Although it has been developing for a few years, online cycling has recently experienced unprecedented growth, allowing its increasing number of players to clear more and more marvelous horizons. On the Zwift platform, riders can get to know the roads of Watopia by heart, regularly discover new playgrounds, and can dream of professionalism on the road thanks to the Zwift Academy, launched in 2016.
This springboard to the peloton, which currently benefits from a pioneering association with UCI ProTeam Alpecin-Fenix and UCI Women’s WorldTeam Canyon//SRAM Racing, is available to all subscribers of Zwift, the virtual sports giant. For many, it is a superb opportunity to experience and improve their form, with a series of tests and training sessions, but also to display their talents to recruiters.
In 2021, there were 150,000 participants from all over the world: a record! In December, the ten best (five women and five men) competed in the finals after distinguishing themselves over the course of the events. The prize: a contract with the pros, won this time by the Dutch rider Maud Oudeman and the Australian Alex Bogna.
Pioneering Thorvilson
Oudeman, whose professional road debut is expected in early March on the prestigious classic Le Samyn des Dames, and Bogna, who will try to find a place alongside multi-disciplinary star Mathieu Van der Poel (also a Zwift ambassador), are part of a line started by the American Leah Thorvilson, winner in 2016. "The Zwift Academy changed my life forever, and continues to, even beyond the pro contract," explains the rider who spent two seasons with Canyon//SRAM Racing.
A year later, Germany's Tanja Erath joined the German squad, and New Zealand's Ollie Jones earned a place with Dimension Data for Qhubeka (now Team Qhubeka) as the first male winner.
Jay Vine is a more recent and particularly striking example of what Zwift can bring to elite road pelotons. The 26-year-old Australian came out on top in 2020, and he did not fall below high expectations. "Our first year partnering with Zwift Academy has been a great success," rejoiced Philip Roodhooft, manager of Alpecin-Fenix. Vine notably took second in the Tour of Turkey and signed a podium on the 14th stage of La Vuelta Ciclista a España. The team has renewed its contract with Vine for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
The good news you've been waiting for... 🥁@JayVine3, the 2020 @GoZwift Academy winner, has extended his contract with #AlpecinFenix until the end of 2023!
— Alpecin-Fenix Cycling Team (@AlpecinFenix) August 27, 2021
📝 Read more: https://t.co/UtHHvo6qd8 pic.twitter.com/PxbGPY4M3r
Discovery of talent
"The Zwift Academy is a once in a lifetime opportunity for those who haven't been able to go through the normal means of getting a pro contract," Vine said during the 2021 Finals. "I can only tell people that this is a great opportunity and there really should be more and more people putting their hands up to give this a crack.”
The strict standards, particularly concerning the material and technical conditions, ensure the events’ regularity and offer precise data on the cyclists’ abilities, at a time when the analysis of power is increasingly important in the sport.
Platforms like Zwift, while opening up new horizons for cyclists around the world, also allow players in the discipline to open up to a new, modern and virtual reality, as motor sports have been able to do.
In the women's academy, Ronny Lauke, manager of the Canyon//SRAM Racing team, justifies the historic commitment of his team: “We have had fantastic talent come through the programme. Each year the competition seems to get closer and closer. This makes the decisions tough but shows the strength and depth in the programme.”
Zwift Academy Winners:
2021: Maud Oudeman (Netherlands) / Alex Bogna (Australia)
2020: Neve Bradbury (Australia) / Jay Vine (Australia)
2019: Jessica Pratt (Australia) / Drew Christensen (New Zealand)
2018: Ella Harris (New Zealand) / Martin Lavric (Slovenia)
2017: Tanja Erath (Germany) / Ollie Jones (New Zealand)
2016: Leah Thorvilson (USA)
Two of these winners are expected to participate in the 2022 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on 26 February: Ella Harris and Jay Vine. This is an opportunity for them to return to the playgrounds that led them to a professional career. And an opportunity for enthusiasts from all over the world to measure themselves against the same challenges, thanks in particular to the reconnaissance of the course organised by Shimano, partner of these UCI Worlds.