The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Zwift have revealed a full series of cycling events for the Olympic Virtual Series, running from June 1-27. The Olympic Virtual Series is a new virtual event launched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
‘The UCI and Zwift are pleased to invite cyclists from all over the world to participate in a festival of Olympic Virtual Series cycling events. With a focus on mass participation, the Olympic Virtual Series cycling series offers something for every kind of cyclist. Mass participation rides promise to offer a social experience as thousands of cyclists come together.’
In addition to the social group rides, the Olympic Virtual Series Cycling Series will offer the opportunity to benefit from the experience of past Olympians with a series of special podcast rides and group workouts.
The podcast rides are with eight Olympians, and the workouts are inspired by them and their racing specialities:
- Georgia Simmerling – the first Canadian to compete in three different sports in three different Olympic Games (cycling, alpine skiing and skicross).
- Nino Schurter – 3x Olympic Medallist and 8x UCI World Champion, Switzerland’s Nino Schurter is arguably one of the greatest male cross-country mountain bikers of all time.
- Sir Chris Hoy – the second-most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time, with six Gold Medals and 11 UCI World Championship titles.
- Anna van der Breggen – Dutch pro racer, Anna van der Breggen is a dominant force on the tarmac. She’s racked up huge number of wins over the course of her career, including a Gold Medal in Rio 2016 and is a 3x UCI World Champion.
- Dame Sarah Storey – A 14x Gold Medallist, Dame Sarah Storey, DBE, is the most decorated and successful British Paralympian of all time. She also holds 23 UCI World Championship titles and 75 world records across both cycling and swimming, making her a veritable multisport legend.
- Nelson Vails – Nelson ‘the Cheetah’ Vails is a next-level athlete known for going from zero to 40+ mph in the blink of an eye. In the 1984 Olympics, he took home the silver in the track sprint event, becoming the first African American to win an Olympic medal in cycling.
- Anna Meares – With six Olympic medals, Australia’s Anna Meares, OAM, is the most decorated woman track cyclist of all time. Her credentials also extend to being the most successful women at the UCI World Championships with 11 gold medals (a distinction shared with Germany’s Kristina Vogel).
- Mariana Pajón – Colombian Mariana Pajón won her first national title at the age of five and her first world title at nine. To this day, she has won 14 UCI World Championships, 9 Latin American championships, and 10 Pan American championships. She’s also a 2x Olympic Gold Medallist in BMX.
The group workouts have been designed by these Olympians, designed to help take participants to the next level in their training. Group workouts offer the opportunity for cyclists to train together in a group setting regardless of their ability.
For those seeking a little bit of friendly competition, ‘Chase Races’ will offer men and women of all ages and fitness levels the chance to compete against one another. In these races, the strongest start last. The aim of the game is to cross the line first, but with select events featuring Olympians on the start sheet, riders will aim to get there before getting caught.
On June 23, Olympic Day, cyclists can take to the new roads of Zwift’s new world, Yumezi, with 24 mass participation group rides every hour. Each group will be hosted by Olympian and other special guests.
Anyone who finishes an Olympic Virtual Series cycling event will unlock the Olympic Virtual Series-inspired kit in addition to the official bicycle of the Olympics, the Bridgestone Anchor RS9s.
In addition to all the mass participation events, a unique Chase Race will be broadcast on June 18th. The race will see Olympians pitted against celebrities and a few lucky community members seeded. All riders will be gridded and set off over various start intervals. Similar to the open events, the aim is not to get caught.
The IOC and the UCI are offering new Zwifters complimentary access to the Zwift platform throughout the Olympic Virtual Series (June, 1st-27th). Codes can be obtained by registering on the UCI website.
Registration for all Olympic Virtual Series cycling events is open now.
www.zwift.com/olympic-virtual-series
