British Cycling Zwift eRacing Championships to be shown live on BT Sport

British Cycling Zwift eRacing Championships to be shown live on BT Sport

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British Cycling has today confirmed that its first-ever national eSports cycling race will be broadcast live on BT Sport on Thursday 28 March.

The likes of Olympic gold medallist Dani Rowe, Ian Bibby, Rosamund Bradbury, Jon Mould and Stevie Young were invited to race in the finals after placing in the top 10 of their respective gender categories in an online qualifying event late in February. Finalists will head to BT Sport Studios in London to compete to be crowned national champion of the British Cycling Zwift eRacing Championships.

The championships mark a UK first and demonstrates the expansion of elite level competitive sport into the fast-growing eSports scene.

Delivered in partnership with Zwift, racing for the multi-event finals – which comprise of an elimination race, points race and scratch race for both men and women – begins at 1:55pm on Thursday afternoon.

Global fitness technology brand, Wahoo, will be the eRacing championships’ official race partner for the final and possibly deciding race of the day - the Wahoo Scratch Race. Renowned for its market-leading range of indoor bike trainers, heart rate monitors and other connected fitness devices, Wahoo will provide all finalists with KICKR smart trainers and KICKR HEADWIND smart fans to keep riders cool throughout the evening’s racing.

Jonathan Rigby, British Cycling Commercial Director, said: “We had nearly 400 people on the virtual start line and thousands more tuning into our online qualifying event back in February. We are looking forward to building on those brilliant numbers to see what our finalists can bring to London on 28 March.

“Having such a well-regarded broadcaster like BT Sport on board for the championships is testament to the broad appeal it has carried since announcing this new event late last year both within the cycling industry, but also amongst new audiences and new generations. We are in the infancy of our partnership with Zwift however the huge boom in eSports means that the sky is the limit for indoor cycling,”

Chip Hawkins, Wahoo CEO, added: We are delighted to be part of the first ever British Cycling Zwift eRacing Championships. At Wahoo we’re confident that eSports has a part to play in the future of cycling and are proud to help cultivate this. With all finalists using KICKR Smart Trainers and KICKR HEADWIND Smart Fan, participants will be aided by some of the most innovative and realistic indoor riding equipment on the market.”  

The format

Race one - Elimination Race

This pulsating race is one for those who like their races short, sweet and full of tactics over five laps, plus a lead in. Just as the name suggests, but with a slightly more brutal twist, the last two riders to cross the finish line every lap of the 2.8km LaGuardia Loop are eliminated, before a head-to-head battle between the final two racers determines the victor and winner of the full 10 points on offer. Each pairing will battle it out for a reward of 10 or nine points (eliminated last), eight or seven points (eliminated fourth), six or five points (eliminated third), four or three points (eliminated second), two points or one point (eliminated first).

Race two – HSBC UK Points Race

Riders will tackle three laps, plus a lead in, of the 4.1km Volcano Circuit CCW for this bunch race. And, as the race name suggests, it is all about points. Each time the riders cross the sprint line (after the lead in), the first four will be awarded five, three, two and one points respectively. Those points are crucially doubled for the all-important final lap. Quick maths is needed to determine the winner of this one – whoever accumulates the most points is victorious. 

Race three - Wahoo Scratch Race

The first to cross the finish line in Zwift’s Watopia Hilly Route takes the win in the Wahoo Scratch Race. Sounds simple in theory, but there is much more to this race than that. Riders will complete two laps of the 9.1km route, with tactics put into play from the outset – some may attempt to breakaway early while others will work hard to prevent stronger riders from escaping, to force a bunch sprint at the end.

Eric Min, Zwift CEO and Co-Founder, added: "We're just at the very beginning of forming a new discipline of cycling and I can't wait to see these 20 athletes go head to head in the live finals of the British Cycling eRacing Championships.

"British Cycling has a reputation of being at the forefront of innovation and we've already seen their members embrace the opportunity in the qualifying rounds. This will be a great spectacle, and I'm delighted that audiences at home will be able to watch the action live on BT Sport."

The schedule (may be subject to change)

1:55pm – 5:30pm – live streamed on British Cycling’s Facebook page and website

Elimination Race

2pm – 2:30pm – women

3pm – 3:30pm – men

HSBC UK Points Race

4pm – 4:30pm – women

5pm – 5:30pm – men

8pm – 10pm – broadcast live on BT Sport 1 and livestreamed on British Cycling’s Facebook page and website 

Wahoo Scratch Race

8:15pm – 8:45 pm – women

8:50 – women’s medal ceremony

9:15pm – 9:45pm – men

9:50pm – men’s medal ceremony

The prize

First place – a championship jersey plus a virtual championship jersey that may be worn in-game for a year and £400 in prize money.

Second place – a silver medal and £200 in prize money

Third place – a bronze medal and £100 in prize money

How to follow

●  Watch digital coverage of the men’s and women’s elimination race and points race on Thursday 28 March between 1:55pm and 5:30pm with all the action streamed on British Cycling’s Facebook page and website.

●  The concluding races and medal ceremonies will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1 and streamed on British Cycling’s Facebook page and website between 8pm and 10pm

●  Follow @BritishCycling on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates, images and videos.

●  A full report, reaction and gallery will appear on the British Cycling website

British Cycling Zwift eRacing Championships finalists:

Women

Mary Wilkinson

Sharon Bird

Leah Dixon

Miriam Jesset

Rosamund Bradbury

Caroline Murray

Dani Rowe

Clare Rhead

Leah Brewer

Lexi Brown

Men

Stevie Young

James Phillips

Kim Little

Ian Bibby

Gavin Dempster

George Pym

Jon Mould

Ed Laverack

Cam Jeffers

Tom Moses