Woman Racer Spotlight: Joanne Ernst

Name: Joanne Ernst

Hometown: I live in Boulder, Colorado but was born in Calgary, Canada. 

How did you get into cycling? I was a professional triathlete in the 1980s and have cycled on the roads (and now gravel, too) since 1983. 

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? Since 2018. 

Are you part of a Virtual team? I co-founded CrushPod, a team for women-only in January 2021.

What do you love most about racing? The opportunity to learn and improve.

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)?  TTT, because that’s how CrushPod started and it is all about teamwork. As an individual I’ve fallen in love with points races. 

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Tour de Boudicca because it’s a team competition and I love to race for the team.

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? Winning the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona in 1985. 

What is your favourite food to eat post race? I always like a protein replacement drink like Cold Brew Instant Protein Coffee by Infinit or Endurox R4 in chocolate flavor. Then I eat whatever I can reach. 

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Look for a team. You will make great friends that way and learn more quickly how races work on Zwift.

Any upcoming race are you looking forward to? The last race in the 2024 Iceni Women’s Series and then beyond that the ZRL Finals in April.