Zwift announces the inclusive community event to discover the world's top Zwifter in a multi-format competition poised to set new participation records.
The Zwift Games might be what Zwift’s VP of Content, Mark Cote, meant when he said, “We’re “Doubling Down” on Cycling Esports Racing.” The response came during September’s This Season on Zwift press event and only shortly after the UCI awarded the Cycling Esports World Championships to MyWhoosh.
Zwift sees the value in prioritizing the competitive community. According to Zwift, the platform has experienced a year-over-year increase of 10-20% in monthly competitive users.
During peak months, each race averages 360 athletes. Additionally, over 500 promoters organize around 1,200 races weekly. Notably, one-third of all users have participated in at least one race—an approximate 50 percent increase.
The Zwift Games aims to shatter these statistics through community participation, redefining and amplifying to become the largest cycling esports event ever. All competitive users on the platform have the opportunity to qualify for the Elite Finals and contend for the title of Zwift Games Champion.
Qualification races are set for late February 2024, followed by the Zwift Games Elite Finals in the first two weeks of March 2024. The competition will crown champions in men’s and women’s categories across three medal disciplines and overall male and female champions, who will share in Zwift’s largest-ever prize purse.
The Zwift Games will uphold the platform’s core principle of parity, ensuring fairness and equality in all aspects of the competition. Race distances will be the same for both men and women, and prize money will be equal.
In addition to the main Championship events, Zwift will showcase the future of Cycling Esports through exhibition races, highlighting the latest innovations in Zwift racing.
What sets the Zwift Games apart is that anyone worldwide can enter the Championship events, making it one of the most accessible cycling championships ever. For those who prefer a less competitive experience, community events linked to each Championship offer a chance to participate in a fun and engaging environment.
The Three Zwift Games Championship Races
Sprint Championship
Sprint Championship: Designed with elements from the Zwift Battle Royale introduced in the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, this race is a test for the top cycling esports sprinters.
Participants will face multiple events on various courses, including new ones on Zwift curated for the games. Qualifiers are open to all Zwift riders, with the top performers advancing to the finals
Epic Championship
Epic Championship: For endurance enthusiasts, this challenging race covers a minimum of 60km, pushing competitors to their limits. The course includes Watopia’s new Coastal Causeway, and a fresh route Zwift will reveal for the event.
An Epic community event will run alongside the Championship, allowing any Zwifter to participate in either event without qualifiers, potentially creating the world’s largest cycling esports event.
Hill Climb Championship
Hill Climb Championship: Alpe du Zwift, the iconic climb featured during Round 2 of the Zwift Grand Prix 23/24, with 21 hairpin turns, is the battleground for this Championship. Zwifters will race from the base to the summit to determine the ultimate Cycling Esports grimpeur.
Will we finally see a new alpe du Zwift K/QOM? Those interested in a group climb without the competitive aspect can join the accompanying community challenge, featuring the Alpe and other iconic Zwift climbs of varying difficulty levels.
Zwift will share additional information regarding the exact dates, event formats, global broadcast details, and prize distribution in December. Stay tuned for updates!
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.
