The 2026 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships break with the traditional racing format. MyWhoosh and the International Cycling Union are introducing a two-stage points race in which tactical decisions carry just as much weight as raw wattage. The rainbow jersey at the Esports World Championships will go to the rider with the highest total points tally across both stages, not necessarily to the winner of the final sprint. This will emphasise the competitive aspect of the Esports World Championships.
The change shifts the focus from a pure performance test to a more complex racing format. Drivers must react to new situations and weigh up the risks during the race. The World Championship will take place on 5 December 2026 in Copenhagen and will be broadcast from a specially set-up esports studio.
First stage of the Esports World Championship
The opening stage covers 7.6 km and features five surge checkpoints. Riders receive a warning 500 metres before each checkpoint, but the exact locations remain unknown until they are activated. All participants in a race receive the same checkpoint activations. The first ten riders to cross each finish line score points.
The format forces the riders to make constant tactical decisions. Those who move up to the front early on use up energy, but are sure to score points. Those who wait save their energy, but risk not having enough distance left for the final sprint. The riders have to accelerate several times and recover quickly between these bursts of effort.
Stage Two of the Esports World Championship
The second stage consists of four laps of 5 km each, totalling 20 km. On each lap, 400 metres before a junction, the riders choose between two sections of the route of equal length. The flatter route offers fewer points, whilst the hilly route offers more points but requires greater energy expenditure and involves more elevation gain.
Each route has its own scoring line. Once the routes merge, there is a shared sprint checkpoint. This means there are two scoring opportunities per lap, totalling eight across the entire stage. On the final lap, the finish line serves as the final sprint checkpoint, with double points. Anyone who does not make a selection will automatically be directed onto the flatter route.
Route choice is part of the race strategy. The hilly route yields more points, but can drain energy or cause you to lose position when the routes converge. The flat route allows you to recover, hold your position or prepare for the next sprint.
Differences from road racing
The race dynamics differ fundamentally from those of traditional road races. The course offers opportunities to score points without revealing their locations in advance. Riders can determine their own level of risk on each lap, depending on their strengths, weaknesses and risk appetite. A rider can win the UCI World Championship title without finishing first, provided they consistently collect points across both stages and make better decisions.
Matt Smithson, Director of Esports & Game Operations at MyWhoosh, explains the thinking behind the format: The new system demands more from the riders than just high wattage. The surprise checkpoints and route choices force them to read the race, make decisions under pressure and weigh up when it’s worth expending energy to score points. The format makes the most of what cycling esports has to offer, rather than simply replicating a road race in a virtual environment.
UCI President David Lappartient emphasises the ongoing development of the championship: the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships will once again introduce innovations in 2026. The partnership with MyWhoosh will bring new challenges and surprises for the finalists, who have already gone through a gruelling qualification process. They will need to demonstrate both physical strength and tactical skill to win the UCI World Champion’s rainbow jersey.
Standardised hardware for the Esports World Championships
All finalists will be riding on ELITE Justo 2 Smart Trainers. Each unit is individually prepared and verified by ELITE for the UCI World Championships. The standardised equipment is intended to provide all riders with the same hardware platform and to create as consistent a racing and performance measurement environment as possible across the entire field.
Copenhagen as the host city
The live final will take place on 5 December in Copenhagen, Denmark. The World Championship will be held in a purpose-built esports studio, which will bring the entire field together in one place and create an environment specifically designed for the live broadcast.
The switch to a single venue replaces the previously planned two-venue format. This solution simplifies travel and event organisation for the riders. The Copenhagen studio enables MyWhoosh and the UCI to bring races, riders and broadcast production together in one place.
Matt Smithson sees several advantages in this: holding the final in Copenhagen brings the entire field together in one place and makes use of a dedicated esports studio built around the race and the broadcast. This gives greater control over the presentation of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships and makes the event more accessible to riders. The combination is intended to create a more immersive experience for the athletes and all spectators.
Kristian Bauer
Editor