Do you have what it takes to go pro? Here's your chance to prove it.
The Zwift Academy, the indoor cycling platform's renowned talent identification programme, is now open for registration. The programme will run from August 5 through November 3rd, at which time the winner will receive a contract with either Canyon-SRAM's or Alpecin-Deceuninck's development team for 2025.
The Zwift Academy is open to all Zwift users and has been one of its most popular events with more than 100,000 riders taking part in 2023. You do not have to be gunning for a pro contract in order to partake; many participate purely for the challenge and to see how the stack up against Zwifters world-wide.
Started in 2016, the Zwift Academy is part training series, part WorldTour testing protocol designed to uncover hidden talent and support their development through the professional ranks.
Participants will complete a series of workouts that are available on demand, so riders can set their own schedules. In addition to the workouts, riders will also need to compete in two virtual races in order to complete the programme.
All participants who complete the workouts and races will earn exclusive in-game features, including a Zwift Academy kit and bike paint job. One Zwift Academy finisher will also win a real-life Canyon Aeroad in Zwift Academy colours.
Several Zwift Academy winners have gone on to race on the WorldTour and are still racing today, including Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates), winner of the 2023 Tour Down Under, two Vuelta a España stages and the 2022 UCI World Esports Championship. On the women's side, Australian Neve Bradbury won the 2020 Zwift Academy, and just last week she won the Queen Stage, Young Rider Classification, and finished third overall at the Giro d'Italia Women.
“Zwift Academy has consistently delivered high-performing riders to Alpecin - Deceuninck. From Jay Vine in 2020, to Luca Vergalito, who this year moved to the WorldTour. The standard has increased every year and we’re very excited to discover who will join the team in 2025” commented Alpecin - Deceuninck’s Performance Director, Kristof de Kegel.
Dan Fleeman, Performance Director at Canyon-SRAM added, “We crafted the Zwift Academy programme this year to really push the boundaries for all entrants, to take all riders through a series of workouts that mirror the demands of WorldTour level racing, based on real WorldTour data. We know the riders that earn the contracts with both Alpecin - Deceuninck and CANYON//SRAM will have extremely bright careers as professional cyclists ahead of them.”
Learn more about the programme and get registered, here.
