Jason Osborne from Germany and Mary Kate McCarthy from New Zealand have once again won the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. McCarthy confidently won the women's race, while Osborne also defended her title.
The second edition of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on the MyWhoosh platform ended with a German and New Zealand victory. In the Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi, Jason Osborne and Mary Kate McCarthy prevailed against the international competition. The triathlon format tested the athletes' versatility over three different stages. Prominent spectators such as Tadej Pogacar and Peter Sagan followed the action on site.
The event underlines the rapid growth of esports cycling. Riders from over 40 nations competed against each other in an arena specially designed for esports. The UCI organised comprehensive performance checks and anti-doping tests to ensure fair competition conditions. All athletes used the UCI-certified Elite Justo 2 trainers to ensure identical starting conditions.
German Jason Osborne once again world champion
Jason Osborne experienced a bumpy start to the World Championship. The German struggled with his performance in the first stage and felt mentally under pressure. However, his form steadily improved over the three stages. He returned to his usual rhythm in the second stage and was able to play to his strengths.
Technical framework conditions and fair play controls
The UCI and MyWhoosh set strict standards for competition integrity. All athletes completed the race on identical UCI-verified Elite Justo 2 trainers. This standardisation eliminated technical advantages and ensured a level playing field for all participants. The organisers carried out comprehensive performance checks to rule out manipulation.
The on-site presence of all participants enabled detailed hydration tests and anti-doping procedures. These measures emphasise the professional nature of the Esports World Championship. Matthew Smithson from MyWhoosh emphasised the record participation and high level of performance at the event. The partnership for the Esports World Championships between the UCI and MyWhoosh will continue next year.
Prize money and prizes
The total prize money of 60,000 US dollars was distributed among the various placings. Both world champions each received 15,000 US dollars as the main prize. This endowment shows the growing importance of esports cycling.
The high prize money is increasingly attracting top athletes from traditional cycling. Many professionals use esports competitions as an additional training opportunity, as they can prepare well for the upcoming road season. Meanwhile, UCI President David Lappartient recognised the compatibility between cycling and the Esports format.
Leon Weidner
Working student
