23/24 Calendar Highlights: Weekly Group Rides, Social Rides with Team Canada racers, Fundos, and 2024 Canadian Esports Championships Dates
On October 31, 2023, Cycling Canada announced that the virtual platform Zwift will host their fourth consecutive cycling esports season from November 6, 2023, through April 3, 2024.
Cycling Canada and USA Cycling, in a joint venture, partnered with host platform Wahoo-RGT in 2023 for the USA Cycling & Cycling Canada Esports National Championship. USA Cycling will return to Zwift for their 2024 Esports Nationals, organized by Echelon Racing Promotions.
Zwift will host Cycling Canada’s flagship esports event on February 10-11, 2024.
The UCI Cycling Esports World Championship is shifting to MyWhoosh in 2024. Cycling Canada’s team selection process will take place on the MyWhoosh platform. More information, including dates, will be provided when they become available.
“The 2023-2024 Esports season is set to be an exciting one for Cycling Canada and we can’t wait to get started,” said Cycling Canada Director of Marketing and Events, Josh Peacock.
The 2024 Canadian Esports Championships
The third edition of the Canadian Esports Championships will take place on Zwift, with broadcasts on Zwift Community Live scheduled for February 10-11, 2024. There will be a four-race series in the month leading up to the event.
Additional information, such as the technical guide and registration details, will be available on the Cycling Canada Events webpage in the coming weeks.
Cycling Canada Weekly Rides
Cycling Canada’s Monday rides will offer different time zone options for the first time, making it more convenient for participants from various regions to participate. Each week, we will feature different courses catering to a range of training levels.
Ride leaders will set a steady pace to ensure a social ride experience, typically ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 watts per kilogram (w/kg).
Wednesday Team Canada Rides
Every three weeks, National Team athletes lead accessible, social rides on the same racecourse as the week’s Monday ride. Participants can join highly interactive group rides with their favorite athletes and connect with them via Discord peer-to-peer voice chats.
The season’s first Wednesday Team Canada Ride, featuring Jenn Jackson, is scheduled for November 8 at 8:15 p.m. ET. Don’t miss this opportunity to train with the recent Santiago 2023 Pan American Games gold medalist!
Additional details and Zwift event sign-up information are available here.
Saturday Fundo Rides
Starting every Saturday at 12:05 p.m. ET, riders will have the opportunity to explore various Zwift courses featuring distances ranging from 20 to 50km.
Participants are welcome to join at their own pace or compete against fellow riders in a test of fitness and endurance.
“Esports are such an invaluable tool for developing the cycling community. We think this upcoming season exemplifies that by providing a range of accessible riding opportunities, tying into events and the athlete pathway with the Canadian Championships and a creating unique connection point with our National Team athletes,” concludes Peacock.
Stay tuned for more information!
Semi-retired as owner and director of his private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice after over 20 years, Chris is blessed with the freedom to pursue his passion for virtual cycling and writing. On a continual quest to give back to his bike for all the rewarding experiences and relationships it has provided him, he created a non-profit. Chris is committed to helping others with his bike through its work and the pages of his site.
In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to New York to support the charity he founded, TheDIRTDadFund. His “Gain Cave” resides on the North Fork of Long Island, where he lives with his beautiful wife and is proud of his two independent children.
You will read him promoting his passion on the pages of Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. Chris is co-host of The Virtual Velo Podcast, too!
