ECRO Rider Guide

Welcome to ECRO - the E-Cycling Racing Organization. This guide covers everything you need to know to compete in ECRO races.

Quick Start

1. Create Your Account

1. Go to ecro.app/register
2. Sign up with your email
3. Verify your email address
4. Complete the onboarding wizard — a guided flow that walks you through Zwift connection, Discord, profile setup, equipment verification, and license purchase. Steps can be skipped and completed later.

2. Set Up Your Profile

From your Dashboard, go to Account and complete:

• Profile: Name, country, timezone, languages, preferred riding hours
• Connections: Link your Zwift account (required to race)
• License: Purchase your ECRO Rider License (required to earn points)

3. Connect Zwift

ECRO uses your Zwift account to track race results. To connect:

1. Go to Account → Connections
2. Click "Connect Zwift"
3. Authorize ECRO to access your Zwift data
4. Your Zwift ID will be linked to your ECRO profile

4. Get Your License

An ECRO Rider License is required to:

• Earn championship points
• Appear in official standings
• Join teams

To purchase:

1. Go to Account → License
2. Click "Purchase License"
3. Complete checkout (Stripe)
4. Your license activates immediately

License Duration: Valid for the entire season

5. Verify Equipment (Categories A & B)

If you're racing in Category A or B, you must verify your equipment:

1. Go to Equipment from your Dashboard
2. Upload a photo of your power meter or smart trainer
3. Include the serial number visible in the photo
4. Wait for admin approval (usually within 48 hours)

Equipment Requirements by Category:

Note: zPower (virtual power from dumb trainers) is not allowed in any category.

Understanding Your Category

ECRO uses a 5-tier category system based on your vELO rating from ZwiftRacing.app.

Category Thresholds

How Categories Work

1. Before First Race: Your category is calculated dynamically from your 90-day max vELO rating
2. After First Race: Your category is locked for the current phase
3. Transfer Windows: Categories unlock and recalculate between phases

Phase Locking

The season is divided into phases. Once you complete your first race in a phase:

• Your category locks based on your vELO rating at that moment
• You must race in that category for the rest of the phase
• This prevents "category shopping"

Wrong Category Penalties

Racing in a lower category than your rating requires results in time penalties. Penalties are cumulative throughout the season:

These penalties are applied automatically during results processing.

Your Dashboard

The Dashboard is your career hub. Here's what you'll find:

Career Status

• License Status: Active, expired, or not purchased
• Equipment Status: Verification pending, approved, or not required
• Ready to Race: Checklist showing what's needed before you can race

Featured Race

• Next upcoming race with route profile
• Quick link to race details and registration

Recent Results

• Your latest race finishes
• Points earned
• Link to full result analysis

Team Context (if on a team)

• Team name and badge
• Teammates
• Team standing
• Upcoming team races

Calendar & Racing

Finding Races

Go to Calendar to see all races:

• Preseason: Practice races (no points)
• Regular Season: Championship races organized by phase

Each race card shows:

• Race name and date
• Course profile (distance, elevation)
• Race type (Day Race, Stage Race, ITT)
• Points class

Race Types

Points Classes

Races are classified by importance:

Race Events

Each race has multiple events (time slots):

• Up to 5 events per race, scheduled across different time zones for global participation
• Choose the event that fits your schedule
• All events count toward the same race results

Before the Race

1. Check the Calendar: Find your race and preferred event time
2. View Race Intelligence: See entrant list, route profile, and course details
3. Verify Your Weight: Your Zwift weight must be current (within 5 days). If stale, you'll see an "Update Weight" prompt instead of the sign-up button — tap it to sync from Zwift
4. Check Your Category: Ensure you're registered in the correct category
5. Verify Equipment: Complete equipment verification if required

Race Day

1. Open Zwift and navigate to the event
2. Join the correct category pen
3. Race!
4. Results appear within 1-2 hours after the event ends

After the Race

1. Results Tab: Check your finish position and points
2. Analysis: View detailed race analysis (power data, splits)
3. Standings: See how your points affect season standings

Results & Standings

Viewing Your Results

Go to Results to see your race history:

• Filter by season, category, or search by race name
• View position, points, time, and any adjustments
• Click any result for detailed analysis

Result Statuses

Disqualification Codes

Season Standings

Go to Standings to see:

Rider Standings:

• Points-based ranking across all races
• Filter by series, category, and year
• Your position highlighted

Team Standings:

• Combined points from team members
• Top 6 finishers per category count toward team total

How Points Work

Points are awarded based on:

1. Finish Position: Higher positions earn more points
2. Points Class: Higher-class races award more points

All categories earn the same points for the same finish position.

Teams

Free Agent Life

If you're not on a team:

• You appear on the Transfer Market (unless hidden)
• Teams can send you contract offers
• You can browse teams and express interest

To hide from the market:

1. Go to Account → Profile
2. Toggle "Hide from Transfer Market"

Joining a Team

When a team sends you a contract offer:

1. You'll receive a notification
2. Review the offer terms (season, prize split)
3. Accept or decline

Contract terms include:

• Season: Which season the contract covers
• Prize Split: Your percentage of virtual prize money (ECRO$) earned

Being on a Team

Once on a team:

• Your Dashboard shows team context
• You race for team points
• Team tactics may be shared before races
• Virtual prize money is split per your contract

Creating a Team

To create your own team:

1. Go to Teams
2. Click "Create Team"
3. Set team name, short code, and branding
4. Purchase a Team License
5. Start recruiting riders

Performance

Power Profile

Go to Performance to see your power profile:

• Rider Type: Sprinter, climber, all-rounder, etc.
• Power Outputs: 15s, 1m, 5m, 20m power in w/kg
• Category Comparison: How you compare to peers
• Radar Chart: Visual power profile

Course Suitability

The Performance page shows which upcoming races suit your profile:

• Courses ranked by match percentage
• Consider focusing on races that favor your strengths

Understanding vELO

Your vELO rating comes from ZwiftRacing.app and reflects your racing performance:

• Current: Your latest rating
• 90-day Max: Used for category determination
• Updated after each ZwiftRacing.app race

Account Management

Profile Settings

Go to Account to manage:

Profile Tab:

• Display name
• Country
• Timezone
• Languages spoken
• Preferred riding hours

License Tab:

• License status and expiration
• Purchase or renew license

Connections Tab:

• Zwift account link
• Discord account link

Notifications Tab:

• Race reminders
• Contract offers
• Team updates

Notifications

The notification bell shows:

• Contract offers
• Race reminders
• Verification requests
• System announcements

Equipment Verification

Who Needs Verification

Equipment verification is required for:

• Category A: All riders
• Category B: All riders

Categories C, D, and E do not require equipment verification but must still use valid power sources.

What to Submit

1. Photo of your smart trainer or power meter
2. Serial number clearly visible
3. Your Zwift profile showing the device

Verification Process

1. Submit equipment photos via Equipment
2. Admin reviews within 48 hours
3. Approved equipment is linked to your profile
4. Re-verification may be required periodically

Dual Recording

Top riders may be asked to provide dual recordings:

• Record the same ride on both Zwift and a second device
• Proves power data accuracy
• Required for podium positions in major races

Reference

Important Links

Key Dates

• Transfer Windows: Between phases (categories unlock)
• Preseason: Practice period before championship races
• Regular Season: Championship races with points

Getting Help

For support:

• Check the Official Rules
• Contact support via your Dashboard
• Join the ECRO Discord community

Appeals

If you believe a result or DQ is incorrect:

• You have 7 days to file an appeal
• Appeals are reviewed by ECRO officials
• Decisions are communicated via notification

Glossary