Riders from Australia and Sweden overcame intense competition and technical issues to be named their country's best cycling esports racers.
On March 21, Australia’s Kate Trdin (Launceston City CC) and Joshua Wilson (Cradle Coast CC), and Sweden’s Johan Norén (Serneke Allebike CK) and Mika Söderström (Stockholm CK) became cycling esports’ newest National Champions for 2024.
AusCycling’s inaugural Esports National Championships live in-person event final took place at The Cube on the Queensland University of Technology Gardens Point campus in conjunction with the Brisbane Cycling Festival.
Trdin and Wilson outshined their fellow esports compatriots while cycling dignitaries, and a crowd of excited fans watched the excitement unfold.
David Lappartient, the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the IOC Esports Liaison Group leader, and the Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman were in attendance for the momentous event.
Ten men and ten women contested the two-heat qualification round, which consisted of three laps (9km) of Zwift’s Glasgow Crit Circuit, for a spot in the six-rider final.
FINALISTS: 2024 AUSCYCLING ESPORTS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men
- Josh Harris (Launceston City CC)
- Trent Stevenson (Echuca/Moama CC)
- Andrew Downie (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
- Marc Gates (Hobart Wheelers/Dirt Devils CC)
- Nick Spratt (Penrith CC)
- Joshua Wilson (Cradle Coast CC)
- Cameron Winfield (Penrith CC)
- Mitchell Stewart (Balmoral CC)
- Kyle Marwood (Mackay CC)
- Gilbert Gutowski (Balmoral CC)
Women
- Jessica Bemrose (Gold Coast CC)
- Vicki Whitelaw (Canberra CC)
- Brianna Samuhel (Parklife CC)
- Kate Trdin (Launceston City CC)
- Katelyn Nicholson (Port Adelaide CC)
- Peta Antonello (Footscray CC)
- Tilly Field (Club M.U.D Ballarat)
- Emma Pratt (Gold Coast CC)
- Trudy Stevenson (Echuca/Moama CC)
- Abby McLain (Balmoral CC)
Wilson said following the victory, “I can’t really believe it. To win a national title is something I never expected to do, so it’s a very proud moment for me.”
Initially slated for two laps (23km) of Zwift’s Rolling Highlands route, organizers shortened the race to one lap after multiple dropouts affected several riders, including favorite Josh Harris, which resulted in a stoppage. When the action resumed, both fields competed on the abridged route.
According to Trdin, it made an impact, stating, “I’m just kind of in shock. I just can’t really believe that I did it. I think having the course shortened probably helped me a little bit because I’m more of a sprinter.”
Men:
- Joshua Wilson (Cradle Coast CC)
- Josh Harris (Launceston City CC)
- Marc Gates (Hobart Wheelers/Dirt Devils CC)
- Cameron Winfield (Penrith CC)
- Trent Stevenson (Echuca/Moama CC)
- Andrew Downie (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
Women:
- Kate Trdin (Launceston City CC)
- Tilly Field (Club M.U.D Ballarat)
- Vicki Whitelaw (Canberra CC)
- Peta Antonello (Footscray CC)
- Brianna Samuhel (Parklife CC)
- Jessica Bemrose (Gold Coast CC)
Norén and Söderström reigned victorious in the three-stage final, which was broadcast live by the Swedish National Broadcasting Organization to over 300,000 homes. The in-person live event final was on the Winter Swedish Championships Week program alongside traditional sports such as cross-country skiing in the city of Luleå.
Cycling Esports made history by becoming the inaugural digital sport to gain acceptance into the Swedish Championship. It also achieved the distinction of being recognized as an official sport by the country’s unifying organization.
“Esports has its own group within the Swedish Cycling Federation, so we are equal to road, mountain bike, and the other disciplines,” explains the federation’s Chairman of Esports Connie Björnehall.
“It means that we have our own National Championship, our own SWE Cup (on the National level), and a designated group that works directly with cycling esports.”
The National Cycling Esports final in Sweden featured a scratch race format for its second live event for the organization.
Race One: Rolling Highlands (2 laps) 23km
Race Two: City and the Sgurr 8.7km
Race Three: Glasgow Crit Circuit (3 laps) 9 km
The Swedish racers had a few technical issues of their own that caught out one of the men and women. However, the worthy champions swept the first-place points to earn the well-deserved distinction over their counterparts.
FINALISTS: 2024 SWEDISH CYCLING ESPORTS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men
- 1 Johan Norén, Serneke Allebike CK
- 2 Johannes Randrop Keiding, CK Bure
- 3 Samuel Brännlund, She Rides CK
- 4 Jakob Björklund, Team Skoglöfs Bil IF
- 5 Nicklas Lans, Stockholm CK
- 6 Martin Nilsson, Lidingö Cykelklubb
- 7 Aaron Selfe, Rooster Club Varberg IF
- 8 Daniel Tidholm, Ale 90 Idrottsklubb
- 9 Måns Sandgren, Karlskrona CK
- 10 Gabriel Filipov, Team Kalmarsund
- 11 Fredrik Nilsson, CK Hymer
- 12 Kent Nilsson, Luleå CK
- 13 Tord Alenljung, Skoghalls CK Hammarö
- 14 Piotr Niewieczerzal, Northern XC Sportsclub
Women
- 1 Mika Söderström, Stockholm CK
- 2 Lisa Hermansson, Umara Sports Club
- 3 Johanna Tidholm, Ale 90 IK
- 4 Evelina Beramand, Rendezvous Cycling Club
- 3 Johanna Tidholm, Bauhaus Sportklubb
- 4 Evelina Beramand, Rendezvous Cycling Club
- 5 Anna Embring, Fredrikshof IF CK
- 7 Camilla Ahlberg, Fredrikshof IF CK
Top 3 women
- Mika Söderström, Stockholm CK 20+20+20 = 60 points
- Johanna Tidholm, Ale 90 IK, 19+19+18 = 56 points
- Anna Embring, Fredrikshof IF CK, 17+18+19 = 54 points
Top 3 men
- Johan Norén, Serneke Allebike CK, 20+20+20 = 60 points
- Johannes Randrop Keiding, CK Bure, 18+19+18 = 55 points
- Tord Alenljung, Skoghalls CK Hammarö, 19+17+16 = 52 points
Zwift’s Head of PR, Chris Snook, shared the significance of being a host of multiple National Championships, saying, “Yes, it was wonderful to be able to support a number of federations this year for the Cycling Esports National Championship events. As event organizers, National Federations were given control to decide the formats and regulations, with Zwift supporting as the host platform, including remote support, on-the-ground technical assistance, and broadcast.
We saw a real mix from at-home competitions like USA Cycling, Canada, through to in-person finals in France, Denmark, Australia and Sweden. Zwift also supported the national championship events of Ireland, Finland, and Poland.
Regarding the technicals, both were equipment-related, caused by a shifter disconnect. This is akin to a shifter mechanical in a road race. We’re continuing to investigate.”
AusCycling and the Swedish Cycling Federation join the Danish Cycling Union and the French Cycling Federation in demonstrating significant support of cycling esports through the organization of live in-person National Championship events.
The sport’s evolution and viability depend on federations recognizing and prioritizing resource allocation to support esports athletes. Securing sponsorships, negotiating television deals, and establishing esports committees are crucial initial steps.
Federations failing to field esports national teams, allocate financial resources, or develop an organizational framework and strategic plan hinder the sport’s growth.
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.
