Ep. 60: Zwift Pauses Elite Racing—Community Weighs In On Smart Trainer Issues

The Virtual Velo Podcast p/b TheZommunique.com

In Episode 60 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris welcomes cycling journalist Aaron Borrill, an elite racer who has competed in multiple UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.

Aaron discusses his role as Captain of the South African Esports National Team, the innovative ways Cycling South Africa supports cycling esports, and how their approach could inspire a roadmap for the future of competitive virtual cycling.

Aaron lends his unique perspective as a racer and award-winning tech editor of off-road.cc to the emotional topic facing the cycling esports community—Zwift’s postponement of the elite Zwift World Series season due to smart trainer accuracy issues.

Chris has sought clarification from Zwift on key aspects of their recent decision that have puzzled many in the community. In their discussion, they also addressed the subsequent statements from Wahoo and MyWhoosh, analyzing the implications on the cycling esports landscape.

Correction: The IOC did not discuss the Olympic Esports Games during the December 5th Executive Board Session as anticipated, leaving us to temper our enthusiasm for a bit longer. However, the discussion on the potential qualification system, format, and game-changing impact on cycling esports was too compelling to exclude, so we’ve included it in this episode of the Virtual Velo Podcast.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode. We’ve curated a selection of articles that inspired our conversation, providing you with exclusive insights.

• Extreme Dieting in Virtual Cycling, Parts 1 to 3 [ZwiftInsider, March 4, 2021]
• Extreme Dieting in Virtual Cycling: Changes to the Zwift Esports Ruleset [ZwiftInsider, March 30, 2021]
• Zwift Ventures Down a New Performance Verification Path For 2024/25 Community Elite Racing Season With Future Implications [Zommunique, Aug 15, 2024]
• Zwift Postpones Elite Racing Season Due to Smart Trainer Accuracy Concerns [Zommunique, Dec 4, 2024]
• Zwift Reveals 2024/25 Elite Community Racing Season Plans [Zommunique, June 24, 2024]
• Early Details Reveal Key Zwift Games Changes for 2025 [Nov 26, 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. We invite you to be part of this exciting exploration of the future of virtual sport and digital athlete engagement!