An interview with Zwift Team Primor RWB esport racer, Ireland’s Sean Gallagher.
Hey there! Thanks for the chance to get to know you a bit better. Let's kick things off with a little intro. Can you share a bit about your background—where you're from, what you do, and what lights your fire outside of cycling?
Yes, sure. I’m from Tuebingen, Germany, although I was born in Glasgow and have a very close connection to Donegal, Ireland, where my father’s side of the family originates. I work as a teacher, and my main subjects are German and English/Irish literature. When I’m not on Zwift, I like to relax with long, easy swims, play poker, or dine out at restaurants. I should mention that English is not my native language; I left Glasgow at the ripe old age of two. So, please forgive my poor diction.
That's awesome! Now, let's dive into your cycling journey. When did you first hop on a bike competitively, and what's been your proudest moment on the road?
The first time I jumped on a bike, apart from riding with friends as a kid, was when I completed my first triathlon in 2014. I was a decent runner back then and quickly adapted to swimming, but I totally underestimated cycling. I blew up on the first sharp climb of the bike course. I guess I learned my lesson. It was actually during the COVID lockdown that I became a true ecyclist. I started riding over 10,000 km instead of 3,000 km a year and discovered that I was a natural sprinter, not a triathlon diesel. This skill is helpful if you want to win Zwift races. =)
Fascinating! Switching gears a bit—tell us about your transition into the world of virtual cycling esports. What got you hooked, and what's the crowning achievement of your indoor career?
As I said, COVID-19 played a part in the transition, but joining the famous KISS Racing Team also helped. Racing with some of the OGs of Zwift, like Alessandro Barra and James Hodges, significantly improved my performance. These guys were cowboys. They would enter a race knowing nothing about the course, sit at the back of the pack, and stay under the radar. Then they would pop up out of nowhere and dominate—every time.
My crowning achievement was finishing second in a ZRL Cat A DIV1 race, a race I shouldn’t have placed in on paper. It had a long climb, which isn’t really my strength, but after staying with the lead group over the climb, I made my sprint power count on the run-in.
Sounds like a wild ride! Speaking of rides, you're part of a Zwift Grand Prix esports team, right? How has being on a team shaped you, and is there something unique about your team that's led to its success?
Yes, I actually founded the RWB elite teams. I manage both the women’s and men’s teams and also captain the latter. Richie Sheerin, the owner of RWB, has supported me since day one and is central to everything at RWB. I still ride occasionally for the men’s team, but most of the guys I originally recruited now outshine me, and that’s okay. =)
Being on a team with many top riders definitely improves your skills, whether you’re racing in ZRL or doing TTTs on a Thursday evening. We’re proud that the same riders we started with two years ago now make up our Grand Prix team. Although we are an Irish team with an Irish core, our name, “Riders Without Borders,” suggests that we are all-inclusive, as you can see from our roster. I think it’s fair to say that we have built levels of friendship and trust among ourselves that extend beyond our virtual world.
Great insights! For context, could you share some of your physical stats, like your indoor personal bests for various power intervals?
Sure. I’m 184m tall and weigh around 71-72 kilos. I recorded my highest indoor 20-minute power as 375 Watts during a TTT. My highest 5-minute power was 420 Watts during a ZRL race, and my sprint numbers are approximately 900 Watts (12.2 WKG) for 30 seconds and 1150 Watts (16 WKG) for 15 seconds, according to Zwift Power. I have similar numbers recorded on Strava from outdoor rides.
Impressive numbers! Looking ahead, what are your esports goals, both short-term and long-term? Is becoming the UCI Cycling Esports World Champion on your radar, and what does it mean to you?
Richie Sheerin and I had this dream of having an Irish team in the elite league of esports. I guess that dream came true. Now that the dream is a reality, our next goal is to establish RWB prominently in the Grand Prix. Personally, my ambition is to represent Ireland someday in the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.
That's ambitious! How do you feel about the current multi-platform landscape of esports championships, both nationally and internationally?
I guess the platform that offers the best racing experience and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure the integrity of the events should oversee the national and international esports championships.
Interesting perspective. There are skeptics who question the legitimacy of esports. What's your take on the challenges esports faces in gaining recognition and trust?
You will always have skeptics, and to a certain degree, that’s good because it forces esports to find ways to prove its doubters wrong. Grand Prix requires height and weight measurement videos, IRL data, and an indoor power test. All these tests must be filmed, so it leaves very little room for cheating.
Well said! With multiple platforms available for esports, where do you see yourself fitting in? Do you race on more than one platform? Are there features on one platform that you prefer over others?
I’ve always been racing on Zwift, and since I’m very happy with it—especially since Watopia became my virtual home during COVID—I’ve never felt the urge to test other platforms.
Good to know! What do you think could make virtual cycling more engaging for spectators?
That’s a good question. Obviously, the platforms must try to make the experience as authentic as possible, just like other games do. It would be cool if the riders’ avatars could look more authentic, perhaps by using real photos so the avatar and IRL rider become one.
That's a thought-provoker! Looking into the crystal ball, where do you see esports in five years or even further down the line?
It’s only going to get bigger and will eventually become recognized as a sport in its own right. It is cycling, and it is not cycling at the same time. Riding inside on a trainer is no longer something you do just because it’s winter and there’s a blanket of snow outside. Anyone who thinks differently is living in the past. In five years, we may have riders making a living from esports.
Intriguing! Now, for a fun twist—give us an exclusive. What's something about you that even your mates don't know?
There’s probably a lot to say since I’m known to be a bit of a Jack of all trades. I was into rap music in my early 20s and produced a record back then. My lifestyle at that time differed greatly from today’s, and my life could have ended before it ever really took off. In the words of Joyce, I had an “epiphanic experience,” a kind of involuntary sabbatical.
After this life-changing experience, I returned to university, was fortunate to receive sponsorship from a professor, and graduated with a letter of recommendation for a doctorate at an Ivy League university. Unfortunately, I couldn’t travel to the US at that time. Alongside this, I found my footing in triathlon, competed for Tübingen in the league, led swim training, and obtained my coaching license in competitive sports.
Wow, that's a juicy tidbit! Before we wrap up, is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
First of all, I want to thank you for letting me share my story. Secondly, I want to thank Richie, my team, and the crazy guys from KAB. Without all of you, this wouldn’t have been possible.
Fantastic! Thanks for this enlightening conversation. Wishing you all the best this Zwift Grand Prix!
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Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
