The UCI, cycling’s governing international body, has endorsed the first ever Esports version of the coveted “UCI World Championships” to be run via virtual cycling platform Zwift.
Kicking off today, December 9th at 14:00 GMT (1:00am, Dec 10th AEDT) the event will move the competition to the virtual race track with some of cycling’s best professionals competing in both a women’s and men’s version of the new competition.
Featuring the likes of Rigoberto Uran, Esteban Chaves and Australia’s own Jack Haig the lineup is quite remarkable for a circuit race set to take place on Zwift’s fictitious Watopia island.
Broadcast live on a variety of TV networks and online the new event is yet another example of Esports crossing into the wider public’s view albeit in a more hybrid format in using Zwift, a popular technology that allows cyclists to simulate riding in the real world whilst attached to a “trainer”.