own pen and start time. 

Registration

Registration can be done via the TrainingPeaks Virtual app.  Events for the Online Winter Series will be listed on the dates seen on the Schedule page (see above).  Registering for the events via the links requires logging into your TPV account via browser.  Each event will need to be registered for individually. Discussion and interaction over the series can be found on our Discord and on the Facebook Group for the series, which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/theonlinewinterleague