Movistar is launching its own virtual racing event, joining the ever-growing online cycling world.
The Spanish WorldTour team announced the new championships on Tuesday (Monday 11) after a team press conference ahead of the Tour Colombia stage race.
Movistar Virtual Cycling will be launched in April with a combination of online and live qualifying events, held alongside some of the most iconic races of the cycling season.
The races will use the Bkool virtual training software.
>>> Indoor cycling apps compared: which is best for you?
In a statement, Movistar said: “Virtual cycling is a discipline which more and more people are taking up from conventional cycling.
“[Movistar parent company] Telefónica is taking another step forward in its gamble on cycling and innovation through the creation of the international competition, Movistar Virtual Cycling.”
Racers will compete over real routes matching portions of WorldTour events, with the winners of the qualifying events making it through to the finals.
The final race will be held at Festibike, the international bike festival held in Madrid in September.
Bkool’s training platform allows pros and amateurs to compete on 3D simulated environments through their tablet, smartphone or computer.
The software, which features virtual distances, gradients, slipstreaming, landscapes and weather, currently has 100,000 active users.
Movistar virtual cycling will launch on April 14 with a Paris-Roubaix race, followed by Liége-Bastogne-Liége on April 28.
>>> Six signs you’ve spent too long cycling indoors this winter
Other races in the competition include the Tour of California, the Giro d’Italia, Critérium du Dauphiné, Tour de Suisse, and the Tour de France.
This is the latest development in virtual bike racing, following the British Cycling national e-racing championships and the Zwift Kiss Super League.
Qualifying for the first virtual national championships will be held on February 24, followed by a live final in spring.
Last month rival training to Bkool, Zwift, launched the first racing league for pro cyclists.
A total of 15 are racing in the inaugural series, including Cofidis, Team Wiggins – Le Col, Israel Cycling Academy and Hagens Berman Axeon.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Peter Sagan: 10 great moments
Sometimes awe-inspiring, sometimes baffling, but nearly always entertaining, here are some of Peter Sagan's greatest hits
-
Indoor training competition shrinks as Wahoo closes down RGT and gives some users Zwift subscription
The American tech company's free virtual riding software is to be shut down at the end of October, with attention turning to structured workouts
-
Opinion: There will never be another bike rider like Annemiek van Vleuten
The flying Dutchwoman could almost win it all, but now her era has almost ended, she should be remembered as the greatest
-
Will Barta's Canyon bike snaps in Giro d'Italia stage 10 crash
Movistar rider was caught up in incident in sodden day at Giro d'Italia
-
Alejandro Valverde to return to racing with new Movistar gravel squad
Spanish veteran will pin on numbers in his first ever gravel race at ‘La Indomable’ in Spain on 23 April
-
Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
-
Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
-
Van Vleuten confirms her superiority with Ceratizit Challenge GC victory
Elisa Balsamo takes the final stage bunch kick on the Madrid circuit after consummate work from Trek-Segafredo
-
Silvia Persico takes Ceratizit Challenge stage victory after a tense aggressive final
Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer comes close to pulling off a repeat of her Tokyo triumph with a 158km solo break
-
Van Vleuten in a class of her own winning the second stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta
The Movistar rider attacked on the penultimate climb dropping all her rivals to take the overall lead with three stages remaining
