The 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships is set to be held on Saturday (26 October). 42 athletes will compete for the men’s and women’s titles in Abu Dhabi at the fourth edition of the Championship.
World cycling champion Tadej Pogačar will be in attendance, while retired three-time world champion and three-time Olympian Peter Sagan will also show up at the event, held in person all together in an arena for the first time.
2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships: Format
The event will see participation of 22 male and 20 female finalists, competing for the world title in Dubai, all of whom had to progress through qualifiers and the semi-finals held in September.
As per the UCI, ‘‘The 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships will be raced in a custom virtual world, utilising a points-based scoring system to ensure that athletes of all specialties have an opportunity to win.’’
Points are awarded for achievements including having the fastest time on a segment, leading a lap or being first up a climb in the race.
2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships: Key Players
Top contenders in the men’s event include New Zealander Ollie Jones, who won the semi-final last month from a field of 113 riders. First runner-up Hayden Pucker of USA and second runner-up Stefan Van Aelst of Belgium are close behind him.
Reigning UCI World Champion Bjørn Andreassen of Denmark finished 4th in the semi-final and will be looking to improve his ranks in Abu Dhabi.
Germany’s Jason Osborne became the first UCI World Champion for cycling esports in 2020, won the bronze medal in 2022, and last year took silver behind Andreassen and will be a player to watch out for.
Finland’s cycling esports National Champion Teppo Laurio and Czech athlete Daniel Turek are the wildcards which could pose a challenge to the qualified riders from the semi-finals. Both of them compete on the road and have made names for themselves in the world of cycling esports.
In the absence of reigning UCI World Champion Loes Adegeest of Netherlands, also winner in 2022, a new champion is set to be crowned in the women’s event. Tenth in last year’s UCI World Championships, Great Britain’s Lou Bates was the best-placed woman in last month’s semi-final. However, she will face a tough competition from 2023 bronze medalist Jacqueline Godbe (USA).
Also Read: Cycling: History, different types, equipment needed and more
2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships: Key Details
Date: 26th October 2024
Location: ADNEC Marina Hall, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Competitors: 22 men, 20 women
Platform: MyWhoosh
Equipment: Elite Justo 2
Stages:
1. The Sprint (1.7km)
2. The Strategist (9km)
3. All Out (16km)
Distance: 26.7km (total across three stages)
Prize money: 1st $15,000 and rainbow jersey, 2nd $10,000, 3rd $5,000 (equal prize money men and women)
