Here’s how to watch the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships

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The UCI Cycling Esports World Championships are now in their fourth year and continue to make a splash in the competitive cycling scene. What started as an opportunity for cyclists around the world and from different riding disciplines to compete against each other has evolved with MyWhoosh’s smart trainer technology and state-of-the-art racing software. This year’s competition on October 26th will be better than ever: participants will ride on certified trainers and there will be a live stream from Abu Dhabi. To find out more, we spoke to Matthew Smithson, Senior Manager of Esports Events and Game Operations at MyWhoosh, who has over 35 years of experience driving and racing indoors, on the road and on the track. Above all, he has a great desire to delight drivers through a combination of entertainment and competition. Here’s what he had to say.

Outside: What can spectators look forward to at the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships?

Matthew Smithson: The 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships will be the largest event in the history of esports. Spectators and drivers have a lot to look forward to. The event highlights the world’s best athletes and includes a sprint stage created specifically for the championships. In addition, participants will race on a circuit in an unprecedented world, designed specifically for this year’s championships.

The competition has been reinvented for 2024 and includes multiple sprints, KOM and different segments, so every type of driver can win. This year, the final race will be broadcast live from Abu Dhabi with an in-person audience, bringing esports cycling to a new level of excitement.

What is the overall format of the championships?

The format consists of three phases:

• Stage 1: Drivers have 15 minutes to set the fastest time on a defined 300-meter section, which is part of a 1.7-kilometer race track. The fastest driver in the segment receives the maximum available points and points are scaled down based on driver position.
• Stage 2: In this stage, riders compete on a 9-kilometer circuit, including a 1.5-kilometer climb. Points will be awarded to the participants who reach the bottom of the climb first, as well as the first riders to reach the finish at the top of the climb.
• Stage 3: The final stage consists of three laps of a 4 kilometer criterium course, with points awarded after each lap. In the last round there are double points. The finish line of each lap is at the end of a short, steep climb with a maximum gradient of 12 percent. Points are awarded at the end of each round, with double points awarded in the final round.

There is an opportunity to collect points at every level. Drivers earn points by completing a sprint or a checkpoint as the fastest. This format introduces a completely new strategy and allows athletes to capitalize on their strengths. Whether sprinter or climber, there is a competition stage for everyone. The rider with the most points collected after all stages in the final becomes world champion.

How are athletes rated?

The 20 participating athletes will be ranked based on the points they earn over the three stages of the race. Double points are awarded at the end of the second (The Strategist) and third (All Out) stages. The maximum number of points a rider can achieve is 20 in Stage 1, 80 in Stage 2 and 100 points in Stage 3.

How were the coaches rated for their involvement in the championships?

MyWhoosh worked with its partner Elite and the UCI to test and verify the 20 coaches for the final. The verification ensures that coaches have 1 percent accuracy in performance and comparison. These tests have been validated on site by MyWhoosh and the UCI at the Elite factory in Italy. The Elite Justo 2 trainers were then marked, sealed and shipped directly to Abu Dhabi for the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. This will level the playing field for the first time in the history of esports. To help riders train for the championships, Elite and MyWhoosh also sent Justo trainers to the athletes’ homes.

What has changed for this year’s finale?

This year’s qualification process for the championship included 250 semi-final riders. Drivers raced all over the world from their homes; The best 20 qualified for the final in Abu Dhabi. In previous years, participants took part in the final from home. This year the finalists will travel to Abu Dhabi for a live race. The other big change this year is that MyWhoosh has designed a unique world specifically for the championships. The top three players in the men’s and women’s categories will receive a generous cash prize for their hard work: first place will receive $15,000, second place will receive $10,000 and third place will receive $5,000.

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Founded in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, MyWhoosh is a free virtual bike app. MyWhoosh was developed by professionals and is available to all drivers. The aim is to push riders to their limits through immersive, personalized and challenging indoor cycling experiences. Used by professionals and beginners alike, MyWhoosh offers visually stunning virtual worlds, more than 730 customized training plans and weekly competitive races.