The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and virtual cycling platform MyWhoosh have announced the qualification process, key dates, and locations for the 2026 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.
The final of the championship event is scheduled to take place on December 12, 2026. In a new development for the event, the grand final will be held live across two separate physical host venues, with one located in North America and the other in Europe.
MyWhoosh is the exclusive platform and organiser of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships for the 2024–2026 term. The company is responsible for managing all stages of the event, developing the virtual courses, producing technical guides, and hosting the live finals.
The 2026 qualification process combines national federation selections with open-access races on the MyWhoosh platform. Approximately 100 riders of each gender will qualify for the semi-final stage through their respective national federations, which are allocated athlete quotas of between three and ten riders based on results from the 2024 and 2025 editions of the event.
National federations without an allocated quota based on historical results can nominate up to two riders for the semi-final, subject to MyWhoosh’s performance verification requirements. National federations have throughout July and August to nominate athletes, who must have completed at least one official MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club Elite race.
Federations must confirm their selected athletes by August 31, 2026, with the final semi-final participant list locked on September 4, 2026. The reigning 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Champions will receive automatic qualification.
An additional 30 riders per gender can qualify through the open pathway via the MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club Elite series, which takes place on the first two Sundays of September. These virtual races are open to any riders not selected by their national federation. Those who qualify will be added to their national team roster.
The virtual semi-final will bring together approximately 260 athletes on October 2, 2026, where riders will compete to secure a place in the live grand final on December 12, 2026. The UCI may also award up to three wild cards per gender for the final event.
The announcement comes as MyWhoosh expands its virtual environment with the launch of its ‘France World’ map, which was officially opened to all users on July 14, 2026, to coincide with Bastille Day. The new virtual destination has been available in early access for Season Pass holders over the past month and is now free to access for all users.
The France World contains eight distinct routes:
- Camargue Plains
- Toulouse Plains
- Tour de Corse
- Paris Classic
- Cobbled Classic
- Col de Galibier
- Hautacam Summit
- Les Deux Géants
To support the launch, MyWhoosh has introduced a two-stage heritage mission called ‘Vive la France’, running from July 14 to August 2, 2026.
The first stage, ‘Paris to the Provinces’, runs from July 14–24, 2026, using the Paris Classic route. The second stage, ‘The Summit’, runs from July 25 to August 2, 2026, and features a virtual Col de Galibier climb.
Riders who complete both stages of the mission will unlock exclusive in-game items, including the Colnago Master Retro Frame, Colnago Master Retro Wheels, and a digital finisher badge.
Matt Smithson, Director of Esports and Game Operations at MyWhoosh, said “France has such a rich cycling heritage, and we wanted our version of it to feel true to that – not overproduced, just really enjoyable roads to ride.
“Whether you’ve got twenty minutes or two hours, there’s something in France World for you. And with Vive la France starting on the 14th, there’s a nice reason to come back and explore it properly. We’d love for as many riders as possible to jump on and give it a go.”
