The finals for Zwift Academy 2023 have just finished, and Zwift partnered with Eurosport to bring you a series of four episodes documenting the finals process.
Each day this week will see the release of a new episode, and today the series begins!
As a reminder, here are the 6 finalists (to learn a bit about each rider, see this post):
Watch Episode 1:
Episode Summary (Spoiler Alert!)
We begin in Denia, Spain with the men’s finalists meeting riders and coaches from Alpecin-Deceuninck. Louis, Anton, and Mattia introduce themselves to the team, then the team’s Head of Performance Kristoff de Kegel lays out the plan for the day: a 4-hour ride with some sprint activation drills in the first and last hours.
Next up come the ladies. CANYON//SRAM Sports Director Dani Christmas introduces us to the three finalists: Katy, Laura, and Maddie. Their task on the day is to complete a brutal INSCYD test consisting of 4 full gas seated efforts:
- 20-second sprint
- 3-minute effort
- 6-minute effort
- 12-minute effort
Here are the results:
| Laura | Katie | Maddie | |
| 20s | 9.50 W/kg | 9.42 W/kg | 9.78 W/kg |
| 3 minute | 6.07 W/kg | 6.17 W/kg | 6.27 W/kg |
| 6 minute | 5.42 W/kg | 5.69 W/kg | 5.53 W/kg |
| 12 minute | 5 W/kg | 5.22 W/kg | 5.14 W/kg |
Up Next
Watch this space for episode 2, premiering tomorrow!
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
It looks like it was recorded a few weeks ago.
Would have liked to see these guys on the start line in the Zwift Games, but it seems like only the three girls got the memo…?
Whoa so much for zwift being the platform for talent detection, on the male side:
in short another round of marketing BS…
But… Zwift was literally used as the platform to identify these riders.
Just because they aren’t dedicated Zwifters doesn’t mean the platform didn’t serve its purpose.
How can the platform be used to identify the riders if they don’t ride on it? They could have run the exact same workouts on trainerroad, Indievelo or any other platform.
That’s marketing, zwift is only “sponsor” of this thing, the riders don’t use it, zwift did not help them to get better at anything.
We all understand you “work” for/with zwift, there was a time when ZI was a bit more than that, obvs not the case anymore…
But the riders were identified via the Zwift Academy program. Which, BTW, is the same as it’s always been – riders in the past weren’t picked because they were level 50+ Zwifters or had strong results in ZwiftPower. They were picked based on Zwift Academy test results (and additional semifinal test results which the community typically doesn’t see).
Yes, they could do the same workouts on other platforms and achieve the same result. Isn’t that how it should be? If I’m a WorldTour team coach I don’t care what indoor cycling platform a rider uses – I care about their abilities. Zwift is the platform with the budget and clout to attract top-tier prospects for the talent ID program that is Zwift Academy. ZA doesn’t claim to provide the workouts to train someone into WorldTour material. It’s a global talent ID program, with a “community” aspect for people who want the workouts.
Draw whatever conclusions you want about my relationship with Zwift, but the truth is I’m just a fan and they’re contractually obligated to not control what’s published here.
First time I’ve watched what happens to the academy finalists and to be honest, a bit miffed by it all.
Three males, all under level 30 so essentially rarely use zwift at all.
And one female who is quite literally a professional.
The whole thing of zwift academy being aimed at amateur riders who use zwift a significant amount and arnt already pro has been seemingly lost to folk signing up purely to get this trial contract entry ticket.
The rules don’t say you can’t be a pro rider (and what is a “pro” these days anyway? Most “pros” aren’t making a living wage.) They say “Cyclists who are part of, or have been part of, a men’s UCI WorldTour team, Women’s World Tour Team or a men’s UCI Pro Team (listed below) are ineligible.” (https://www.zwift.com/uk/zwift-academy-pro-contender-requirements)
I get the angst, somewhat – we all as Zwifters ourselves would love to see strong Zwifters turn into pros via ZA. But the reality is, there are LOTS of very strong cyclists out there who aren’t dedicated Zwifters, but would love to get a pro contract. So you’re going to see more of this (low-level Zwifters jumping into ZA for a shot at turning pro).
Also worth mentioning, I think – the reality is that the level of rider needed to be a contender on the world stage is so high, and getting higher. I think the days are gone when a nearly pure Zwifter could land a pro contract. If you aren’t able to hold your own from the start in a pro peloton, you’re probably not getting a ZA win.
Totally agree on the level of quality these days and you’re right around the the ability vs a ZA win.
I’d simply thought it would be more like the Sony GT academy which turned literal non drivers into professional and successful racing drivers, giving a slither of hope to thousands rather than turning pros or people competing in national champs into 1in3 contract hopefuls. The same people that Canyon/SRAM themselves stated in the episode were already on their radar, atleast for one of them.
I just don’t feel it sells Zwift well when a level 16 (to clarify, I don’t think the level itself is important but more so the usage/importance of zwift as a training tool to the rider) can get such a spot given how little time is required to achieve such XP.
For most of them, it looks like they could have signed up just before ZA purely to get a shot at the contract. Zwift then in reality has not benefited their training at all.