Competing in an endurance cycling race was once defined by being out on the roads, the wind whistling around your helmet as you focused on getting ahead of the competition.
From the climbs of Cape Epic to the Mallorca 312, endurance competitions tested riders in a variety of locations around the world, just them, the tarmac, and their bikes. However, one endurance event in 2024 could see a winner travel no literal miles at all. Instead, all of their efforts are focused on the virtual world.
Welcome to the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, 2024.
What are the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships?
The UCI Cycling Esports World Championships take part on a virtual platform, pitting riders against each other in a cycling esports scenario. They’ve been running for three years and usually occur in January. The first competition took place in 2020 and featured a virtual 50-kilometer route with 483 meters of simulated elevation gain. It has taken place on the Zwift platform for the past three years, but 2024 will be different. This year, they’ve been shifted to the end of the year and will be moved to the virtual cycling app MyWhoosh.
What are esports?
Before we look at the competition this year, it is important to understand what esports are. They’re competitions that take place on a virtual platform. Traditionally, that has meant a person sitting down with a controller in their hand, competing with people around the world.
However, esports has grown significantly over the past few years. 2020 was a significant year; not only did the UCI competition start, but thanks to the global pandemic, esports filled a gap when in-person endurance events were disrupted. Since then, as demonstrated by these esports betting tips, the industry has evolved to become more like real sports. People watch esports like real sports, study form, and rosters, and are more likely to play the games the on-screen competitors do. That’s not the only crossover with real sports, either. Another important development has been the mediums upon which people compete. Cycling’s esports is not restricted to someone sitting in a room with a controller, and the UCI competition, despite being billed as an export, will test a rider’s endurance just as a race would out on the road.
The UCI Cycling Esports World Championships 2024
This year, the UCI event will change significantly, offering more opportunities for riders. The first big change is jumping from Zwift to MyWhoosh with an expanded roster.
“In a significant move, we are expanding the semi-finals to accommodate over 150 riders, reflecting our broader strategy to foster global growth and inclusivity in cycling esports,” said MyWhoosh’s CEO and Managing Director, Akhtar Saeed Hashmi. “The qualification pathways, blending National Federation selections and MyWhoosh’s public qualification process, ensure transparency and fairness, opening doors for athletes worldwide.”
The qualification will be in two parts; their nation’s cycling federations will choose 80%, while 20% will qualify via MyWhoosh by participating in qualifying events. Those riders could come from any nation, with the intention being that anyone can qualify, even if their country does not have a strong esports cycling scene. The virtual semi-final will consist of two races, a 9-kilometer circuit and a 4-kilometer circuit. The top 20 men and women will then go forward for a final and two wild cards. That final is both live and virtual; the finalists will compete in person in Abu Dhabi, but still on a virtual platform.
“With the privilege of hosting the live final in Abu Dhabi, we are dedicated to changing the cycling esports landscape,” added Hashmi. “In a significant move, we are expanding the semi-finals to accommodate over 150 riders, reflecting our broader strategy to foster global growth and inclusivity in cycling esports.” With esports growing in popularity around the world, it will be interesting to see if the changes can help esports that feature a hybrid of endurance elements continue to gain popularity.