Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The Cycling Esports World Championships is all set for a unique, physical finale on Saturday as the event takes a departure since its collaboration with Abu Dhabi company and virtual training platform MyWhoosh.
After the qualification process to narrow down competitors from all over the world, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre's Marina Hall over a length of not more than 100 metres will serve as the velodrome for the cyclists in front of a live audience instead of their homes.
Having moved away from Zwift to MyWhoosh, the experience has been upgraded for the event's debut in the UAE with the organisers flying in all 42 competitors – 22 men and 20 female – for the finale.
The prize money will be the same for both men and women, and the overall amount also has been bumped up massively to $60,000 from the previous edition's $25k, according to a spokesperson from MyWhoosh. Both the men and women's podium placings will now be richer by $15,000 for the winner, $10k for second place and $5k for the one in third.
Among those watching and providing star appeal in the audience will be recently crowned triple-crown champion and UAE Team Emirates' leader Tadej Pogačar as well as three-time consecutive World Champion Peter Sagan.
Officials from world bodies Union Cyclist International (UCI) and the International Olympic Committee are also expected at this significant chapter in the history of indoor cycling.
On September 6, over 100 female and 120 male cyclists competed in the semi-finals. Those who finished in the top 20 entered the final while two men received wildcard entries.
In the women's field for the final, China Liv Pro Cycling's Hao Zhang is the only rider from the public qualification pathway to make the finals.
Lou Bates, the former British National Hill Climb Champion, stood alongside Brazil's Gabriela Guerra on the podium of the 2024 Zwift Games. Both finished first and fifth in September respectively and will be among ones to watch for.
In the men's race, USA's Hayden Pucker came second behind New Zealand's Ollie Jones. Defending champion Bjørn Andreassen also poses a significant threat after qualifying in fourth in the semis while former esports world champion and Alpecin Deceuninck rider, Jason Osborne, will also compete.
To guarantee fair play during competition, MyWhoosh along with UCI has instituted various performance verification methods that athletes must adhere to according to established guidelines.
A reporting system combined with data collection points allows for monitoring performance accuracy and authenticity while ensuring fairness among participants – a strategy already employed successfully during previous semi-finals.
"The semi-finals proved successful as evidenced by minimal annulments," stated representatives from MyWhoosh and UCI.
"We can assure thorough performance checks have been conducted on each athlete consistent adherence was maintained throughout."
Ensuring equitable competition involves rigorous equipment standardisation alongside real-time in-person checks, a priority area for UCI.
Officials in Italy have tested the accuracy while standardising 30 Elite Justo 2 smart trainers designated for use in finals; marking this as an inaugural occurrence where devices feature an "Approved by UCI" label within cycling esports, globally assuring power precision within a minimal error margin of just 1%.
MyWhoosh supplied every finalist with an Elite Justo 2 trainer dispatched prior so they could acclimatise ahead of traveling to Abu Dhabi.
Competitors began their journey toward qualifying March when new point-based systems implemented specific quotas per nation through results earned during the past two World Championships.
Approximately 80% available openings were dedicated national federations, who then hosted qualifier rounds selecting representatives progressing into semifinals; whereas the rest gained access via public qualification route offered by MyWhoosh alternatively.
Entry is free for those in the UAE with the event starting at 5pm. The final will also be streamed live on MyWhoosh platforms on YouTube and Twitch.
The latest info are that Pogačar and Sagan will not race at the ESports World Championships in Abu Dhabi (26/10) as it was expected as MyWhoosh sponsors UAE team.
— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) October 23, 2024
But Pogačar should be present in the audience.
Would be curious to who will go to those 2 wildcards then. pic.twitter.com/IpA2dkOFnW
Format and Courses
The competitors will face a new three-stage format designed to test the all-around capabilities of each rider. The aim is to give both sprinters and climbers an equal chance of success.
Stage One: The Sprint
Stage one, known as "The Sprint," takes riders on a 1.7-kilometre flat circuit featuring a velodrome that foreshadows the venue currently under construction on Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi for the 2029 UCI Track World Championships.
Inspired by Formula One, racers will have 15 minutes to post their fastest time through a 300-metre timed segment, and a live leaderboard will showcase the times.
While it may seem straightforward, the stage is highly tactical and sets the dramatic tone for what is to come.
Riders can wait until the last moment to sprint, preventing others from setting a faster time, or opt to use the group's draft for an early fast time and conserve energy.
The fastest rider will earn 40 points, with the total decreasing to 2 points for the slowest or unluckiest sprinter.
The riders will line up for the next stage after a 20-minute refuel and recovery period.
Stage Two: The Strategist
Stage two, called "The Strategist," features a single 9km circuit with a roughly four-minute climb at 2.1 kilometres, followed by a swift descent, several kilometres of rolling hills, and a 1km flat stretch to the finish line.
Twenty points are available at the base and summit of the climb, with double points awarded at the finish line. A maximum of 80 points are on offer.
With points available at the base of the climb, riders can opt for a full-gas sprint to the initial prime, which requires an intense effort to stay with the elite group.
This strategy allows them to collect points as they crest the climb and compete for valuable finish line points.
Stage Three: All Out
In this stage, riders will tackle four laps of a 4km circuit, including a sharp 50-second climb to the start/finish line.
Each lap features an intermediate sprint point at the crest of the climb, with double points awarded at the finish.
This final stage offers a maximum of 100 points, making late-race tactics crucial in this battle of attrition and strategy.
