The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and MyWhoosh are pleased to announce that the fourth edition of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships will take place on 26 October 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where all the athletes qualified for the men's and women's finals will come together to compete for the two titles at stake.
The UCI had announced in August 2023 that MyWhoosh would be the exclusive platform and organiser of the UCI Esport Cycling World Championships for the period 2024-2026, before announcing last November that the final of the event would be held on-site in Abu Dhabi in October 2024.
The format of the event has been redefined with MyWhoosh. This new format aims to offer maximum opportunities to all types of riders wishing to take part in the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. In particular, the introduction of a points system will make the competition even more attractive and exciting.
In this new format, 150 men and 150 women will take part in the semi-final of the event. This increase in the number of participants reflects MyWhoosh's wider strategy to encourage the growth of cycling esports and provide a more inclusive platform for competitors from around the world.
Qualification process
A series of qualifying events will be held in the months leading up to September. Around 80% of the places in the semi-finals will be allocated to the National Federations, who will then select their representatives. The other semi-finalists (the remaining 20%) will qualify via the public qualification process on the MyWhoosh platform.
This dual qualification pathway will give wider access to the semi-finals. Criteria have been put in place to ensure a transparent and fair selection process for all athletes, including those from nations that do not yet have a strong cycling esports culture.
Semi-finals: a two-stage format
The semi-finals - which will be held in two stages - will take place in September, with 150 qualified athletes of each gender competing virtually from the four corners of the globe.
The first race will be contested over a demanding 9-kilometre circuit, with a points system determining the top 80 finishers (of each gender) who will qualify for the next race.
The second, intense race will comprise four laps of a 4-kilometre circuit. It will enable a selection of the top 20 men and 20 women who will qualify for the final on 26 October, to be held on site in Abu Dhabi.
On-site final in Abu Dhabi – racing for points
The 20 men and 20 women who qualify (plus a minimum of two wild cards per gender) will be invited to Abu Dhabi to take part in the grand final.
The riders will compete in three short, intense races, during which they will be able to collect points that will determine the final ranking. The riders who score the most points across all the races will be crowned 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Champions.
Race 1 - The Sprint
During this competition, held on a 1.7 km circuit, riders will have 15 minutes to achieve their best time in an individual sprint over 300 metres. They can make as many attempts as they like during the 15 minutes. Strategy and power will be paramount. Some riders will choose to set their best time - on their own - while they still have plenty of energy, others will try to get into their rivals’ slipstream, while still others will wait until the last moment to give their all to beat the reference time. Athletes will have plenty of options to choose from.
The addition of a sprint race is a new feature introduced especially for the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, aimed at offering all types of riders maximum opportunities to collect points.
Race 2 - The Strategy
In the second race, riders will tackle a 9-kilometre circuit with a longer climb. The aim is to collect points in three intermediate sprints per lap. It won't necessarily be enough to be the best climber: all the riders will be able to win by accumulating the most points.
Race 3 - All Out
The final race will take place on a 4-kilometre circuit, to be covered four times, with points to be won at the top of a short, steep climb on each lap. Will the riders give it their all to earn points quickly, or will they save their energy for the last lap, when the number of points awarded at the finish line will be doubled?
The 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships will therefore not only provide intense competition, but will also offer a different cycling esports experience. MyWhoosh's new format guarantees a balance between fitness and strategy, which will enable the event to find its rightful place on the UCI International Calendar.
UCI President David Lappartient said: “Since the first edition in 2020, the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships have enraptured athletes and fans of cycling and of esports in general. This year will be the first time all of the finalists compete in-person, adding an extra dimension to an already successful and popular event. Thanks to our partnership with MyWhoosh, the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships will take on a new, innovative format, further stamping its mark in the world of cycling and esports.”
The CEO/Managing Director of MyWhoosh Akhtar Saeed Hashmi said: “MyWhoosh is proud to spearhead the evolution of cycling esports. Our commitment to innovation and inclusivity is at the forefront as we introduce a groundbreaking points-based format, catering to athletes of all physiological characteristics. With the privilege of hosting the live final in Abu Dhabi, we are dedicated to changing the cycling esports landscape. In a significant move, we are expanding the semi-finals to accommodate over 150 riders, reflecting our broader strategy to foster global growth and inclusivity in cycling esports. The qualification pathways, blending National Federation selections and MyWhoosh's public qualification process, ensure transparency and fairness, opening doors for athletes worldwide."
About the UCI
Founded on April 14, 1900, in Paris, France, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the worldwide governing body for cycling. It develops and oversees cycling in all its forms and for all people: as a competitive sport, a healthy recreational activity, a means of transport, and also just for fun. The UCI manages and promotes the 10 cycling disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, cyclo-cross, trials, indoor cycling, cycling esports and gravel. Five of these are featured on the Olympic Games programme (road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle), two in the Paralympic Games (road and track), and four in the Youth Olympic Games (road, mountain bike, BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle). For more information: www.uci.org
About MyWhoosh
Founded in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, MyWhoosh is a free-to-use virtual cycling app. Designed by professionals and available to all riders, MyWhoosh aims to push riders to their limits through immersive, personalised and challenging indoor cycling experiences. Used by professionals and beginners alike, MyWhoosh offers visually stunning virtual worlds, over 730 tailored workout plans and weekly competitive races. For more information: www.mywhoosh.com