USA Cycling reveals the schedule change, format, points structure, and other key selection criteria and event details. Here's what we know!
The fifth edition of the championships and the second live event final will take place on November 15th in Abu Dhabi, UAE, at the Space 42 Arena under the ongoing partnership between the UCI and MyWhoosh.
The road to Abu Dhabi includes both federation-controlled and open-entry pathways. The UCI will allocate approximately 70% of the 150 semi-final spots through national federations, which can select riders via internal processes or qualifying events as detailed here.
The remaining 30% will be filled through open qualifiers hosted by MyWhoosh, giving athletes who weren’t selected by their federations the opportunity to earn their place purely on performance.
Three Ways to Earn a Spot on the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship Semi-Finals Start Line
There are three distinct pathways to earn a coveted spot on the start line representing the USA at the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships Semi-Finals. The most direct route is through the USA Cycling Esports National Championships—any rider finishing on the podium earns automatic nomination.
For 2025, that includes men’s champion Hayden Pucker, along with Neal Fryett and David Weinstein, and women’s champion Kristen Kulchinsky, joined by Nicole Meyer and Ellexi Snover.
Read the thrilling 2025 USA Cycling Esports National Championship race report and check out the results here!
The second pathway comes via the USA Cycling Esports Semi-Final Qualifier, where USA Cycling will award the first seven verified finishers a selection to fill the remaining national quota allocations.
Finally, athletes can also qualify through the global MyWhoosh public qualification series, open to riders of all nationalities and serving as an alternate entry point to the championship stage.
For more information, you will find the USA Cycling selection criteria here.
USA Cycling Esports World Championship Semi-Final Qualifier
The USA Cycling Esports World Championship Semi-Final Qualification race features the same course and format as the MyWhoosh public qualification pathway, a single-lap, 32.4 km (20.1 mi) course with 377 m (1,237 ft) of elevation gain. Riders will contest four timed segments—two sprint sections and two climbs (KOM)—with points awarded to the first rider across the line (FAL). The race culminates in a final sprint to the line, where victory and the fifth opportunity to score points are up for grabs.
ATTN Racers! Note date and time change of USA Cycling Esports World Championship semi-final qualifier.
The event will take place on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The women will roll off at 1700 (5 pm) MDT, and the men’s field will leave the pen at 1800 (6 pm) MDT.
Update Regarding MyWhoosh Public Qualifiers
Originally, the ruleset stated that MyWhoosh would announce how many riders would qualify from each public qualifier. However, due to changes in scheduling, national federation qualifiers and MyWhoosh public qualifiers will now take place in parallel—rather than sequentially as originally planned.
To prevent duplicate selections, MyWhoosh will not announce the number of qualifying spots in advance. Instead, MyWhoosh will release its list of qualified riders only after all national federations have confirmed their selections.
Athletes are expected to participate in both their national federation qualifiers and MyWhoosh qualifiers to maximize their chances of qualification.
Total Laps: 1
Total Race Distance: 32.4 km (20.13 mi)
Elevation gain: 377 m (1,237 ft)
Points: Awarded for the first across the line (FAL) through 4 segments (2 KOM and 2 Sprints) and finish.
Climb 1: Al Faqir Hills: Begins at 2.5 km and ends at 6.1 km; 100 m of elevation (3.6 km at 2.8% average gradient)
Sprint 1: Canyon Oasis Sprint: 200 m segment begins at 10.0 km
Climb 2: Vessel Rock Climb: Begins at 13.9 km and ends at 18.4 km; 125 m of elevation (4.5 km at 2.8% average gradient)
Sprint 2: Face Rock Sprint: 200 m sprint begins at 21.3 km.
Finish: 32.4 km.
MyWhoosh Public Qualification Pathway
Schedule: See below for public qualifier dates and times
| EVENT | FORMAT | DATE | GENDER | TIME UTC | TIME CET | TIME GST | TIME CDT | TIME AEST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Q 1 Asia-Pacific & Europe |
1 stage points based |
Wednesday 6-Aug-25 |
Women | 9:00 | 11:00 | 13:00 | 4:00 | 19:00 |
| Men | 11:00 | 13:00 | 15:00 | 6:00 | 21:00 | |||
| Open Q 2 Europe & Americas |
1 stage points based |
Friday 8-Aug-25 |
Women | 17:00 | 19:00 | 21:00 | 12:00 | 3:00 |
| Men | 19:00 | 21:00 | 23:00 | 14:00 | 5:00 | |||
| Open Q 3 Asia-Pacific & Europe |
1 stage points based |
Friday 22-Aug-25 |
Women | 9:00 | 11:00 | 13:00 | 4:00 | 19:00 |
| Men | 11:00 | 13:00 | 15:00 | 6:00 | 21:00 | |||
| Open Q 4 Europe & Americas |
1 stage points based |
Wednesday 27-Aug-25 |
Women | 17:00 | 19:00 | 21:00 | 12:00 | 3:00 |
| Men | 19:00 | 21:00 | 23:00 | 14:00 | 5:00 |
Semi-Finals and Finals
The October 3rd semi-finals and the November 15th finals will follow an identical three-stage format. For both the semi-finals and finals, total points across all three stages will determine final standings. In the semi-finals, the top 20 men and 20 women on points will advance to Abu Dhabi, joining any wild card entries awarded by the UCI.
Stage 1: The Sprinter's Paradise
The opening stage covers 12 km (7.5 mi) – 8 laps of a 1.5 km (0.93 mi) circuit, with 25 m (82 ft) of elevation gain per lap. Riders will sprint for points at the end of each lap, with the stage concluding in a decisive final sprint, where double points are on the line.
Points
Stage 2: The Puncher's Playground
Stage 2, the Puncher’s Playground, covers 12 km (7.5 mi) with a challenging 290 m (951 ft) of elevation gain over a single lap. Riders will earn points by being first across (FAL) two sprint segments, two climb segments, and the finish line, with total points determining their stage result.
Sprint 1: 300 m sprint starts at 2.3 km. Line at 2.6 km (1.6 mi).
Climb 1: Begins at 3.0 km and ends at 6.2 km (line at 6.2 km (3.85 mi) with 145 m of elevation (3.2 km climb with 4.5% average gradient).
Sprint 2: 300 m sprint starts at 7.7 km. Line at 8.0 km (5 mi).
Climb 2: Starts at 8.5 km (5.3 mi) and ends at 9.7 km (line at 9.7 km (6.0 mi) with 99 m of elevation (1.2 km climb with a 7.7% average gradient).
Finish: 12.0 km (7.5 mi).
Points
Stage 3: The Mountain's Verdict
Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 mi)
Elevation gain: 554 m (1,818 ft)
This stage is an elimination race on a steep climb that only gets harder as the gradient becomes more unrelenting in the latter stages. Riders have a two-minute head start on the Chaser, which pursues the field while applying steady power, eliminating any rider it catches. Riders accumulate one point for every five seconds they stay ahead of the Chaser.
Year Two for MyWhoosh - The Next Chapter
The 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships signal a new chapter in the sport’s progression under MyWhoosh’s second year of stewardship. With a democratic qualification pathway—balancing federation-backed entries and open public qualifiers—alongside standardized equipment and a return to the live final format, the discipline continues to mature and establish its identity on the global stage.
For the athletes, it’s a long road to the rainbow jersey. From national selections and open qualifiers to grueling semi-finals, the competition demands consistency, versatility, and deep tactical awareness. By the time the world’s best arrive at Abu Dhabi’s Space42 Arena in November, they will have earned their place on the sport’s grandest stage.
The fifth edition of cycling’s youngest world championship is coming into focus—not just as a showcase of elite performance, but as a reflection of how far the sport has come and how much potential still lies ahead.
Author’s note: All of the above details are subject to change. Monitor the UCI’s website, USA Cycling’s website, and MyWhoosh’s events page for any changes.
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.
