RIDERS AND RACE FORMATS CONFIRMED FOR THE OLYMPIC ESPORTS SERIES 2023 CYCLING FINALS

Zwift, the leading platform for virtual cycling competition, together with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the worldwide governing body for cycling, are thrilled to return to host the Olympic Esports Series 2023 Cycling Finals, to be held in Singapore from June 23-25. The Olympic Esports Series is a global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and in collaboration with International Federations and game publishers that will showcase the very best of virtual sports. 

Zwift, the first platform to be used for virtual cycling competition, is one of only ten platforms hosting events at the series finals in Singapore. The cycling competition, to be held on Zwift’s Scotland map, will give live spectators attending the Olympics Esports Week 2023 the opportunity to witness the high intensity of Cycling Esports first-hand. 

The finals of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 will feature four teams of four cyclists – two women and two men – who will compete in a series of six races that will test their physical fitness and mastery of Zwift’s in-game elements. The winners will prove both their cycling and esports skills, and will be the world’s first Olympic Esports Series winners.   

Building on the successes of the multi-format 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, each team will take on three challenges in the Olympic Esports Series 2023 Cycling Competition; the Eliminator, the Sprint, and the Climb. Each of these challenges will have a men’s and women’s race. Riders will earn points according to their finishing position with the team to accumulate the most points crowned the winners.

The Eliminator - All riders will take on the Eliminator, which will be held on the hilly Wee Yin course created specifically for the Olympic Esports Series 2023, featuring 3 ascents of the Sgurr Summit followed by the Glasgow Crit Circuit. The starting fields for men’s and women’s races will be 8 athletes. Each time the race passes through an arch, the last placed athlete will be removed until there are 3 left for the final sprint. Points will be awarded according to final positions and the order of elimination.  

The Sprint - Each team will put forward their best male and best female sprinter to take on one lap of Glasgow Crit circuit in a fast and furious race. The starting fields for these races will be 4 athletes. Points will be awarded at the intermediate sprint (Clyde Kicker) and at the finish line (Champions Sprint).

The Climb - Finally, the team’s best climbers will race the Climb, which will take place on the steep slopes of the Sgurr. Teams will again need to choose their riders carefully – anyone on the start line will need to be able to accelerate uphill in order to secure the win for their team. 

Zwift has previously hosted elite Cycling Esports competitions including the 2020 Virtual Tour de France, and all three editions of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. The finalists selected to participate in these events at year’s Olympic Esports Series have proven themselves at the Zwift Grand Prix cycling series and the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, and collectively represent 11 nations. 

The finalists are: 

Team Fuego:

Lou Bates from Great Britain

Marlene Bjärehed from Sweden

James Barnes from South Africa

Martin Maertens from Germany

Team Titans:

Vicki Whitelaw from Australia

Linda Klein from the Netherlands

Zack Nehr from USA

Kjell Power from Belgium

Team Lava:

Alice Lethbridge from Great Britain

Teppo Laurio from Finland

Lionel Vujasin from Belgium

TBA

Team Epic:

Jacquie Godbe from USA

Charlotte Colclough from Great Britain

Ben Hill from Australia

TBA

Other events in the Olympic Esports Series 2023 include Archery (Tic Tac Bow), Baseball (WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros), Chess (Chess.com), Dance (Just Dance), Motor Sport (Gran Turismo), Sailing (Virtual Regatta), Shooting (created in Fortnite), Taekwondo (Virtual Taekwondo), and Tennis (Tennis Clash).

To find out more about the Olympic Esports Series Finals, fans can visit https://olympics.com/en/esports/olympic-esports-series/finals-singapore