UCI Cycling Esports World Championships: This is how the virtual version of the World Cycling Championships went

The Esports World Championship was relaunched this year with a new format at the new Scotland map from Zwift was held. In a way, it was a virtual dress rehearsal for the 2023 World Cycling Championships in Scotland in August. The World Championships for women and men consisted of three consecutive elimination races: "The Punch", "The Climb" and "The Podium".

>> How the new format of the Esports Indoor World Championship works

UCI Cycling Esports World Championships: Andreassen successful with early attack

86 riders took part in the men's race. At the end of the first race, "The Punch", the top 30 qualified for the second round: "The Climb", from where ten riders made it to the final round, "The Podium". There, Andreassen pulled away from his rivals early on and secured the title at the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.

Behind them, the two Germans Jason Osborne and Marc Mäding silver and bronze. For Osborne, who will compete for the 2023 Team Alpecin-Deceuninck on the road, it was his third medal at the Esports World Championships after being world champion in 2020 and winning bronze in 2022.

Technical breakdown in the women's race

87 starters competed in the women's indoor world championship race. Loes Adegeest from the Netherlands defended her title, Zoe Langham (Great Britain) won silver and bronze went to Jaqueline Godbe from the USA.

However, the women's race at the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships did not run entirely smoothly. There was a technical glitch. Cycling fans waited in vain in front of the screen for live images of the decisive phase of the race. At this very moment, Zwift's transmission failed. Only afterwards was it shown how Adegeest was crowned world champion once again.

E-cycling World Championships as a springboard for the World Cycling Championships

The decision was made in the sprint. This was opened by Langham, but it quickly became clear that Adegeest could not be beaten on this day either.

For the Dutchwoman, indoor cycling was a springboard into professional cycling. In 2022, she secured a professional contract with FDJ-SUEZ for the 2023 season - thanks in part to her Esports World Championship title.

Jay Vine, world champion at the 2022 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, has now also made the leap into the world's top road cycling ranks. Last year, he won two stages at the Vuelta a Espana and in January 2023 the overall classification at the Tour Down Under in his home country of Australia. He now rides for UAE Team Emirates and will also be competing on the road at the 2023 World Cycling Championships in Scotland.

And Jason Osborne also turned pro this year at Alpecin-Deceuninck, where Vine was still under contract last year.