An interview with Zwift Team Coalition racer, the Dutch elite cyclist Arne Jacobs.
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?
Hey, it’s actually my pleasure! My name is Arne, and I’m 25 years old. I live in a small town called Meerssen in the southernmost part of the Netherlands. This town lies very close to Maastricht, where I grew up. Some people might recognize the region from the Amstel Gold Race. Contrary to popular belief that the Netherlands is entirely flat, my living area proves otherwise!
I hold a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and work as an R&D engineer for a company that specializes in building packaging machines, primarily for e-commerce. So, any cool cycling gear you buy online might actually get packed by one of our machines. Between my engineering job and cycling, my week stays pretty busy. However, when I find some free time, I enjoy spending it with friends and family or reading a book. Oh, and I practically listen to podcasts all the time, haha.
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?
I started cycling relatively late. Originally, I was a football player, but I quit after my first year at university. I switched to running (athletics), and it was only after getting injured at the age of 21 that I discovered cycling as an alternative form of training. To this day, that injury remains one of the best things that happened to me because it introduced me to my love for cycling.
My journey into competitive racing began during my internship in France. I joined the local cycling club for a casual ride, and they quickly noticed that I was riding at a high pace. They invited me to join their road racing team, and that’s when my cycling journey truly took off.
One of my proudest moments on the road is also one of the most disappointing. It occurred during this year’s road nationals, specifically for the elite category with no pro-contracts. These nationals were hosted in the hilly terrain of my home area, which suited my riding style, and it was close to my family and friends. I was determined to win the red-white-blue national jersey. I had an outstanding race, staying at the front with every attack and split. In the end, I even made it to the group of eight riders who were going to compete for the title.
However, in the last lap, just 8 kilometers before the finish, I suffered a puncture. Everything I had worked for was suddenly gone, and I had no fair chance to fight for the jersey. I still feel disappointed to this day, but I’m also proud of being in my best shape at the right moment and riding one of my best 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?
I started eracing as an alternative training in winter. I was looking to add a bit more excitement and spice to my indoor sessions. It was Eva van Agt (TJV rider and eracing for Aeonian RT) who told me about ZRL. I joined a community team at the Coalition, and that’s how my eracing journey began. As for crowning achievements, there isn’t one that really stands out. I achieved 4th place at the Nationals, took 2nd in the GC in the FRR Tour of Watopia, and consistently reached the podium and top 10 in significant community races with strong fields. But, to be honest, I am still eager to catch my first big fish in e-racing!
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 found the Coalition esport community through a simple Google search on ZRL/ZGP teams. I discovered that Canyon esports was competing in the Zwift Premier League at the time and had an eracing community supporting it in ZRL and other esport events. That’s also what I believe makes Coalition Alpha unique: the Coalition community behind it. We have over 1,000 indoor cycling enthusiasts active on our Discord server, riding ZRL in teams. All of this makes being part of the Coalition a great experience. It’s much more than just pushing watts on your trainer every Tuesday evening.
Great insights! For context, could you share some of your physical stats, like your indoor personal bests for various power intervals?
Haha, that’s what we all love, data! My weight is usually in the 68-69kg range. My best 20-minute effort on Zwift was in a TT, doing 395W. My best 4 minutes were on the Temple KOM in Makuri Island during one of the Dirt Racing Series, hitting 481W. My best minute dates back to the ZA baseline ride; I did the baseline ride but never started the Academy workouts. I believe it was around 640W.
Sprinting on the trainer is not really my thing; I like to throw my bike around during a sprint. This is obviously not possible on a trainer, so finding a technique that suits me is key. At this moment, I do around 850W on a 15-second sprint.
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?
In the short term, my first goal is to make a name for myself in ZGP. Later in the season, I hope to enhance my 4th-place finish at the Nationals and qualify for the Worlds. However, I am realistic and recognize the need for improvement to compete against the best for the title at the Worlds. But this will definitely be a goal for the future.
That's ambitious! How do you feel about the current multi-platform landscape of esports championships, both nationally and internationally?
Pfohh, in general, I believe that it is positive that esport is growing, and more and more people take it seriously. Having more platforms is inherent to the growth of esport and indoor cycling. Also, it is a good development that the different platforms challenge each other to keep improving and to be strict on transparency and fair play.
However, ideally, there would be one platform for official races organized by national federations and the UCI. At this moment, it is a bit of a Wild West with conflicting interests among platforms and organizers, which does not contribute to the legitimacy of the sport when observed by outsiders. However, in the end, eracing is still very new and under development. It needs some time, and the dust will settle over the coming years.
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?
Like I mentioned above, it needs time. I think transparency is improving, and platforms are putting in the effort to ensure fair racing. But there is still a lot of room for improvement. Especially in community racing, the responsibility of the riders plays a vital role in the level of fair play.
I would love to see stricter checks on riders’ performance and higher levels of performance verification. But this would require significant investment.
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 started on Zwift, and it’s also my favorite platform. The gamification and community vibe around it make it a very fun and friendly platform to use. With my eyes on the upcoming World Championships, I have also taken a look at MyWhoosh. But as we speak, my experience is limited to 3 hours of riding on that platform. So little to say about it yet.
Good to know! What do you think could make virtual cycling more engaging for spectators?
Most essential is how it is brought to spectators. First, you need to see the riders live on their bikes. Just watching the avatar does not do it for me. Maybe make this interactive as well, so as a spectator you are free to select a rider who you want to see. Also, seeing what power-up riders are holding would be nice for spectators (maybe not so nice for the riders themselves if they can find out about each other’s PU, haha).
Good commentators, and knowing the riders also help a lot.
That's a thought-provoker! Looking into the crystal ball, where do you see esports in five years or even further down the line?
Hard one! First, I expect a playing field that will be much more fair in terms of performance verification. Cheating will be harder and unacceptable. Additionally, max 1 or 2 platforms will have the full market I expect.
Intriguing! Now, for a fun twist—give us an exclusive. What's something about you that even your mates don't know?
Someday I will buy a disc brake bike (maybe).
Wow, that's a juicy tidbit! Before we wrap up, is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
Not really, just my thanks for having me on the interview!
Fantastic! Thanks for this enlightening conversation. Wishing you all the best!
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.
