Zwift has confirmed the details of the inaugural 2020 UCI Zwift Cycling Esports World Championships on December 9th. In addition to the elite men’s and women’s races, Zwift will be hosting a number of community-focused events. This includes the Nations Challenge, which is an opportunity for every Zwifter to ride for their country.
There will also be Zwift PowerUp Podcast Recon rides, featuring current and former UCI World Champions as guests.
20 national cycling federations have named their teams to start the first UCI Zwift Cycling Esports World Championships. In addition, a number of wild card riders have also been awarded places bringing the total number of nations represented to 22.
Riders from both the professional road cycling peloton and some of the very best cycling esports racers from within the Zwift community have been selected to race. Many of the world’s top professional athletes will be taking part from many different areas of the sport, including Olympic and Paralympic Gold Medallists, current and former UCI World Champions across many disciplines, and professional triathletes.
Top names include Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa), Esteban Chaves (Columbia), Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands), Lawson Craddock (USA), Tom Pidcock (Great Britain), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway), Dame Sarah Storey (Great Britain), Annika Langvad (Denmark) and Lionel Sanders (Canada).
Joining these household names will be big-name riders from the cycling esports space. Riders such as Lionel Vujasin (Belgium), Ollie Jones (New Zealand) and Cecilia Hansen (Sweden) may be relatively unknown in comparison to the World Tour professionals. Zwift adds that they ‘will certainly be amongst the favourites to take home the rainbow bands.’
Riders will be taking to Zwift’s Watopia for a 50km race on the Watopia Figure 8 Reverse course, finishing on top of the Hilly Q/KOM. Both the elite men and women will compete on the same course over the same distance.
‘With 483m in elevation, this course will suit a rider with all-round abilities. At an average gradient of 5.5% over 0.9km, the Watopia Hilly Q/KOM will be a testing finish.’
“Together with the UCI on December 9th, we will be making history,” said Eric Min, Zwift CEO and Co-Founder. “This will be the first event of its kind and I believe it will mark the future direction of sport, fitness and competition.
“There is no doubt that technology will play a bigger role; and this competition perfectly blends technology with what we traditionally associate with physical ‘sport’. Already the lines are blurred, and this is evident when looking at the teams selected by each of the national cycling federations.
“Many will be familiar with the World Tour riders but I believe they will be pushed all the way by the specialist indoor racers. Don’t be surprised to see a member of the Zwift Cycling Esports emerge on top. This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait.”
With the creation of UCI Cycling Esports World Championships a new rainbow jersey design has been unveiled. The UCI Cycling Esports World Champions jersey will be awarded to each winner, a virtual jersey for their avatar, and a real-life version that may be worn in UCI Cycling Esports events for the 2021 season.
‘The jersey design maintains the iconic rainbow bands but features a pixel design to represent this new digital discipline.’
In addition to the professional races, there will be an opportunity for Zwifters from around the world to take part in celebrating this landmark event.
Zwift PowerUp Podcast Recon rides
In celebration of the UCI Zwift World Championships, Zwift has recorded a number of special podcasts with UCI World Champions from multiple disciplines. Special guests include Sir Chris Hoy, Mark Cavendish, Anna van der Breggen, Annika Langvad and Mathieu van der Poel. These podcasts will first be made available on Zwift PowerUp Podcast Recon Rides, allowing Zwifters to listen while riding the same course that will be raced by the elite men and women.
Nations Challenge
Debuting on the weekend of the December 5-6, is the ‘Nations Challenge’ hosted by the community event organiser, WTRL. The Nations Challenge is a unique format event that will allow all Zwifters the opportunity to represent their country and will determine which country is fastest.
Zwifters will be invited to take part in the Nations Challenge event matching their nationality. Zwifters are encouraged to work together – as the winner of the Nations Challenge will be determined by the fastest average time.
Official partners of the 2020 UCI Zwift Cycling Esports World Championships, Garmin-Tacx, Shimano, Science in Sport and Toyota South Africa Motors will all be hosting fan engagement events with special VIP guests.
www.zwift.com/2020-uci-cycling-esports-world-championships
