Understand that there were technical issues and also that it is "not a race," but I'll offer my $.02...
I've completed all 4 stages so far, and have enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep up in relatively fast bunches in each of the stages. What was frustrating about Stage 4 was that the leaderboard that was previously present in other stages was all of a sudden not available. Had I ridden Stage 1 and had no leaderboard I would likely have chalked it up to the fact, as you mentioned, that the Tour de Zwift is not a race. But with thousands of people in an event, there is inevitably going to be some level of competition, even if on a more friendly level. The leaderboard was used in the first 3 stages, which made its presence throughout the event a reasonable expectation.
The reason I appreciated the leaderboard previously was that it is difficult (maybe impossible) to know where I was relative to the front. I'm not sure if it is due to the limitations of my computer (MacBook Pro or Alienware 15), my internet connection, or Zwift itself, but I can generally only see maybe 50-100 riders in front or behind me, both in-game and also on the companion app. So without a leaderboard that is telling me where I actually am, my in-game view looks like I'm not too far behind the front end of the field. On the first 3 stages I knew exactly where the field extended to up the road because the leaderboard told me. But on Stage 4 it was impossible to know how much further up the road the lead of the bunch extended, or if I was even in the front bunch when I hit the base of the final climb.
I realize that the Tour de Zwift is NOT a race. But it does seem very much like a fondo in the sense that, as others have mentioned, it is whatever each individual wants it to be (quite frankly aren't most Ironmans like this??). I've done the Etape du Tour in France a handful of times and the Tour de Zwift reminds me a lot of that. In the Etape there ARE results, and some people are VERY competitive, but the majority aren't. But no one questions that there is timing and results, because even if the only challenge one is facing is within themselves, the results help add a fun dimension to that.
My vote would certainly be to add back the in-game leaderboard as it made it a much more fun and challenging workout for me.
Geoffrey Nenninger
I've completed all 4 stages so far, and have enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep up in relatively fast bunches in each of the stages. What was frustrating about Stage 4 was that the leaderboard that was previously present in other stages was all of a sudden not available. Had I ridden Stage 1 and had no leaderboard I would likely have chalked it up to the fact, as you mentioned, that the Tour de Zwift is not a race. But with thousands of people in an event, there is inevitably going to be some level of competition, even if on a more friendly level. The leaderboard was used in the first 3 stages, which made its presence throughout the event a reasonable expectation.
The reason I appreciated the leaderboard previously was that it is difficult (maybe impossible) to know where I was relative to the front. I'm not sure if it is due to the limitations of my computer (MacBook Pro or Alienware 15), my internet connection, or Zwift itself, but I can generally only see maybe 50-100 riders in front or behind me, both in-game and also on the companion app. So without a leaderboard that is telling me where I actually am, my in-game view looks like I'm not too far behind the front end of the field. On the first 3 stages I knew exactly where the field extended to up the road because the leaderboard told me. But on Stage 4 it was impossible to know how much further up the road the lead of the bunch extended, or if I was even in the front bunch when I hit the base of the final climb.
I realize that the Tour de Zwift is NOT a race. But it does seem very much like a fondo in the sense that, as others have mentioned, it is whatever each individual wants it to be (quite frankly aren't most Ironmans like this??). I've done the Etape du Tour in France a handful of times and the Tour de Zwift reminds me a lot of that. In the Etape there ARE results, and some people are VERY competitive, but the majority aren't. But no one questions that there is timing and results, because even if the only challenge one is facing is within themselves, the results help add a fun dimension to that.
My vote would certainly be to add back the in-game leaderboard as it made it a much more fun and challenging workout for me.
Geoffrey Nenninger