Virtual racing platform Zwift has expressed its disappointment in losing its role as host of the Esports World Championship to competitor MyWhoosh. On Thursday, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) signed a three-year contract with the Abu Dhabi-based company to host the championship from 2024 to 2026.
So far, the event, which had its first edition in 2020, had been exclusively held through Zwift, where the top male and female competitors were awarded the coveted rainbow jerseys.
In a statement shared with British website Cycling Weekly, Zwift remarked, “Naturally, we are disappointed with this outcome, but we are extremely proud of the three great World Championships we have held with the UCI so far.”
“Our commitment to popularizing cycling E-sports from amateur racing to promoting our elite racing product remains unchanged. We will continue to innovate and drive forward this new sport.”
UCI also released a press statement on Thursday, thanking Zwift for their “experience that helped establish this event,” as well as their “popularity among the cycling and E-sports communities.”
Upon announcing the new partnership with MyWhoosh, UCI President David Lappartient stated, “We are very pleased to welcome MyWhoosh as the new platform and organizer of the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships for the next three years, and we are confident that they will continue to develop this exciting and popular event.”
Established in 2019 and based in the United Arab Emirates, MyWhoosh is a lesser-known, free virtual cycling platform. Each year, it hosts thousands of races for users, but it has never organized any events at an intermediate level before.
A spokesperson from MyWhoosh assured that the platform possesses the knowledge and tools to ensure fairness in virtual races. They emphasized that the company employs a “comprehensive three-step verification process” and recently introduced the ‘Power Passports’ to monitor riders’ progress and detect any inconsistencies.
Competitors in the championships will also be required to submit weekly videos to MyWhoosh, showcasing their equipment and serial numbers on both primary and backup power meters.