Zwift and UCI to host inaugural E-Sports World Championships in 2020
The first ever World Championships promise complete parity between men and women


Online cycling platform Zwift and governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) have agreed terms to host the first ever UCI Cycling E-Sports World Championships in 2020.
The partnership will see the implementation of a new UCI rulebook for Cycling E-Sports in the coming year.
Zwift has stated that the competition will be equal for men and women - with both sexes completing the same number of races, over the same distances, with equal prize money and coverage.
This demand for equality sets a refreshing tone when viewed alongside the announcement of the Swiss world championships routes, where women will race over 123 kilometres to the men's 244km road race, riding a 34km time trial vs the 46km elite men's event.
Prize money between elite men and elite women is equal at the world championships, with the now removed trade team time trial being the last event to achieve parity in 2016.
“The beauty of creating a new cycling discipline is that we have a blank slate and no limitations. We will set the standard for fair play and equality,” said Craig Edmondson, CEO of Zwift e-sports.
The event will take place just one year after the inaugural National e-racing championships, won by Rosamund Bradbury and Cameron Jeffers in Great Britain.
Zwift has created online versions of the UCI Road World Championships for several consecutive editions, with users on the interactive platform logging over 2 million miles on World Champs roads.
“We have been looking at the emergence of e-sports for some time with Zwift,” Says David Lappartient, President of the UCI.
“As the governing body for the sport, we need to remain open to technical innovations and change, and to remain relevant to all audiences. Zwift is a platform that is enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. However, there is a particularly exciting opportunity through esports as we look to attract a younger audience to cycling.
"Together we have an opportunity to support a fitter youth, through the creation of a new sustainable sport.”
Zwift's KISS Super League was the first e-sport series to feature professional athletes.
“Earlier this year, we marked our ambition to develop an esports platform, but I think it’s much more than that. We are looking to establish a new cycling discipline.” adds Eric Min, Zwift CEO and Co-Founder.
“This partnership is a significant leap in that journey as we move further towards our ambition of delivering competition at the highest level in sport. We are at the very beginning of a long and exciting road here at Zwift as we look to establish a new and innovative discipline for cycling.”
In April this year, Canyon launched the first ever professional e-racing team: Canyon ZCC, noting the lower cost of running the team as a major factor in making the endeavour possible.
“Racing on Zwift is still in its infancy, but compared to the cost of running a traditional cycling team, starting Canyon ZCC was a no-brainer of an opportunity," said Rhys Howell, Canyon ZCC Team Manager.
Thank you for reading 5 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
Cycling Weekly's Digital Editor Michelle Arthurs-Brennan is a traditional journalist by trade, having begun her career working for a local newspaper before spending a few years at Evans Cycles, then combining the two with a career in cycling journalism.
When not typing or testing, Michelle is a road racer who also enjoys track riding and the occasional time trial, though dabbles in off-road riding too (either on a mountain bike, or a 'gravel bike'). She is passionate about supporting grassroots women's racing and founded the women's road race team 1904rt.
Favourite bikes include a custom carbon Werking road bike as well as the Specialized Tarmac SL6.
-
-
Alberto Dainese sprints to victory on stage 11 of the Giro d'Italia
The Team DSM rider becomes the first Italian rider to win a stage at this year's Grand Tour in his home country
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2022 standings: Results from the 105th edition after stage ten
The latest standings from the 105th edition of the Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Female pros want a separate Under 23s World Championships, not a race within a race, The Cyclists' Alliance says
Limited support for UCI plan to introduce an U23 jersey, awarded from the elite road race
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Flanders 2021 produces cycling's first-ever sustainability report for Road World Championships
Organisers focussed on limiting the event's environmental impact, measuring its carbon footprint at 2,292 tonnes of CO2
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Neilson Powless rescues remarkable fifth for USA at World Championships road race
The American was shouldered with all his nations' hopes after Quinn Simmons crashed out early on
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Here is the Great Britain women’s team for World Championships 2020 in Imola
The swiftly re-arranged World Championships are just a few weeks away and the Great Britain women’s team has been confirmed.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Tweets of the week: Yorkshire World Championships special
The best social media posts from across the cycling world this week
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Home race for 2020 UCI World Championships to include testing Swiss climbs
A 10km ascent will enliven the finishing circuit - seven times for men and three times for women
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
The Dutch Supremacy - how the Netherlands came to rule the Worlds
Can Lizzie Diegnan, or anyone else, take on and beat the Dutch women at the World Championships next week?
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
Zwift to launch virtual Yorkshire World Championships course
Zwift will be launching a virtual version of the Yorkshire World Championships course to celebrate the event.
By Alex Ballinger • Published