Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020!

Sep 26, 19 8:42

Post #1 of 56 (4464 views)

https://cyclingtips.com/...mpionships-for-2020/

Online riding platform Zwift and the UCI have agreed to terms to host the first ever Esports World Championships in 2020.
The details aren’t yet worked out, but a rough plan is in place. The event will occur sometime near the 2020 Road World Championships, which begin in Aigle, Switzerland, on September 20th. Riders will gain entry through regional and national qualifiers, which will be scheduled in gaps between WorldTour races, allowing road racing’s top riders to enter.

“We are looking to establish a new cycling discipline,” said Eric Min, Zwift CEO and Co-Founder. “This partnership is a significant leap in that journey as we move further towards our ambition of delivering competition at the highest level in sport. We are at the very beginning of a long and exciting road here at Zwift as we look to establish a new and innovative discipline for cycling.”

Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/

Last edited by: BryanD: Sep 26, 19 8:45

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 9:28

Post #2 of 56 (4395 views)

If I was say in a submarine & well below sea level would my power numbers be higher?

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 9:35

Post #3 of 56 (4375 views)

I think this is awesome. I know the womens side have put up some top level pros to these races and I assume will continue to do so but very curious to see whether teams on the men's side let their top riders join.

One thing I'm curious about is without having to worry about handling, would this favor stronger time trialists even with the drafting algorithms in place?

808 > NYC > PDX > YVR
2024 Races: Taupo

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 9:42

Post #4 of 56 (4352 views)

Pedaling on a trainer is not cycling.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 9:48

Post #5 of 56 (4333 views)

Every time people mention Zwift and eSports in the same sentence I scratch my head. Virtual is all about doing it with a controller, not yourself.

Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [TheStroBro] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 9:49

Post #6 of 56 (4326 views)

Golf is not a sport. Prove me wrong.

Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 9:57

Post #7 of 56 (4305 views)

From what I read about the ease of cheating in the e-world, this would appear to be a publicity stunt. It would be easier just to ask people to email their numbers in and the one who says he did best is the winner.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 10:12

Post #8 of 56 (4281 views)

Then nothing is a sport.

Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [trimule] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 10:22

Post #9 of 56 (4259 views)

The actual championship races may be racing in a virtual world, but they are all done in a single venue, everyone riding the same trainers, with weigh ins. It's not people racing in their home pain caves, with a bodyweight from when they were in high school... If you look at the OTE Draft house races this week in Yorkshire, or some of the money events that some of the Zwift race series have organized in the past... You might be able to qualify remotely (with some points of corroboration), but in the race for the title/money, it's in person and supervised...

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [Trauma] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 10:26

Post #10 of 56 (4251 views)

They haven't given all the details yet. I'd wager that there will be on-site events required before the final even.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 10:28

Post #11 of 56 (4244 views)

Also, zwift is already doing prize money events. The Zwift classics events are going on currently. ST's own TrIowaCPA has finished in the money multiple times. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I've actually enjoyed watching the races.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 10:34

Post #12 of 56 (4231 views)

Easy:
- you can't play with an injury (back, knee, etc)
- women can't compete with men

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 10:39

Post #13 of 56 (4217 views)

I think they should only award a "virtual" rainbow jersey for this...that ONLY shows up in Zwift :-)

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 11:45

Post #14 of 56 (4142 views)

The sky is not blue. Prove me wrong.

Shall we continue with nonsensical bullshit that has nothing to do with the fact that your Zwiftmobile is stationary and a great workout... but not cycling.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [ripple] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 11:55

Post #15 of 56 (4126 views)

While true and technically correct if the sports governing body ok’s this, what’s the point of then continuing to point out this technicality?

Your on a bike on a trainer, if the UCI says that’s good enough to qualify as a world championship sponsored event, the whole semantics of your point is then sorta irrelevant though?

Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [ripple] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 12:02

Post #16 of 56 (4107 views)

but not cycling. //

Well technically it is indoor cycling. I know this because it is in the menu of options on this sites training log, one which I have never checked by the way...(-;
But its coming, I can feel the pressure pushing me towards that cycling video game..

As to championships and such, of course it can and will be dicey in all the qualifying races, just the nature of the indoor sport at this time and juncture. But having all the finalists come together in one room, one measuring device that has been calibrated, and a scale to step on right before beginning, that is about as fair as it gets. I remember when one of our own did that other prize money race using that format, seemed to go pretty well in the end.

And guess what folks, some of our own may even get to race. Probably the most experienced indoor riders are triathletes at this point, it could be fun to watch!!

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [monty] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 12:08

Post #17 of 56 (4091 views)

monty wrote:

but not cycling. //

Well technically it is indoor cycling. I know this because it is in the menu of options on this sites training log, one which I have never checked by the way...(-;
But its coming, I can feel the pressure pushing me towards that cycling video game..

As to championships and such, of course it can and will be dicey in all the qualifying races, just the nature of the indoor sport at this time and juncture. But having all the finalists come together in one room, one measuring device that has been calibrated, and a scale to step on right before beginning, that is about as fair as it gets. I remember when one of our own did that other prize money race using that format, seemed to go pretty well in the end.

And guess what folks, some of our own may even get to race. Probably the most experienced indoor riders are triathletes at this point, it could be fun to watch!!

One of our own already is. I'm telling you, TrIowaCPA is among the very best racers on the zwift platform. He's already finished in the money in several of these zwift races. It's going to depend how many pros decide to enter this, but our guy has a chance.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [B_Doughtie] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 12:11

Post #18 of 56 (4088 views)

Just hammering. If you're going to spout off that outdoor riding is dead and give your personal top 10 [bullshit] reasons why indoor riding is better than outdoor, you need to get some blowback.

Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and Dictionary.com all suggest that cycling involves transport. And Zwift sure as shit ain't riding.

If the UCI recognizes this it's for one thing and one thing only .. $.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [ripple] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 12:35

Post #19 of 56 (4047 views)

ripple wrote:

Just hammering. If you're going to spout off that outdoor riding is dead and give your personal top 10 [bullshit] reasons why indoor riding is better than outdoor, you need to get some blowback.

Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and Dictionary.com all suggest that cycling involves transport. And Zwift sure as shit ain't riding.

If the UCI recognizes this it's for one thing and one thing only .. $.

The act or sport of riding a bicycle.

I ride a bicycle on zwift, that it goes nowhere is meaningless.

I don't understand why some view zwift as an attack on the sport, this is probably one of the best things in decades since it will bring in more newbies than any other invention, I'd wager right up until self driving cars are mandated by law (with all bikes having communication to cars for awareness)

It is cycling, indoor cycling and it is a sport. Get over it.

808 > NYC > PDX > YVR
2024 Races: Taupo

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [hadukla] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 12:38

Post #20 of 56 (4045 views)

If you'd ever read anything I've said about Zwift, I've lauded it (and trainer riding in general) as a great training tool. I draw the line at calling it cycling and/or riding. They are two separate but compatible activities. You get over it.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [ripple] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 12:58

Post #21 of 56 (4006 views)

ripple wrote:

Just hammering. If you're going to spout off that outdoor riding is dead and give your personal top 10 [bullshit] reasons why indoor riding is better than outdoor, you need to get some blowback.

Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and Dictionary.com all suggest that cycling involves transport. And Zwift sure as shit ain't riding.

If the UCI recognizes this it's for one thing and one thing only .. $.

I never said outdoor riding was dead. I posted an article for discussion. Don’t yell at me when you can’t read.

Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 13:03

Post #22 of 56 (3990 views)

It's amazingly funny how whenever there is something new, the same old mob of Slowtwitchers grab their pitchforks and torches and begin hurling their critically negative comments -- LOL!! Burn the fake cycling e-sports people at the stake!! LOL!! We hate change!! Get those Zwift riding hipsters off our lawn!! HA aaha hahha haha!

I for one am stoked at this announcement. I LOVE Zwift and especially ZWIFT racing. Love everything about it and watch the races online. I love that you can see the stats in real time, like HR, cadence, w/kg. And love that old school cycling strategies coupled with new-generation features like Power-Ups can give riders the edge to win. Zwift and e-sports cycling is the future.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 13:14

Post #23 of 56 (3970 views)

2020? Plenty of time to find some backdoors and hacks in their app.

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [ripple] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 14:09

Post #24 of 56 (3895 views)

Right but what’s the point of hammering now? The governing body of the sport has just authorized it and the reasons really don’t matter.

Your kinda sounding and looking like more old man on the lawn than having anything of value.

Who cares if it isn’t “cycling” I would consider that irrelevant when the governing body just picks it up. So at that point your just sorta being old man myopic at that point.

I’ve clowned zwift for its races cus of the “gamesmanship” you can do and win etc. I also understand the value indoor activities like zwift are doing to this industry.

If your just beefing w/ Bryan over his description/love of it, ok fine. But it’s kinda irrelevant to debate whether it’s “cycling or not cycling” at this point....most especially with this announcement.

Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

Re: Zwift and UCI Announce first ever eSports World Championship in 2020! [BryanD] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 19 14:18

Post #25 of 56 (3888 views)

BryanD wrote:

https://cyclingtips.com/...mpionships-for-2020/

Online riding platform Zwift and the UCI have agreed to terms to host the first ever Esports World Championships in 2020.
The details aren’t yet worked out, but a rough plan is in place. The event will occur sometime near the 2020 Road World Championships, which begin in Aigle, Switzerland, on September 20th. Riders will gain entry through regional and national qualifiers, which will be scheduled in gaps between WorldTour races, allowing road racing’s top riders to enter.

“We are looking to establish a new cycling discipline,” said Eric Min, Zwift CEO and Co-Founder. “This partnership is a significant leap in that journey as we move further towards our ambition of delivering competition at the highest level in sport. We are at the very beginning of a long and exciting road here at Zwift as we look to establish a new and innovative discipline for cycling.”

You're still at it?! Don't you know there is a front page to ST?

Our Partners

transition-DOT-area-AT-slowtwitch-DOT-com

Advertise with us

©1999-2024 Slowtwitch, Inc., and Slowtwitch.com
Reproduction of material from any Slowtwitch.com page
without written permission is strictly prohibited.