In partnership with USA Cycling and MyWhoosh, Echelon Racing Promotions announces a $10,000 Championship and Cycling Esports Nationals Qualification
For the fifth consecutive year, USA Cycling and Echelon Racing Promotions are partnering to host the Echelon Racing League (ERL), a series of five scratch races commencing on December 7, 2024, and concluding with the $5,000 ERL Championship on January 18, 2025.
But this year, the series won’t return to Zwift, series organizer and Project Echelon co-founder Eric Hill told the Virtual Velo Podcast.
“We’ve switched over to MyWhoosh, said Hill, “and we’re very excited because of their shared vision for innovation in the sport, working with national governing bodies, and professionalizing cycling esports. They’re walking stride for stride with us in that journey and empowering us to grow.”
Echelon Racing Promotions is a not-for-profit organization dedicating its profits to supporting Project Echelon Racing and the Veterans Foundation. The organization donates 22% of its proceeds to Project Echelon, a 501c3 charity, as a tribute to the 22 veterans who tragically lose their lives to suicide daily.
Schedule of Echelon Racing League and National Events
| Date | Event | Route | Laps | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 7, 2024 | Echelon Racing League – Race #1 | Golden Gate, California | 3 laps | 36.6 km |
| December 21, 2024 | Echelon Racing League – Race #2 | Alcatraz Awol, California | 1 lap | 30 km |
| December 28, 2024 | Echelon Racing League – Race #3 | Alula Culture Ride | 1 lap | 35 km |
| January 4, 2025 | Echelon Racing League – Race #4 | Custom Route, MyWhoosh | 1 lap | 35 km |
| January 11, 2025 | Echelon Racing League – Race #5 | City Beach, Australia | 1 lap | 28.2 km |
| January 18, 2025 | Echelon Racing League Championships | Ghent, Belgium | 3 laps | 37 km |
| February 1, 2025 | USA Cycling Esports National Championships | TBD | - | - |
| February 8-9, 2025 | Cycling Canada Esports National Championships | TBD | - | - |
Echelon Racing League Start Times
Category B & C, Men & Women: 8:45 am CST
Men Elite: 10:10 am CST
Women Elite: 11:05 am CST
The USA Cycling Esports National Championships will take place on February 1, 2025, following the ERL series, with Cycling Canada’s National event also scheduled on MyWhoosh the following week.
“It’s no different than racing on American, European, or Asian roads,” explains Hill. “A rider that’s successful in racing a criterion in the U.S. will not necessarily be successful in racing a Kremes in Belgium. The same is true of the virtual cycling platforms. Therefore, having those will be seriously considered by those federations in their selection process (for the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships).”
The National events will feature competitions across Elite and 10-year incremental age-graded Masters categories (35-65+). Racers must compete in one ERL event and hold a racing license from their nation’s cycling organization to be eligible.
Note: USA Cycling Nationals qualification requires the successful participation in and completion of at least one (1) of the ERL events. This is to help ensure that ALL USA Cycling National Championship participants are aware of and in compliance with governance protocols prior to National Championship competition.
The series wraps up with the Echelon Racing League Championship, open to the top 50 ranked athletes from the season. Prizes go to the top three finishers in each category, with cash awards for the top three elite athletes. The series offers a $10,000 prize purse ($5,000 Series and $5,000 Championship), equally split between men’s and women’s categories.
Register for the Echelon Racing League here.
Registration costs $15, and fans can catch the action on USA Cycling, Cycling Canada, Echelon Racing Promotions’ social channels, and the esports-specific streaming platform ESTV.
You can find complete details about the Echelon Racing League in the Race Series Bible here.
All participants in the ERL will undergo a pre-verification protocol, meet equipment standards, and adhere to strict performance verification guidelines, says Hill.
The list of approved compatible devices is available here. Elite category racers must dual record and trainer difficulty will be standardized to a minimum of 50% for all categories.
“What sets us apart is our commitment to governance and verification standards across every category—C, B, and elite. To ensure fairness and professionalism at all levels, every participant undergoes a verification process, including weigh-in submissions and the MyWhoosh Power Passport test. MyWhoosh provides advanced data collection and analytics, and we’re excited to work with the system they have in place to maintain integrity in each category.”
FAQ: Performance Verification and MyWhoosh Power Passport Test Requirements
1. Who needs to complete the Power Passport Test?
All riders in every category participating in MyWhoosh Esports events, including Echelon Racing League (ERL) events, must complete the Power Passport Test.
2. When do I need to complete the test?
– Riders must complete the test between 24 November and their first ERL event, but no later than three days prior to Race 5.
– The test must also be repeated quarterly or whenever MyWhoosh or ERL Management requests.
3. Where can I find the Power Passport Test?
The test is available in the MyWhoosh app under Workouts → Testing.
4. What are the video requirements for the test?
Riders must provide an unbroken video stream that includes:
- Height and equipment video recorded at the start of the test.
- Weigh-in video recorded immediately after completing the test.
- All participants need to fill out the pre-verification form.
- The accepted protocol for weigh-in, height and equipment videos can be found in APPENDIX – B (PRE-RACE PROTOCOL) of the MyWhoosh Cycling Esports Rules and Regulations.
5. What happens if I skip intervals during the test?
The test submission will be invalid if a rider skips any intervals. Riders must complete the entire test as prescribed.
6. Why is the Power Passport Test important?
– Test results are used for categorization and verification.
– They form a significant part of a rider’s MyWhoosh Power Passport.
– Results ensure fair competition by validating a rider’s power profile.
7. What happens if my race performance exceeds my test results?
– Riders exceeding expected capabilities will be required to redo the Power Passport Test.
– They will be suspended from racing until they complete a new test and their results align with race performance.
8. What if my power profile deviates during a race?
Riders with a deviation of >15% from their Power Passport profile will be:
– Flagged
– Automatically removed from the event
9. Where can I find the test protocol?
The accepted protocol for the Power Passport Test is in the MyWhoosh Cycling Esports Rules and Regulations.
General Echelon Racing League and USA Cycling Esports Nationals Questions
| Frequently Asked Questions | Answer |
|---|---|
| Device Compatibility | List of compatible devices |
| Why is there a cost to the Echelon Racing League? | The series and finals registration fee covers costs associated with Performance Verification, event management, and live-streaming by Echelon Racing Promotions. |
| Are there any pre-event requirements, like height and weight videos, equipment specs, etc.? | Yes, all riders are required to complete a performance test on MyWhoosh and provide accurate information, including height, weight, and power source calibration. HR monitors and cadence are also required for all fields/categories competing. This ensures high-quality and fair competition comparable to elite and world championship events. |
| Are only certain athletes required to submit additional information? Are all racers required to submit data following the race? | All categories must meet verification requirements. Athletes may be asked to submit additional data if requested. |
| During what timeframe will additional information be requested? | Additional information may be requested within 48 hours of event completion. |
| Are all categories required to dual record? | Dual recording is not required for Categories B & C but is strongly suggested if possible, providing a "B-Sample" data set if questioned. Dual recording is mandatory for Category A races. |
| Is there a list of approved equipment that meets the +/- 2% standard? | Yes. All racers must use an approved trainer as specified in the guiding document. |
| Where can information regarding "All riders who are qualifying for the Elite/ U23 categories as part of USA Cycling eRacing National championships" be found? | USA Cycling License holders who compete in and complete one of the Echelon Racing League events and meet all verification and governance requirements are eligible to compete in the USA Cycling National Championship events. |
| Can athletes who don’t compete in the A category during qualification races compete for a national title in other categories, e.g., Age group, etc.? | Yes. While the Echelon Racing League uses ability-based categories, eSports Nationals will be divided into Elite and 5-year incremental age-graded Masters categories (35–70+). Riders may compete in both the Masters and Elite categories, except for those holding a UCI Continental license or higher, in line with USA Cycling National Championships IRL guidelines. |
| What is the required trainer difficulty setting? | Trainer difficulty is standardized to a minimum of 50%. Riders may choose a higher setting, but the system does not allow settings below 50%. |
For more details about the Echelon Racing League, visit https://www.echelonracingleague.com.
For additional information about the 2025 USA Cycling eSports National Championships, visit https://roadnats.usacycling.org/esport.
For more information, contact National Events at nationalevents@usacycling.org or Eric Hill from Echelon Racing Promotions at info@projectechelonracing.com.
The Race Bible and other details are linked above!
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.
