For Episode 39 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, cycling esports pioneers Lionel Vujasin and Ollie Jones join the discussion with Chris and Si. Lionel made a splash with a thrilling win at the CVR Cup live event in Vancouver in 2018, while Ollie claimed victory at Zwift Academy the same year and went on to success on the road and beyond.
Reflecting on the early days of esports, they ponder why progress hasn’t been more significant since then. As two of the first professional esports specialists, they share insights into their journey and their hopes for the future of virtual racing.
They recount their experiences of being annulled from a MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club event and the subsequent need to prove their performance in person in Abu Dhabi.
When given the option between winning the Zwift Games Championship and participating in a MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club event, their decision reveals their priorities. Can you predict which one they opted for?
Check out the articles cited in the episode for an even deeper dive.
- The Annulment That Changed Cycling Esports: MyWhoosh Tests Vujasin, Kaminski, and Jones in Abu Dhabi Proving World Tour Pro Power [Zommunique, Feb. 19, 2024]
- Inaugural Zwift Games 2024: A Complete Guide to the Largest Virtual Racing Event Ever! [Zommunique, Feb. 21, 2024]
- Virtual Platform MyWhoosh is Changing the Cycling Esports Game [Zommunique, Nov. 5, 2022]
Clip in and take a conversational ride with us as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar!
Ep. 39: Ollie Jones and Lionel Vujasin
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