Benchmark Challenge

A 3-Stage Virtual Cycling Race on Strava

Race the festive season with a virtual stage race format, testing sprint speed, sustained power, and endurance across three stages.

🏁 Stages

• Stage 1: 10 km — Speed Stage (fastest time to complete 10k)

• Stage 2: 500m elev. gain — Elevation Stage (time to complete 500m elevation gain)

• Stage 3: 80 km — Endurance Stage (time to complete 80k)

⏱ Overall Time Ranking = Combined time of all three stages

📅 Race Window

🗓 Dec 22 – Dec 30
🏆 Winners announced: Jan 1

⚙️ Race Rules

✔️ All stages must be recorded on Strava
✔️ Stages should be completed 3 separate rides
✔️ Only rides within Dec 22–30 will count
✔️ Best valid effort per stage will be taken
✔️ Overall Time Ranking = Stage 1 + Stage 2 + Stage 3

🚫 No e-bikes

🚫Indoor rides not considered for Benchmark ranking

🚫Rides with negative elevation not considered (Means elevation should be 0m or greater)

Participants are expected to complete all stages honestly. By participating, you confirm all efforts are legitimate. Drafting behind a motorized vehicle is strictly prohibited. Any fraudulent activity may result in disqualification. Extremely unrealistic rides may be flagged or disqualified. By participating, you agree to these rules and confirm your efforts are legitimate. Additionally, rides reported by other participants as potentially inaccurate will also be flagged for review. Failure to provide acceptable proof (HR or cadence or power data) may result in disqualification from Overall Time Ranking, though e-certificates will still be awarded for participation.

⛰ Elevation Compensation (Only for 10k speed and 80k endurance rides)

• 15 sec overall time bonus per 100 m elevation gain
• Maximum bonus possible: 60 seconds
• Based on Strava-recorded elevation
• Bonus deducted from final GC time

⚡ Festive Watts. Stage Racing. Total Speed.

Train smart. Ride fast. Start 2026 on top of the leaderboard!

E-certificates for all finishers. Attractive prizes for top 3 finishers, both men and women.