New to cycling and confused how Riders are heavier pushing out lower W/kg yet finish a few minutes up the road, or lighter pushing out lower watts - miles ahead. Same race.
Today I averaged 3.65w/kg, 73kg. Some chap was 3.4, 77kg and was like 3 minutes in front…
Where am I going wrong? no drafting in race.
Me…34.20 Average 264w 3.65w/kg w73kg
Rider 1…30.50 Average 260w 3.6w/kg w72kg
Rider 2…31.37 Average 266w 3.4w/kg w77kg
If the route you were on was mostly flat, the w/kg has less impact than if it was hilly. Zwift’s algorithm takes into account the actual wattage on flats or downhills so those a bit heavier at the same w/kg will have a slight edge on speed.
In this case, their average w/kg may be the same as yours, but they could have pushed much higher w/kg on hills and cruised on flats at lower w/kg using someone’s draft. I call it “big guy advantage”, Newton’s first law.
Where you are wrong is assuming a heavier rider churning out more watts than you is going to be slower.
Newton’s first law is why big guys ride gravel faster, those 160mm rotors can’t stop them so they ride through the nasty bits.
yeap…although I still struggle with the draft. Still miles behind similar riders. Notice my W/kg is like 3.3 ish when drafting…maybe need to push harder.
Always get smashed it the start. Even when hitting 350w for a minute.