UCI World Champion/National Champions e-sports/Zwift

jgsi
jgsi Posts: 5,062
edited February 2019 in Pro race
I'll leave the future it seems here. ((Personal viewpoint: A little bit of me is sad inside.))
British Cycling will be holding the first eRacing Championships in 2019 with training platform Zwift.

The competition, due to be held early next year, will be open to all British Cycling members, with training rides being held on Zwift in the run-up.

A national e-racing champion will be crowned in the inaugural race, which follows the UCI’s announcement of the eSports World Championships.


Read more at https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/late ... SFVqLC3.99

I think UCI discussions are underway.
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Comments

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597
    How will they prevent cheating?
  • timothyw
    timothyw Posts: 2,482
    For the finals you have to attend in person.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    I'm fine with this but they should just award a virtual jersey in keeping with the event.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Brian Smith
    ‏

    @BriSmithy
    Following Following @BriSmithy
    More Brian Smith Retweeted British Cycling
    No! No! No!
    I'm all for Training Community but please do not award National Champs Jerseys. I worked very hard for both of mine and i think this is sending out the wrong message. Honour the winners but please do not disrespect the history of the National Champs Jersey. Thank You!Brian Smith added,

    British Cycling
    Verified account

    @BritishCycling
    We're excited to announce our partnership with @GoZwift as Official Training Community of British Cycling

    From the inaugural e-Racing Championships to group rides, be…
    7:47 PM - 6 Dec 2018
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,228
    I assume you can then wear the jersey only when competing in zwift races.
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    well I think its a good thing,
    Please embrace all of you who don't think learning group riding skills has a value.
    Please embrace all those who peel off one turn before it's their turn in a chaingang.
    Please take note local yobbos and boy racers and become national champions in virtual car racing.

    Actually how do we know that we're not all in some virtual world anyway........
  • Agent57
    Agent57 Posts: 2,300
    JGSI wrote:
    Brian Smith
    "please do not award National Champs Jerseys. I worked very hard for both of mine"

    I reckon anyone who wins an eSports jersey will have worked hard for it, but I agree the physical world stripes should remain exclusive to the physical world.

    I'm all for Zwift and BC creating a new set of stripes purely for virtual racing though. (Although of course eRacing is in a peculiar middle ground where "virtual racing" requires a real world physical effort.)
    MTB commuter / 531c commuter / CR1 Team 2009 / RockHopper Pro Disc / 10 mile PB: 25:52 (Jun 2014)
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,444
    Agent57 wrote:
    JGSI wrote:
    Brian Smith
    "please do not award National Champs Jerseys. I worked very hard for both of mine"

    I reckon anyone who wins an eSports jersey will have worked hard for it, but I agree the physical world stripes should remain exclusive to the physical world.

    I'm all for Zwift and BC creating a new set of stripes purely for virtual racing though. (Although of course eRacing is in a peculiar middle ground where "virtual racing" requires a real world physical effort.)
    I wonder if they will start to use it a bit like Gran Turismo, where people can actually get onto teams this way etc.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    You mean like Team Dimension Data have done already ?

    (it was them I think ?)
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Over time will this create a new type of specialist?
    Exclusive turbo trainer cyclist who can hack summers indoors, a bit like trackies?
    The companies involved are very keen to emphasise it is not all about w/kg but I'm not so sure.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,444
    Fenix wrote:
    You mean like Team Dimension Data have done already ?

    (it was them I think ?)
    I thought that was a "ride with the team" type thing. Although I will admit I didn't pay a lot of attention.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,719
    British Stripes for Strava KOMs next...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • joey54321
    joey54321 Posts: 1,297
    Both Canyon-Sram and Dimension Datas U23 development squad have had 1 rider per year join them from winning a zwift competition.

    My opinion; just like winning jerseys in TTs Vs RRs, you should only get to wear the jersey you won in the competition you win it, no problem with BC creating a Zwift BC champions jersey or even stripes for former winners but it definitely shouldn't be worn as a physical jersey.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,262
    joey54321 wrote:
    Both Canyon-Sram and Dimension Datas U23 development squad have had 1 rider per year join them from winning a zwift competition.

    My opinion; just like winning jerseys in TTs Vs RRs, you should only get to wear the jersey you won in the competition you win it, no problem with BC creating a Zwift BC champions jersey or even stripes for former winners but it definitely shouldn't be worn as a physical jersey.
    Presumably people riding on Zwift wear some clothes while they're doing it?
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • joey54321
    joey54321 Posts: 1,297
    RichN95 wrote:
    joey54321 wrote:
    Both Canyon-Sram and Dimension Datas U23 development squad have had 1 rider per year join them from winning a zwift competition.

    My opinion; just like winning jerseys in TTs Vs RRs, you should only get to wear the jersey you won in the competition you win it, no problem with BC creating a Zwift BC champions jersey or even stripes for former winners but it definitely shouldn't be worn as a physical jersey.
    Presumably people riding on Zwift wear some clothes while they're doing it?

    I am sure they do, but that's up to them, I'm not one to judge.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    It is quite hot - maybe they should just give striped shorts ? Or a rainbow sweat towel ?
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    Fenix wrote:
    It is quite hot - maybe they should just give striped shorts ? Or a rainbow sweat towel ?


    HAHA or give their little virtual dude a virtual shirt that can only be worn on line.
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    ddraver wrote:
    British Stripes for Strava KOMs next...

    That's already a thing isn't it, a load of skinny folks do it around October time?
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,719
    ShutupJens wrote:
    ddraver wrote:
    British Stripes for Strava KOMs next...

    That's already a thing isn't it, a load of skinny folks do it around October time?

    Christ....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,108
    The older I get the more I may be morphing into a character in a once popular sitcom but when I read the news BC were getting involved in virtual turbo training competitions my first thought was I DON'T BELIEVE IT. I mean ffs really it's not cycling is it.

    But then again if it winds up people who think the national champs jersey is some kind of holy relic only to be worn by those lucky enough to have been genetically gifted maybe it's not all bad.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    Anything that winds up Brian Smith is a positive thing in my eyes. Zwifting is fine in winter, I know tonnes of people who are using it to get the miles in at the moment. Probs wouldn't bother with it when the weather is alright though
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,611
    DeVlaeminck wrote:
    ....virtual turbo training competitions my first thought was I DON'T BELIEVE IT. I mean ffs really it's not cycling is it.....

    It's not cycling OUTDOORS, but it is pushing the pedals of a bike, and it is bloody hard work if you're strong enough to compete at the front of the races - but unless you've tried using a smart trainer you wouldn't have a clue.

    For the ignorant on here, Canyon Sram are on their third final, their first winner had her one year contract renewed, and DD have given U23 contracts to their two winners.

    Also there's potentially more money in eSports particularly for the women.

    It won't ever replace the outdoor champions, but what's wrong with an alternative. The weight dopers will be found out come finals time if they're stupid enough to cheat their way there.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,108
    People are welcome to zwift all they like - I've been using a power measuring trainer for years if not one with a virtual reality element - but for my money it shouldn't be something BC or the UCI adopt as another cycling discipline. Otherwise what about the national pedalo champs or those pedal gocarts that used to exist in the 1970s? I don't think BC even get involved in recumbent racing do they - someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,719
    Maybe we're just both getting old DeV but I totally agree with you. At a bare minimum a cycling race has to involve movement of said bikes.

    This is basically CrossFit for skinny People...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • andyrac
    andyrac Posts: 1,205
    And furthermore, it won't do anything for their bike handling skills....(if they've got any to start with).
    All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    National black ice in daylight warnings apart, I can see Zwift paychecks as a nice little earner for pros who are in secondary teams or lesser domestiques.
    Last winter Ian Bibby made mincemeat of all the fauxpro Zwifters in a public arena (99% empty) and earned himself $10k.
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    AndyRAC wrote:
    And furthermore, it won't do anything for their bike handling skills....(if they've got any to start with).

    I think it’s great news; triathletes will be able to whinge about their lack of bike handling skills on the club runs :wink:
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    More info
    https://road.cc/content/news/254989-zwi ... irst-round

    Men’s KISS Super League Teams:

    Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling Team (Professional Continental)

    Israel Cycling Academy (Professional Continental)

    Cofidis (Professional Continental)

    Novo Nordisk (Professional Continental)

    Team Dimension Data U23 (UCI Continental)

    Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes (UCI Continental)

    Team Wiggins Le Col (UCI Continental)

    Arapahoe|Hincapie p/b BMC (UCI Continental)

    Madison Genesis (UCI Continental)

    Oliver’s Real Food Racing (UCI Continental)

    SEG Racing Academy (UCI Continental)

    Pro Racing Sunshine Coast (UCI Continental)

    Ribble Pro Cycling (UCI Continental)

    Zwift Community All Stars

    Zwift Academy Dream Team

    Women’s KISS Super League Teams:

    Canyon//SRAM

    Doltcini-Van Eyck

    Hagens Berman Supermint

    Team TWENTY20

    Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling

    Zwift All Stars

    Zwift Academy Dream Team
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    ddraver wrote:
    Maybe we're just both getting old DeV but I totally agree with you. At a bare minimum a cycling race has to involve movement of said bikes.

    This is basically CrossFit for skinny People...

    It's not even that. It's a frickin spin class!

    [Edit] I've grown to like Zwift and use it every week, but it's still just a spin class.
  • FocusZing
    FocusZing Posts: 4,373
    Worth a try I guess.

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