Zwift has announced the 10 finalists for the 2020 Zwift Academy Road program. Five men and five women will now progress to a virtual final where they will battle it out for a professional cycling contract with either Alpecin-Fenix or CANYON//SRAM.
A record-breaking 125,000 riders took part in Zwift Academy Road this year, the majority with the aim of improving their personal best. For a few though, each year Zwift Academy Road presents an opportunity to win a professional cycling contract.
From the thousands applying, 10 have emerged, each showing promise, and will now be tracked as they look to overcome the final hurdle, the Zwift Academy Road finals.
The 5 finalists competing for a spot with CANYON//SRAM are:
- Neve Bradbury, Australia
- Nicole Coates, UK
- Eva Marie Hering, Germany
- Kate McCarthy, New Zealand
- Natalia Franco Villegas, Colombia
The 5 finalists competing for the contract with Alpecin-Fenix are:
- Damien Clayton, UK
- Jochem Kerckhaert, The Netherlands
- Oliver Moors, UK
- Jay Vine, Australia
- Lionel Vujasin, Belgium
The 2020 Zwift Academy Road finals will commence on Sunday 13 December and run through to Saturday 19 December. Unlike previous years, where the Zwift Academy Road finals were held at team training camps, the 2020 finals will be held entirely remotely with each finalist in his or her home location.
The Zwift Academy Coaches at Dig Deep Coaching as well as the pro cycling team coaches will be analyzing all performances of the finalists.
A release from Zwift added…
‘With challenge comes opportunity. Though COVID has reshaped the structure of this year’s finals, the virtual format presents a new opportunity to bring viewers closer to the action than ever before and take a peek behind the scenes.
‘Each finalist will be shadowed by a videographer as they show their home roads, undertake their final tests, perform workouts, and of course race both onboard their Tacx Neo 2T Smart Trainers on Zwift, and outdoors.
‘Not only will the finalists be judged on their data, but they will go ‘speed dating’ with their prospective new teams. It’s important for a professional rider to gel with their teammates. The contenders will face daily challenges, with special guests dropping in virtually via video link to encourage the finalists and share last-minute motivation.’
The finals will culminate in a live final show hosted by ex-pro Matt Stephens – streamed on Saturday, December 19.
