The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and virtual cycling platform MyWhoosh have announced the inaugural UCI Junior and Masters Cycling Esports World Championships, extending official cycling esports world title racing beyond the Elite category for the first time.
Scheduled to take place remotely on December 12, 2026, the event will provide eligible Junior and Masters competitors the opportunity to represent their national federations and race for rainbow jerseys from home.
The Junior classification is open to riders aged 17–18, while the Masters competition covers athletes aged 40 and over, structured into five-year age categories. A minimum of 10 verified starters per category will be required to award a world title.
David Lappartient, President at UCI, said “Cycling esports has grown incredibly in recent years and continues to thrive. After five very successful editions of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships for Elite riders. I am delighted that we will now offer Junior and Masters riders the chance to earn the rainbow jersey of UCI World Champion in this discipline that connects people from all continents and of all ages and abilities.”
Matt Smithson, Director of Esports & Game Operations at MyWhoosh, said “Launching the first UCI Junior and Masters Cycling Esports World Championships is an important step in opening top-level esports competition to more riders.
“It gives Juniors and age-group athletes a clear opportunity to represent their National Federations, compete for an official UCI world title and experience the same high standards of racing and verification we put on at the Elite level. We want these Championships to be competitive, and accessible to riders around the world, and we are looking forward to welcoming a new generation of athletes to the MyWhoosh platform.”
The one-day event will use a ‘First Across The Line’ format across a virtual recreation of the Montréal 2026 UCI Road World Championships circuit. The circuit measures 13.3km with 247m of elevation gain per lap. Junior competitors and Masters riders aged 60 and above will complete two laps covering 26.6km, while Masters participants aged 40–59 will complete three laps totalling 39.9km.
To participate, athletes must hold a valid license or membership issued by their national federation with a required UCI ID, complete pre-event verification, undergo a Power Passport Test, and utilise approved equipment with dual power recording. Competitors are also required to complete three MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club events by December 1, 2026.
The event schedule takes place one week following the 2026 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships Elite Final on December 5, 2026. Partnering with cycling’s international governing body, the UCI, MyWhoosh is an indoor cycling platform featuring structured workout plans, virtual routes, and competitive events.
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