https://thehustle.co/…-in-virtual-cycling/
Thought this was ***a well written ***interesting article on the cheating in e-sports but specifically Zwift. Personally I think they are in trouble if they can’t lock down the “holes” used to cheat on their platform.
While I support the general aim and goal, this article is actually shoddily written.
To wit,
In February 2022, software developer and elite Zwifter Eddy Hoole posted superhuman results during a qualifying race for the UCI eSports World Championships.
Hoole’s data showed him riding at an average power output of 8.5 watts per kilogram for a 4:16 climb. For contrast, Lance Armstrong at his best could maintain a 6.8 watts per kilogram power ratio. (Hoole got a six-month ban.)
The current estimate for maximum 5-min power (according to Dr. Coggan) is 7.6 w/kg. Someone will have to run a regression for 4:16 (as opposed to 5:00), but my guess is that 8.5 for 4:16 would still be much higher than 7.6 w/kg for 5:00. The article could have used this but perhaps thought it was too much into the weeds.
Instead, it dragged in a 20-min/ (or perhaps 60-min) non-sequitor comparison to LA.
This graphic further muddies the water with this graph, again seemingly suggesting current pros have ~4 min max power of upwards of 6.3 w/kg.
The actual article quoted (from road.cc), had much more relevant analysis.
According to the report, “given the rider’s weight, this equates to a sustained average power output of approx. 8.5 W/kg, a performance that requires a VO2max of over 90 mL/min/kg.
“For comparison, these values are significantly greater than those that have been measured for Olympic Pursuit Champions and World Record Holders (average power output over 4min, approx. 7.5 W/kg) or Tour de France GC winners (VO2max, approx. 85 mL/min/kg).â€
That said, those of us somewhat in the know already know of various ways people can get marginal gains and without having it detected, ranging from the duplicitous to the merely “this s*** won’t fly on the road”:
-Setting incorrect power meter slope, so the PM over-reports (multiplicative over-reporting, e.g. should be xyz W, instead reports xyz W * 1.05);
-Purposely messing with the off-set in certain conditions, so the PM over-report (additive over-reporting, e.g. should be xyz W, instead reports xyz W + 10 W);
-Adaptation for constantly standing and exertion at 60-70 rpm to extract maximal output, regardless of terrain type. This never works IRL, b/c 1) loss of stability and 2) aerodynamic penalties at higher speeds, but a lot of racers do this.
It’s a game of liar’s poker.