I Finally Won My First Zwift Race! - Cat D Zwift Racing

[@Ezrabateman09]

From the podcast. Your plug worked.

[@Interstellar83516]

Ditto

[@KolbyWoodMedicalSales]

Same

[@wertyboy8704]

Same

[@stuartbennett4888]

Another !

[@inthemix]

A win is a win, absolutely smashed it! Love the storytelling in this video too :)

[@ptp1969]

Nice sprint. Perfectly executed from behind him. But going to C cat too soon might nog be the best idea. The difference between 2.5 and 3.2 is quite big. Why not just do D races till Zwift decides you are cat C and in the meantime do more races with a larger group and practise.

[@FliskerX]

Yea cat C is super competitive. I feel like going C to B is not as bad as D to C.

[@wertyboy8704]

D to C is huge. I went C to B and was ok because I was winning C but now I'm winning B and sometimes a if it's a hilly stage I'm super light so my wpkg is very good

[@youtubekevinharrison]

Agreed. Don't go to cat C until you have to.

[@SuperOrcy]

agree. the bump to catC is brutal. the guys at the pointy end are so, so much faster and stronger comparatively.

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

I can't fully wait until Zwift switches me over, because my high weight would make me dominate D long before they move me up based on w/kg, haha.

[@JV_Allstar]

Love that smile at the end, pure joy! You should host a few Zwift group rides to get your endurance up!

[@thespokedwheel]

This is the video that inspired me to try zwift myself. I did my first two rides on there this weekend to get the ball rolling towards getting into better shape. Thanks Benji, your videos on here and your contributions on the LRCP are always top notch!

[@rolandhoward8421]

What a good effort, especially the dedication to training! Like others I’d suggest holding off trying to move up to Cat C too soon! I’m a similar build to you and I’ve regularly won relatively flat races including some races in bigger fields e.g. in the monthly stage race series. However, when you race against the top D guys.. and it’s the same names pop up regularly …. the pace will be super hot from the start. And don’t underestimate how fast some of the heavier D-cat riders can sprint and even climb! I’ll start thinking about moving up if I can get a top 10 ranking in Z-points. I’m just inside the top 100 after 90 races, I think you are about 8860 after 20 races. But I think you can do it, you’ve got age and enthusiasm on your side!

[@ptp1969]

The monthly Zwift races are great to start racing and/or meer more competative opponents. We have the Beach series at the moment with a new circuit every week for one month and than we begin a new series with a new theme. These races are held 12 times a day. Just start those and see how you do in D.

[@racheldebear9554]

Hey Benji Just wanted to tell you that after watching this video it inspired me to do my first Zwift race. Your honesty and humility and also giving an insight into what zwift racing can be like at the beginning (i.e its not always 100 people doing crazy watts/speeds it is do-able even in D category & how people still finish way far back and thats ok - I didnt do amazing but I didnt do badly either. Thanks again.

[@stijnvanloock3194]

Well done Benji, I am sure you will progress and one day win a C race as well! inspiring me to do zwift again (but must admit running is a bigger priority now)

[@mythx1804]

Hey, you're really motivating for me. Since i saw your first video i got back on my bike, quit smoking,trained, lost over 17 kilo's and got my fitness back. I'm happy to see you're progressing so well. Keep on !🎉🎉

[@custommadeeverything]

Way to go on the quitting smoking!

[@MrPedel]

Happy for your success, Benji! And you really had to work for it which is almost the best part. Good luck searching for the next win.

[@KonnoOC]

Great Job Benji! It's been really insightful and motivational to see your progress over the past few months. Keep up the good work, and good luck on your next races!

[@ilana3122]

So inspiring Benji!! You're level of commitment and your vulnerability sharing your journey with us and all the hard work it takes filming and editing. You're so impressive. Chapeau!

[@bitminerbob6731]

Nice race. I won my first B grade in ages last week. Feels good to get that 1st position. Keep up the good work!!!!

[@Tralalakritiker]

Bro, this is the first video i'm seeing from you and I gotta say your attitude is amazing! Keep on going!!!

[@irondistance4313]

Well done Benji, crushed it. That’s over 1/2 of Patrick’s 1500 watts for even alittle longer than 50 seconds

[@MamasLiebling-b5t]

Well done! As mentioned many times the step from D to C is huge, dont mske it too early. What helps me a lot is proper race prep. Know the course, warm up properly, be hydrated, eat healthy...

[@paulspicer]

Well done. Doesn't matter how many in the race. You won. I've never won a race yet. Came close but not won. I might have to try it your way and see if I improve.. well done and keep It up

[@BreakawayB]

🎉Congrats, it’s been great following your progress!📈

[@kelldub78]

"Get out your little black books, mark this name down - Benji Naesen, is he related to Oliver - the young unsigned Belgian absolutely TORCHES the sprint and takes the dub" The LR's breakdown video intro, probably

[@MadsVMLarsen]

Nice racing Benji! Winning a race on Zwift is super hard no matter what category you're in!

[@crazyhorse8564]

Benji! My man! Huge congrats 😊 as a recent Zwifter I know how hard this is! Enjoy your victory!

[@le0fonzagoric164]

Great man! Awesomesauce! Saw it on strava before vid :)

[@JDirom]

Congratulations on your first victory! Good little sprint at the end, way to stick with him. Keep up the good work, get those two wins, and we will see you soon in Cat C. Cheers!

[@jujurm]

God bless you man you’re showing so much determination, respect ✊

[@L33TTechReviewer]

Killing it, was awesome to watch. I'm still new to zwift with only 4 group rides under my belt I like to mix indoor and outdoor riding and like to do the cat D group rides around 1.7-1.9w/kg a bit on the heavier side at 80kg but having loads of fun. Too scared to do any races but something to work towards!

[@jonathanvangulck4838]

Hey Benji, congrats with your progress mate. You lost so much weight in your face! Happy for you that your confidence is back. Good luck with all the future projects!!

[@OSODELANOXXE]

Good job man! definately cat C is got a large margin i find myself under the top 10 on some races fort montha i have not been able to win a cat c in a long time since I left zwift for a while

[@ShawnIsBatman]

Well done and fantastic progress! It is also good timing since it is the season where pro contracts for next season are being discussed!!

[@jeremymahot947]

Well done. I love the enthusiasm

[@dirkrousseau462]

Dude you are making want to get on Zwift asap! Congrats! I have just done those huge zwift tours and a top 100 even is great for my confidence. I was a swimmer back in the day and getting a top 5 or 10 always made feel faster and more confident. Smaller races are a good idea. I am like 80kg so a race like this looks like a super fun time.

[@chrislawrence1982]

🎉 Congrats Benji. Sweet when those wins come.

[@Shezaad18]

Great race and win! Congratulations 🎉 Brilliant tactics to stay in the wheel and attack at the perfect time 👌 I'm now motivated to start attempting races in zwift as well. The 3 wins before moving to cat C is going to be some interesting watching.

[@malte0n]

I recommend looking up what the best bike + wheels are on zwift because it will spare you energy and time i started doing this very early and it definitely helped me

[@bartvandeneeckhaut2565]

Brilliant! Love following your progress

[@Tilemason1]

Fook YEAH Benji, grats brother. Channel your inner director, way harder in the moment

[@yijuntey]

wow nice video, such a great race and amazing win. congrats!

[@jiswanted5576]

Jasper philipsen better be worried

[@abominablesnowman3494]

Benji the distaster 😅

[@sparkymac3320]

This is freaking awesome. Well done.

[@thsaintful]

A win is a win indeed! i would definitel NOT move over to cat C after winning 3 races. Zwift does the categories automatically and is quite accurate at it. the W/kg in cat C are a lot harder than in cat D. So much that it may take the joy out of racing. anyway, congrats on that first win man, tastes like more doesnt it?

[@DieSammelstelle]

Im new into zwift, you insipred me a lot! Startet from 107kg las year to now 95kg i will look forward to max out my w/kg. ❤

[@sjon02]

Genuinly cool to see your progress. A true inspiration towards unfit people that would try and do sports consistantly and maybe even more important; stay motivated to do indoor rides throughout! Keep it up, can't wait to see you smash it in a peloton sprint 🤘🏼 Greetings from category B, see you there in a year? 😉

[@dakotaslim]

Great work Benji.

[@wadesmith5499]

Helluva finish there Benji! whoop whoop!

[@kovar2344]

pushing above 300 watts on the climbs is no shame! Great race!

[@chiikahda394]

Great job winning your race! I love watching your cycling journey

[@rothaicc]

honestly - Delighted for you! well done

[@Kirmo13]

what an effort! congrats

[@paulomartz]

You inspired me to join my first race today, well done 👏🏽

[@Temiraker]

Congrats. Keep the Videos coming. This is hilarious.

[@timkroes7655]

i dont know how I came across this channel, but great content buddy I do love a progression story!

[@chrisdunn8215]

Benji, you looked well HAPPY 😅 Nice one well done, keep up the training mate😊

[@magambos1847]

I feel that guy. He pulled you through the race and you destroyed him 20m before finish:D

[@0311johannes]

Yeah, nice wheel sucking! 🤨

[@thewattlife]

Im here for this

[@DougRose_]

Great win Benji! Pogi style - ease up and big attack

[@Yume_cycling]

can you please tell me what kind of helmet and glasses holder you have on the wall? congratulations on your victory, you are incredible!

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

Only just saw this, sorry! The holder is from a brand called tons.

[@DonnyDonnMendoza]

LET US FREAKING GOOOOOOO!!! Great work Benji!!!

[@stiangjrvad9593]

Man that helmet and glasses rack in the backround looks sick. Where did you get it? Also massive win, love to see it.

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

Got it from tons.bike! :)

[@samcanning2]

Where is your helmet/glasses holder from? Looks great!

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

From tons.bike :)

[@davecasey4341]

Good job, Benji! Now I know I can have last place locked up if I end up in a race with you. 😉

[@BenjiRevel]

Congrats Benji

[@simon6495]

Does weight really hold you back when climbing on zwift? You’re not actually fighting gravity on zwift right?

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

I actually am because the game artificially adds a weight penalty on climbs to make it realistic. Trainer adapts its sensitivity

[@simon6495]

@@BenjiNaesenTV Ahh okay, that’s pretty cool.

[@pitchforkmechanic7797]

After 7 years out of racing and 7 years of low mileage years I dipped into Zwift Cat D lately. I won 2/2 so far so I guess I’m moving to Cat C. My strategy so far has been to go with the early attack, go 10/10 on whatever climb/small gradient change comes after that, then kill Myself to get at least 30s gap then maintain that as much as possible to the finish

[@jamesburnett2639]

Great video mate. Keep it up!!

[@viscabarca595]

Hi Benji, I would be interested in your current Zwift/Indoor Cycling setup. Maybe you can show us in a video? :)

[@MauYeah]

Great job Benji, love your content!

[@adamloake]

Great sprint Benji!!

[@fritzhartman2738]

I agree that nothing sucks more than losing a race because of a technical issue...of course in my case the "technical issues" are mainly because I am trying to run Zwift on a computer that is now 12 years old!!

[@oscartonneau1731]

GOOD JOOOOB I never won a race but i will do my best for, continue !!!

[@TheCocoDane]

average of 217 for 40 min?. that super nice!. im not quite there, but im chasing you ;) see you out there

[@ushmoule09]

Yesssssss!! “International Race Winner Benji”

[@dregm]

Congrats keep it up !!

[@karanrubenchaudhury7283]

Good Job! Amazing Videos

[@hoodyps]

Congrats!!!

[@almnhoward]

did you get on the front once or just wheel suck the whole race?

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

I wheelsucked 99% of the time, because I simply couldn't take over for 90% of the race. 😂

[@Exogensis]

Congrats Benji 👏

[@akadoiphin267]

this was cool to watch, no more polish goat farm but instead it’s a Benji Goat Farm.

[@JeffMortonRacing]

Get yourself some fans Benji so you don’t cook yourself. Makes a massive difference!

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

Haha, have 1 fan, but if I have too many, then the sound quality of the video will suck. 😂

[@JeffMortonRacing]

@@BenjiNaesenTV just do a voice over and some music, it'll be worth it! Get some aircon going too - it all helps!

[@sunfrost]

Congrats on the win!

[@dronesandstuff]

Thats it! I will have to get a setup.

[@gabrieltaylor697]

Love the content, do a challenge where you ride for 10hrs every week for a month! That will get you massive gainz 🕺🏼

[@xeesa-l2l]

Good job man

[@dieseldizzy]

Well done Benji. Next step Champs Elysees.

[@GraySemiconductor]

Damn that sprint reminded me of Kwiato smoking Sagan ❤

[@ChrisTaylor-Guitar]

How long before Jumbo Visma is scouting Benji?

[@brianp3570]

Even small successes are big successes

[@darrylperry6029]

Good job.👍

[@vince5474]

In C most of the guys are averaging 3,3wkg. Winning 3 races in a row will not be sufficient for c. On the other hand you can just try it in c, you have nothing to loose. From 2wkg to 3,2wkg is an enormous bump. Anyway congrats to your first win :)

[@BrianKellison]

Always race up!

[@stephencarruth4502]

Why are you not soaking in sweat ? After a long race like that I’m dripping even with the fan on and windows open.

[@doc_need_helpr6469]

Hey, better than Wout at the tour 🤣 . good job mate

[@waterdeptworker]

Nice Benji!!!

[@Morehills840]

Good one.

[@LordVilmore]

New sprinter for lotto confirmed.

[@zaahierstanley955]

Well done Benji

[@robbandj]

Took me 3 years before i ever won a Zwift race. Well deserved

[@gregt8198]

A real jasper philipsen!

[@locoballer95]

well done congrats

[@dannyenzo]

LET’S GO!

[@Esch1231]

When is the Benji Fan ride?

[@RustyRacer]

Yea!