There’s a gift for cycling enthusiasts this Christmas with The Challenge of Stars by ENEL, a knockout virtual cycling tournament on the Bkool platform that will see many of the world’s strongest riders compete.
‘Bkool technology will enable all viewers who follow the event to enjoy an innovative, engaging and immersive experience with a different perspective where the riders will participate in all the challenges as if they were really on the roads. The Stelvio and the Tuscan countryside will be the setting for the competitions.’
Starting from Saturday 26 December, the two tournaments (from 17:00 CET for the sprinters and from 19:00 CET for the climbers) will be broadcast on the Facebook channel of the Giro d’Italia.
Television coverage will be provided by the following broadcasters:
- Italy: Sky Sport
- Europe: Eurosport Player
- Japan: J Sports
- Netherlands: Ziggo Sports
- Belgium, Portugal: Eleven Sports
- Israel: Sport 5
- China: Zhibo.tv
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Supersport
- Australia: Fox Sports
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- World: Olympic Channel, Mycujoo
The eight contenders in the climber category are the winner of the Giro d’Italia, Tao Geoghegan Hart, and the conqueror of the Vuelta a España and runner-up in the Tour de France, Primož Roglič.
These athletes will be joined by the winner of the first edition of The Challenge of Stars held at the end of May, Giulio Ciccone, with his teammate the Dutchman Bauke Mollema. Other riders include Portuguese ride João Almeida, the Colombian Harold Tejada, the Belgian Harm Vanhoucke and the German Ben Zwiehoff.
Giulio Ciccone, Trek-Segafredo climber and winner of the Challenge of Stars first edition said “The Challenge of Stars was an intriguing experience, an innovative challenge. It was a winning format in a complicated period of the year that, we all hope, will soon be put behind us.
“It was my first virtual victory and, together with the Everest Challenge, I remember it with satisfaction. I will try my hand at it with pleasure and, although my condition, compared to May, is different, I will try to honor this challenge as it deserves.”
An elite group of sprinters will be present at The Challenge of Stars by ENEL. These include: Ireland’s Sam Bennett, Arnaud Démare of France, Australian Caleb Ewan, Germany’s Pascal Ackermann, the Belgian Tim Merlier, Great Britain’s Ben Swift, Sasha Modolo from Italy and the Danish former World Champion Mads Pedersen. The first edition’s sprinter competition was won by The Netherlands’ Fabio Jakobsen.
The Deceuninck – Quick-Step sprinter, Sam Bennett, said “I can’t wait to race in The Challenge of Stars. An event like this, where sprint specialists like me compete against each other, is a great idea. Even if I haven’t ridden for a while, it will be a great test for my form and my sprinting skills, as well as a fantastic way to end the year.”
www.bkool.com
www.giroditalia.it
