DETAILS CONFIRMED FOR THE 2020 UCI ZWIFT CYCLING ESPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Zwift, the global online fitness platform for cyclists, is able to confirm all the details of the inaugural 2020 UCI Zwift Cycling Esports World Championships. In addition to the Elite Men’s and Women’s races, Zwift will be hosting a number of community-focused events including the Nations Challenge, an opportunity for every Zwifter to ride for their country, and Zwift PowerUp Podcast Recon rides, featuring current and former UCI World Champions as guests.

Twenty 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 (Colombia), 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 UCI WorldTour and UCI Women's WorldTour professionals but will certainly be amongst the favourites to take home the rainbow bands. Full start lists for each event can be found here.

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,” says 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 UCI WorldTour and UCI Women's WorldTour 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 stripes 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. 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 you to listen while riding the same course that will be raced by the Elite Men and Women. A list of all these rides can be found here.

Debuting on the weekend of the 5/6th December 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 - no matter your ability, all rides matter! Further details of the Nations Challenge events can be found on the Zwift events page here.

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. Further information on these rides along with full information on everything connected to the 2020 UCI Zwift Cycling Esports World Championships can be found by visiting www.zwift.com/2020-uci-cycling-esports-world-championships.

About Zwift

Zwift is the fitness company born from gaming. We’re dedicated fitness enthusiasts that also happen to be experienced software and video game developers. Combining that passion and deep understanding of the fitness world, Zwift is the first company to use massively multiplayer gaming technology to bring the outdoor experience indoors. Athletes from around the globe can train and compete with each other in rich, 3D-generated worlds simply by connecting their existing devices & hardware (e.g. cycle trainers, power meters, treadmills, heart rate monitors, etc) wirelessly via open industry standard ANT+ and BLE. From friendly competition, to racing & structured training programs, Zwift is building a community of like-minded athletes united in the pursuit of a better social fitness experience.

About the UCI

Founded in 1900 in Paris (France), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the worldwide governing body for cycling. It develops and oversees cycling in all its forms, for all people: as a competitive sport, a healthy recreational activity, a means of transport, and also just for fun. The UCI manages and promotes the eight cycling disciplines: road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, cyclo-cross, trials and indoor cycling. Five of these are featured on the Olympic Games programme (road, track, mountain bike, BMX Supercross and BMX Freestyle Park), two in the Paralympic Games (road and track) and four in the Youth Olympic Games (road, mountain bike, BMX Supercross and BMX Freestyle Park). For more information: www.uci.org

About the 2020 UCI Zwift Cycling Esports Partners

Garmin Tacx

For those who push the limits and never settle. Garmin head units, Tacx® trainers, power and radars to help you train, explore and stay aware.

Science in Sport (SiS)

Science in Sport push the boundaries of science so you can push the boundaries of performance. Turbo+ has revolutionised indoor training, get ready to see the results!

Toyota South Africa Motors

Toyota South Africa is the leading automotive company within South Africa, boasting an enviable 40 years of consecutive market leadership

Shimano

Throughout the last century Shimano has established itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of bicycle components thanks to its record of outstanding innovation and product reliability.