USAC is hosting a qualification event on MyWhoosh and has finalized the selection criteria to fill the remaining slots for the semi-finals of the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.
“Cycling esports is going to be the future of cycling, and at some point be in the Olympics, so we need to focus on it,” USA Cycling’s National Events Director Kyle Knott told The Zommunique’ during a recent interview discussing the federation’s plans for the upcoming UCI Cycling Esports World Championships and beyond.
The virtual cycling platform MyWhoosh will host the top twenty male and female performers from the September 6, 2024, 150-rider semi-final field to compete in a live in-person final in Abu Dhabi on October 26, 2024.
The UCI allocated ten slots for the women’s and seven for the men’s US rider semi-final quota. According to the revised USA Cycling Athlete Selection Criteria, the federation will designate the highly coveted invitations based on the following nomination factors.
USA Cycling's 2024 Cycling Esports World Championship Selection Criteria
Any athlete in the top three at the prior year’s World Championships will be nominated to the Team, giving 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship third-place finisher Jacqueline Godbe an automatic selection.
The top three finishers of the 2024 USA Cycling Esports National Championships will secure a nomination to the team. Joining Godbe on the women’s squad are US National Champion Kristen Kulchinsky, Liz Van Houweling, and Jenn Real.
USAC will nominate US National Champion Brian Duffy, Neal Fryett, and David Talbott for the men’s team.
Riders finishing in the top three of the 2024 USA Cycling Semi-Final Qualifier Event will pin on a number, with the remaining quota positions filled in accordance with USAC’s Discretionary Selection Procedures—one remaining slot for the men and three for the women.
The US federation will round off the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships Semi-Finals selections with a multi-event 2024 USA Cycling Semi-Final Qualifier Event on MyWhoosh on July 28th at 11 a.m. EST.
The qualifier event consists of two stages contested remotely back-to-back, utilizing the same courses as the semi-finals, with a slight variation in format.
2024 USA Cycling Semi-Final Qualifier Event Stage 1: The Strategist
In the first qualifier stage, riders face a 9km circuit featuring a challenging climb exceeding 1.5km in length at 2.1 km from the start. Points await those leading the race at the base and summit of the climb and across the finish line.
Points will be distributed to the top 20 riders at each key point along the course and double points at the finish.
Course: 9-kilometer Circuit
The 6.5-kilometer route features an approximately 4-minute climb at 2.1 km, then a fast descent, and a series of rolling hills that lead to a 1-kilometer flat run to the finish line.
Intermediate Sprint Locations:
#1-Base of the Climb
#2-Top of the Climb
#3-Finish Line (Double Points)
Points Breakdown:
Base of the climb: 20 to 1 in increments of 1.
Top of the Climb: 20 to 1 in increments of 1.
Finish Line: Double points-40 to 2 in increments of 2.
2024 USA Cycling Semi-Final Qualifier Event Stage 2: All Out
In Stage 2, riders will complete 3 laps of a 4km criterium circuit. Points will be distributed at the finish line after each lap, with double points offered on the final lap.
Notably, the finish line of each lap sits atop a 50-second climb featuring a 12% gradient. Points go to the top 20 riders crossing the finish line on each lap.
Course: 3 laps of a 4-kilometer Circuit with an approximately 50-second steep climb to each lap’s start/finish line.
Intermediate Sprint Locations: Start/finish each lap at the top of the climb.
Points Breakdown: Lap 1 thru 2, 20 to 1 in increments of 1.
Finish line: Double points at the finish. Lap 3, 40 to 2 in increments of 2.
Attention US Racers!
For all riders who cannot attend the USA Cycling Semi-Final Qualifier Event or don’t qualify during the event, the UCI and MyWhoosh confirmed that 20% of the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships semi-finalists will qualify through the MyWhoosh platform’s public qualification process.
The public pathway two-stage events will occur on August 3rd, 7th, and 10th at multiple times to accommodate riders of various time zones and provide a fair, inclusive, and accessible pathway to participation.
The details and registration information are here!
“We want it to be a well-attended event,” says Knott. “Whether you plan on going to Worlds or not, it will be cool to partake in it, and then, obviously, our top riders, we definitely want there.”
2024 USA Cycling Semi-Final Qualifier Event Instructions
- Review the Ruleset: Understand all event rules and guidelines by reading the Technical Guide and MyWhoosh Ruleset.
- Hardware: Ensure that your devices meet MyWhoosh’s technical requirements, which you can find on pages 10 and 11 of the MyWhoosh Ruleset.
- Registration: Use this Registration Form link to sign up.
- Pre-Race (Semi-Finals): Riders must compete in at least two MyWhoosh Premium Events using the same equipment they plan to use for the Semi-Finals by August 25th. This participation is crucial to establish a baseline for equipment and physical indicators, which are essential for the verification system. The National Federation qualifier doesn’t count toward the required events.
- License: Riders who qualify for the Semi-Finals must have a valid UCI registered license issued by their federation and a federation license, if applicable, and meet all eligibility requirements of both federations.
Final Course Recon and Format Test Event Details
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.
Thanks for the information! Can you provide a link to register by chance? I don’t see the option on the MyWhoosh events page.
The link will be available shortly, Stefanie. I’ll let the community know! Good luck.