An interview with BL13 pb LEVEL Velo racer and elite Australian esports cyclist Kate Trdin.
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?
Absolutely, thanks for having me! I grew up in Hobart, Tasmania, and just recently moved north when I moved in with my partner, Josh Harris. I have been studying for the past five years and am just finishing up my master’s in Speech Therapy. I don’t have a lot of time at the moment for much outside of cycling and studying, but I love getting outside with Josh and our dog, Gwen when I have a free minute. Right now, I can’t wait to graduate, be done with never-ending assignments and placements, and earn some money to buy myself a nice bike!
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 discovered cycling in late 2022 when I decided that I was going to buy a road bike and sign up for a local triathlon. Josh was riding on Zwift a lot at the time and suggested I make an account to do some training and maybe consider doing some power testing. I remember Josh was pretty impressed with some of the rides I was doing at the time and the speeds I was averaging, but I didn’t think too much of it. I went on to complete my triathlon, but by the end of my training block, I knew that I wanted to focus solely on riding. I have never done any IRL road races, but it’s something I have penciled in for my 2024 season.
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 riding and racing on Zwift shortly after completing my triathlon and haven’t looked back since. Although I love being outdoors, Zwift is so convenient and allows me to train all year round and juggle full-time study. I really appreciate the accessibility of Zwift. It allows me to live a normal life while racing some of the best elite racers from across the world, with no Euro travel, excessive costs, or crazy bike handling skills required. I think my Nationals win would probably be the highlight of my indoor career so far. Despite not being a terribly difficult race, it was nice to ride smart and come away with a great outcome.
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 currently ride for BL13 pb LEVEL Velo. Being part of a team has been super motivating and has really reinforced the team aspect of cycling. It’s nice to know that even if I am having a bad day, there is usually something I can do to help out a teammate, like setting them up for a sprint or helping them get up the road. I think it takes the pressure off having to always perform at 100% as an individual and can help you be resilient if things aren’t necessarily going your way. We all lead very different lives at BL13 and are spread across the globe, but I think it’s amazing how well we come together to unite in something we are passionate about. We always give 100% but also don’t take things too seriously, which I think helps new team members really feel at home.
Great insights! For context, could you share some of your physical stats, like your indoor personal bests for various power intervals?
I think I am yet to really cement my personal bests, particularly over the longer intervals. I find I don’t often get the chance to test myself over the 5-minute-plus efforts when I am at peak fitness (during Zwift season), as most of the elite racing is super punchy. I look forward to working on my longer efforts this coming winter.
My current power PB’s are as follows:
5 sec: 806 (14.2w/kg)
15 sec: 731 watts (12.7w/kg)
30 sec: 582 watts (10.2w/kg)
1 min: 457 watts (8w/kg)
5 min: 287 watts (5w/kg)
20 min: 250 watts (4.4w/kg)
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?
I really love seeing continual improvements with consistent training and am looking forward to being able to periodize my season a bit more this year, having more notice about what is coming up on the racing calendar and when. I think setting my sights on gold at the world champs would perhaps be a touch ambitious, but I would be over the moon to make the live finals in the UAE. My main goal is to keep being consistent and see how much I can improve and where it might take me. I would definitely like to have some more specific goals around the Zwift Grand Prix and ZRL this season when the races are announced. I am very much a sprinter, so it will be nice to see if I can come away with a win or two on the more tactical courses.
If you could only win one more title and had to choose between the UCI Cycling Esports World Championship and the Zwift Games Overall Championship, what would it be and why?
I think I would have to go with the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. I would love to travel somewhere to compete in a live final, and I imagine winning the championship could open up some pretty amazing opportunities. It’s a tough choice, though. A gold Tron would be pretty nice!
That's ambitious! How do you feel about the current multi-platform landscape of esports championships, both nationally and internationally?
I think it’s a good thing. It really just seems like more options at the end of the day, and most of the elite racers seem to race across multiple platforms without too many issues.
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?
I think things are definitely improving from that perspective, as verification is almost always required for any form of elite racing. At least at the GP level, I know that the top ladies are super legit, many coming onto Zwift off the back of ex (or current) pro road careers or as top-level triathletes. There may still be the odd person who gets away with something minor in the peloton, but I think there is a pretty high level of scrutiny facing the top finishers. I know the verification at the Zwift Games seemed pretty high level, with people getting disqualified from the event due to heart rate dropouts or incorrectly submitted weight checks.
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 raced a bit on MyWhoosh during the last off-season and, apart from the odd dynamics, really enjoyed the racing and taking the opportunity to test my average climbing abilities. It will be very interesting to see their format for worlds and how the pack dynamics affect things during the shorter races, as opposed to the Sunday Race Club. I think Zwift will always have my heart, though. It’s just nice that not every race is up a mountain, and the dynamics are definitely much nicer to ride with.
Good to know! What do you think could make virtual cycling more engaging for spectators?
I think being able to actually see the riders in real life as the virtual race is happening, whether this be via webcam or through running live races, adds a great element. I know my family and friends really enjoyed watching my live national final, as opposed to GP races where they had no clue what was going on! Small fields probably help with that too.
That's a thought-provoker! Looking into the crystal ball, where do you see esports in five years or even further down the line?
I would love to see it at the Olympics, and I think that is a definite possibility! It’s also exciting to think about the prospect of being a pro esports athlete, although I think it’s too soon to tell whether that is realistic.
Intriguing! Now, for a fun twist—give us an exclusive. What's something about you that even your mates don't know?
My dad taught me to ride when I was 4, and my first “real” bike was a blue Raleigh mountain bike.
Wow, that's a juicy tidbit! Before we wrap up, is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
Just a shout-out to say thanks for having me!
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.
