The Virtual Velo Podcast p/b TheZommunique.com Virtual Velo Podcast

For Episode 42 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris and Emma welcome back indieVelo founder Dr. George Gilbert for the third time for their first time together as co-hosts. Quickly after the Apple TV release, which makes indieVelo accessible to a broad range of users and devices, he explains why "Watts Aren't Watts" when defining the future of virtual sport.



Dr. Gilbert addresses the "committed athlete" demographic, stating that "tactically interesting racing where riders have to make choices" constitutes the core elements of indieVelo, appealing to those who prioritize credibility and accuracy. 



He explains how the recent draft physics update enhances this by integrating realistic bicycle physics, such as momentum, inertia, and gearing, into the virtual equation for the first time. 



Graphics, acquisition, will indieVelo ever not be in Beta, and what will it truly take to bring cycling esports to the Olympics? Plus, other current events in cycling esports in the lead-up to the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.

  

Don't miss the opportunity to delve even deeper into the topics discussed in this episode. We've included links to the articles that inspired our conversation.


New Virtual Cycling Platform indieVelo is Defining the Future of Esports [Zommunique, June 6, 2023]
Zwift’s Cycling Esports Commission Chairman and ZADA Lead Move On From the Company [Zommunique, June 20, 2023]
Zwift Forms Working Partnership With Cycling Esports Platform indieVelo for Anti-Cheating Oversight [Zommunique, August 14, 2023]
“It is time to focus on enhancing this key area,” says MyWhoosh’s Draft Physics Consultant [Zommunique, May 23, 2024]

 

Join us for a conversational ride where we not only lend a voice to the digital athlete but also bridge the gap between athlete and avatar. Let's explore the exciting future of virtual sport and digital athlete engagement together!

In Part One of Episode 41 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris and Si welcome elite cycling esports racer and award-winning cycling journalist Aaron Borrill. "Captain South Africa" shares how Cycling South Africa supports their National Cycling Esports team as a unique cycling discipline and how he plans to help get his teammates ready for the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on MyWhoosh.



Aaron's deep knowledge of the sport and journalistic reputation was invaluable to the collaborative "VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2024" panel. Alongside fellow panelists Chris and Si, they explored the inspiration, process, and engagement that propelled "The List" to success. This celebration of the athletes and individuals who've made their mark on cycling esports was a genuine team effort. They also outlined their plans for further enhancements in 2025, inviting the audience to be part of the journey to make 'The List' even better.



In the Second Part, Chris says an emotional bye to Si and hi to his new co-host, Emma Martin, as they usher in a new era of the Virtual Velo Podcast. She shares her background as a national-level MTB and cyclocross racer, British Cycling MTB commission member, and her early days as a virtual cyclist and women's-only event pioneer on Zwift. 



She transitioned to broadcasting after an academic career as an Associate Dean of Research. Her impressive list of productions includes multiple UCI World Cycling Championships and European Championships events, the Women's Tour of Iceni and Tour of Boudica on Zwift, and live commentating for the British Cycling National Crit Series. Alongside co-host Matt Payne, cycling esports fans can hear her every Sunday commentating MyWhoosh's flagship race series, the Sunday Race Club.



Check out the articles cited in the episode for an even deeper dive.


UCI Releases 2024 Cycling Esports World Championship Race Book Clarifying Event Details [Zommunique, May 6, 2024]
UCI Tells Nations How Many Riders They Can Bring To The 2024 Esports World Championship and Other Details [Zommunique, March 31, 2024]
Michael Rogers Steps Away From Role as UCI Head of Cycling Esports [Zommunique, April 3, 2024]
UCI in Transition: Examining the Governing Body’s Contribution, Relevance, and Evolving Role—Does Cycling Esports Need The UCI? [Zommunique, April 10, 2024]

 

Clip in and take a conversational ride with us as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar!

In Episode 40 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris and Si welcome former Zwift employee Flint McInnis for an insightful, forward-thinking conversation on the state of racing on the platform. Flint, a Zwift competition team member and forum moderator, played a vital role in developing the Zwift Racing Score before being affected by Zwift’s recent restructuring.

During the episode, Flint shares insights into the development of the Zwift Racing Score and the challenges that hindered its implementation and delayed other platform features. He gives his opinion on the commitment to racing, cheating, the lost UCI Cycling Esports World Championship bid, and why he feels “Zwift should just pick a direction and go with it!”

Following the interview, Chris and Si had an in-depth discussion about several esports breaking news stories, including:


UCI’s release of National Federation Quotas for the World Championship Semi-Final
UCI’s Esports Director Michael Rogers’ departure
In-Person Live Event Finals in Sweden, Denmark, France, and Australia
Zwift Games Broadcast Viewership and Community Engagement
and is Zwift planning to roll out a VR headset?

 

Check out the articles cited in the episode for an even deeper dive.


UCI Tells Nations How Many Riders They Can Bring To The 2024 Esports World Championship and Other Details [Zommunique, March 31, 2024]
Michael Rogers Steps Away From Role as UCI Head of Cycling Esports [Zommunique, April 3, 2024]
Meet the 2024 AusCycling Esports National Champion Kate Trdin [Zommunique, April 3, 2024]
AusCycling and the Swedish Cycling Federation Crown 2024 Cycling Esports National Champions in Live Event Finals on the Same Day [Zommunique, March 27, 2024]
Danish Federation’s Cycling Esports Leadership is an Example for NGBs [Zommunique, February 28, 2024]

 

Clip in and take a conversational ride with us as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar!

For Episode 39 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, cycling esports pioneers Lionel Vujasin and Ollie Jones join the discussion with Chris and Si. Lionel made a splash with a thrilling win at the CVR Cup live event in Vancouver in 2018, while Ollie claimed victory at Zwift Academy the same year and went on to success on the road and beyond.

Reflecting on the early days of esports, they ponder why progress hasn’t been more significant since then. As two of the first professional esports specialists, they share insights into their journey and their hopes for the future of virtual racing.

They recount their experiences of being annulled from a MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club event and the subsequent need to prove their performance in person in Abu Dhabi.

When given the option between winning the Zwift Games Championship and participating in a MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club event, their decision reveals their priorities. Can you predict which one they opted for?

Check out the articles cited in the episode for an even deeper dive.


The Annulment That Changed Cycling Esports: MyWhoosh Tests Vujasin, Kaminski, and Jones in Abu Dhabi Proving World Tour Pro Power [Zommunique, Feb. 19, 2024]
Inaugural Zwift Games 2024: A Complete Guide to the Largest Virtual Racing Event Ever! [Zommunique, Feb. 21, 2024]
Virtual Platform MyWhoosh is Changing the Cycling Esports Game [Zommunique, Nov. 5, 2022]

 

Clip in and take a conversational ride with us as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar!

For Episode 38 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris and Si journeyed over 8,000 miles to Long Beach, CA, the birthplace of Zwift Cycling Esports, to record live together for the first time. They had the opportunity to interview Brian Duffy, the 2024 USA Cycling Esports National Champion from NeXT eSports pb Enshored, and share a ride and insightful conversation with Jacob Fraser.

Jacob, who has served as Zwift’s Senior Manager of Brand Experience for over three years, was the first Director of Esports at MyWhoosh and currently holds the position of Esports Coordinator for the UCI. With his unique perspective on the origin and evolution of cycling esports, Jacob led the guys on a ride through Palos Verdes, including the climb that inspired the Zwift KOM.

Brian shared his journey from champion triathlete to indoor cycling esports specialist and discussed the unique training and riding style that has contributed to his success. He also delved into the philosophy behind Zwift Team NeXT eSports pb Enshored and the team strategy that put him in the Stars and Stripes.

The 2024 USA Cycling Esports National Champion offered his insights on the challenges within the racing community regarding self-policing, his plans to explore other platforms like MyWhoosh, and much more.

Zwift Games Overall Champion or UCI Cycling Esports World Championships? What would he choose?

Brian provides his answer, and Chris and Si head to a coffee shop outside Zwift HQ to reflect on his insightful and unique perspective until rain cuts their conversation and time together short.

Check out the articles cited in the episode for an even deeper dive.


Elite Esports Racer Brian Duffy Tells All it Takes to be Great! [Zommunique, Nov. 11, 2021]
Inaugural Zwift Games 2024: A Complete Guide to the Largest Virtual Racing Event Ever! [Zommunique, Feb. 21, 2024]
Virtual Platform MyWhoosh is Changing the Cycling Esports Game [Zommunique, Nov. 5, 2022]

 

Clip in and take a conversational ride with us as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar!

In Episode 37 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Si and Chris invite freelance cycling writer and multi-platform elite esports star Zach Nehr to a roundtable discussion. 

Don’t let the length of this episode scare you off. It’s packed full of exciting cycling esports news and inside information.

Zach has jet-setted worldwide, competing in live esports events, including the La Vuelta Virtual ’23 in Madrid on ROUVY, the Olympic Esports Series in Singapore, and recently in Abu Dhabi for the MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club. 

He brings a unique perspective from the pointy end as an elite racer and his insight as a writer to react to Chris’ recent interviews with UCI President David Lappartient and Head of Innovation and Esports Michael Rogers.

Chris asks Rogers why the UCI awarded the Esports World Championships to MyWhoosh, not Zwift. 

Zach explains why he feels the Zwift Academy isn’t about Zwift anymore and needs a rebranding. He tells why he thinks MyWhoosh is at the forefront of cycling esports and doing all the right things to take the sport to the next level. 

Chris gives an update on the MyWhoosh in-house testing of Lionel Vujasin and Michal Kaminski in Abu Dhabi. 

Si asks Zach if he could only win one more race in his life, would it be the Zwift Games or the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on MyWhoosh? Please tune in to find out his answer and so much more!

Check out the articles cited in the episode for an even deeper dive.


‘It builds bridges and brings many opportunities’: UCI announces deep partnership with the UAE for years to come [Cycling Weekly, Jan. 26, 2024]
Virtual Platform MyWhoosh is Changing the Cycling Esports Game [Zommunique, Nov. 5, 2022]
“The Olympic Esports Games will start in 2025 and will include cycling esports” —says UCI President [Zommunique, Jan. 31, 2024]
Smart Trainer Standardization is Only Months Away, according to the UCI [Zommunique, Feb. 14, 2024]
Will Virtual Platform MyWhoosh’s Millions Sway Racer Loyalty and Forge a Path to Professional Cycling Esports? [Zommunique, Apr. 19, 2023]

 

Clip in and take a conversational ride with us as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar!