# The 3 month downgrade is so annoying **URL:** \ **Category:** Racing\ **Created:** [October 7, 2026, 8:03am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663 "2026-10-07T08:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/james_cavell_amsterd/32/540502_2.png) [@James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](https://forums.zwift.com/u/James_Cavell_Amsterd)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 8:03am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/1 "2026-10-07T08:03:32Z")
Anyone else find it crazy that if you don’t hit certain w/kg for 3 months you can get dropped a pace category? My race score has increased by over 200 since I first became an A rider, but now I am ‘B’ again as I haven’t done over 5.2 w/kg for 5 minutes for 3 months (haven’t done long VO2 max intervals or needed to hit this in a race), and also, if you work hard on improving your anaerobic power, Zwift seems to _reduce_ your zFTP. Why not make category match racing score, or just do away with it? Because I did 422 watts for 5 minutes 91 days ago, Zwift has now dropped my zMAP from 5.5 to 4.8, and my VO2 max from 68 → 60 In this same three month period my ZRS has increased by 50. It makes no sense at all. I recently hit my best ever 5 min IN RACE numbers, but my VO2 max has apparently declined by 12%. As long as you are still using the platform, racing and doing intense intervals, your numbers shouldn’t decline by so much. Not everyone tests their FTP regularly on Zwift, or does a 5 min PB. Also, heavier riders don’t necessarily need to hit 5.2+ in races to be competitive. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Shelton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/tom_shelton/32/517557_2.png) [@Tom\_Shelton](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Tom_Shelton)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 8:26am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/2 "2026-10-07T08:26:54Z")
You’re highlighting numerous problems with both pace groups and ZRS that have been consistently raised by the community and consistently ignored by zwift. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Cl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/steve_cl/32/19534_2.png) [@Steve\_Cl](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Steve_Cl)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 8:37am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/3 "2026-10-07T08:37:44Z")
A pen allocation system based on a random number generator once you are regularly racing (ZRS) versus a system that continually looks at your power data (Category Enforcement and older Zwiftpower) makes no sense at all. CE needs far less refinement than ZRS to make it better. All it could with is lowering the minimum Watts floor by ~25W for pens A-C on the four pen system. But it would be better to change it to a five pen system and give the minimum Watts for pens A-D some proper thought. Oh and like all Zwift racing systems, look at racer claimed height as well as power to determine pen, because in Zwift little people get a huge benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_D9](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/chris_d9/32/541335_2.png) [@Chris\_D9](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Chris_D9)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 11:31am UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/4 "2026-10-07T11:31:45Z")
> [@Steve\_Cl](#): > > because in Zwift little people get a huge benefit. Maybe for racing that idea someone here put forward that everyone races at fixed weight and height, but put it at a much higher weight and height than he envisaged, so nobody suddenly gets a big w/kg boost or any sudden gains. Maybe it fails miserably or maybe everyone loves it. If people hate it, then it can be reverted and try something else. I’m not in favour of it or against it. The other problem is seeing people drop their weight and heights whenever they want. People becoming 50kg or 140cm. This is shown in Zwiftpower. 🫣 > [@James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](#): > > Why not make category match racing score, or just do away with it? I’ve had that too - I went into a race only to get a particular unlock. Because I’d just already done a very hard effort on the immediately before, no way I was going quick and that race and then my category went down. I ended up later getting the category back through an all out 40 minute maximum effort a few weeks later. Not too bothered by it. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Southworth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/paul_southworth/32/538336_2.png) [@Paul\_Southworth](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Paul_Southworth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 12:28pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/5 "2026-10-07T12:28:49Z")
I realize people will set goals around almost anything but pace group and ZRS are not reward systems. They are supposed to assign minimum race starting pens, or give some guidance about which group rides to join. They are tools to help with those things, which are far from perfect, but choosing something at a higher level than your pace group or racing score is an option most of the time. The primary use case for pace group now is choosing group rides and understanding if they are likely to be easy or hard, since most races don’t rely on pace group and most people do not race, so it’s used in the racing context by a fraction of a fraction of the user base. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Dixon\_ElectricS](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/paul_dixon_electrics/32/527944_2.png) [@Paul\_Dixon\_ElectricS](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Paul_Dixon_ElectricS)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/6 "2026-10-07T18:12:35Z")
It’s used by ZRL, the biggest race series on Zwift. I’m in a similar boat, I can normally get myself into A if I have the desire, but I have to absolutely turn myself inside out for 5 minutes. Not something I frequently do willingly… ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Southworth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/paul_southworth/32/538336_2.png) [@Paul\_Southworth](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Paul_Southworth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/7 "2026-10-07T18:33:57Z")
I know it’s used by ZRL, but for most people that doesn’t matter and seeking a higher pace group doesn’t provide any benefits for ZRL that I’m aware of. You can be in C pace group and join a B team if you want. WTRL rule 3.1.2 covers that. ---
**Author:** ![Bath\_Salts](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/bath_salts/32/237_2.png) [@Bath\_Salts](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Bath_Salts)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 11:36pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/8 "2026-10-07T23:36:59Z")
ZRL is 2nd, to Zmonthly racing the one that start at 0:10 pass the hour is bigger. @Paul_Dixon_ElectricS ---
**Author:** ![James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/james_cavell_amsterd/32/540502_2.png) [@James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](https://forums.zwift.com/u/James_Cavell_Amsterd)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/9 "2026-10-08T13:30:58Z")
My 5.5 w/kg 5 minute power of just over 3 months ago has now dropped to 4.9, but my zFTP has now suddenly gone up by 11. Zwift’s automation thinks my FTP has increased by 11 watts while my VO2 max has declined from 68 to 60. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Southworth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/paul_southworth/32/538336_2.png) [@Paul\_Southworth](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Paul_Southworth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/10 "2026-10-08T13:44:31Z")
It thinks your zFTP has increased. Your FTP setting remains unchanged from that. ---
**Author:** ![Anna\_Ronkainen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/anna_ronkainen/32/77245_2.png) [@Anna\_Ronkainen](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Anna_Ronkainen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/11 "2026-10-08T13:45:17Z")
In most races you can race in A just fine even though your assigned category is B, so I’m not sure I understand what the actual issue is? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Twigt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/peter_twigt/32/527505_2.png) [@Peter\_Twigt](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Peter_Twigt)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/12 "2026-10-08T13:48:30Z")
Its even more impressive if James wins the ZEAL Friday race as a B 😉 ---
**Author:** ![James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/james_cavell_amsterd/32/540502_2.png) [@James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](https://forums.zwift.com/u/James_Cavell_Amsterd)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/13 "2026-10-08T14:14:31Z")
ha ha, despite Zwift reducing my numbers (apart from the increasing ZRS) I’m able to hang out at the front of the Advanced ZEAL race nowadays. Worked on my Z6 heavily (which led to a decline in zFTP of course) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Cl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/steve_cl/32/19534_2.png) [@Steve\_Cl](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Steve_Cl)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/14 "2026-10-08T15:47:29Z")
That’s completely as designed, as your zMAP (approx 4-6mins) increases, your zFTP decreases. Back under Category Enforcement, a pen allocation threshold breach through zMAP was definitive for 90 days, but if a marginal pen promotion was solely through a zFTP breach you had a chance to revert to the lower pen by improving your zMAP. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/james_cavell_amsterd/32/540502_2.png) [@James\_Cavell\_Amsterd](https://forums.zwift.com/u/James_Cavell_Amsterd)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/15 "2026-10-15T13:40:07Z")
Was back to A within a day. Did 366 for 12 mins in a TT, and my zFTP went up to 4.4w/kg In fact in just one week my zFTP was 311, 323 and 340. This is strange to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Southworth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/gozwift/user_avatar/forums.zwift.com/paul_southworth/32/538336_2.png) [@Paul\_Southworth](https://forums.zwift.com/u/Paul_Southworth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.zwift.com/t/the-3-month-downgrade-is-so-annoying/671663/16 "2026-10-15T13:47:23Z")
Probably not strange given how it works, but if you want to share a screenshot of your numbers from [my.zwift.com](http://my.zwift.com) I might be able to offer an explanation. It would need to include at least the zFTP, zMAP, and PRs from 3, 5, 12, 20 minutes.