Zwift has announced the 20 semi-finalists (10 under-23 men and 10 women) for Zwift Academy 2018.
To qualify, riders had to complete a structured program of group rides, races, and workouts in Zwift over a eight week period. Starting October 15 these athletes will continue to the next round of cycling tests to determine who will advance to the finals at their potential team camps.
Drumroll Please…
The 10 CANYON//SRAM Racing | Zwift Academy Semi-Finalists are:
- Helen McKay – London, England
- Ella Harris – Dunedin, New Zealand
- Eva Buchholz – Wiesbaden, Germany
- Harriet Dodd – Brighton, England
- Elne Owen – East London, South Africa
- Ione Johnson -Wellington, New Zealand
- Laura Van Regenmortel -Zoetermeer, Netherlands
- Catherine Colyn -Paarl, South Africa
- Mary Wilkinson – North Yorkshire, England
- Nathalie Eklund – Hagersten, Sweden
The 10 Team Dimension Data | Zwift Academy Semi-Finalists are:
- Oliver Young – Auckland, New Zealand
- Max Jones – Christchurch, New Zealand
- Byron Munton – Cape Town, South Africa
- Alex West – Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Oliver Peckover – Nottingham, England
- Martin Lavrič – Ljubjana, Slovenia
- Bradley Gouveris – Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Hernan Silvera – San Carlos, Uruguay
- Patrick Christopher – High Wycombe, England
- Mathieu Vansteenkiste – Oostende, Belgium
CANYON//SRAM Racing | Zwift Academy riders will receive Wahoo KICKR trainers and Rapha kit while the Team Dimension Data | Zwift Academy Semi-Finalists will each receive Elite Direto trainers. In addition all twenty semi-finalists will receive SoleStar KONTROL cycling insoles.
A Look at the Numbers
This year has seen 5,000 women take part in the CANYON//SRAM Racing | Zwift Academy, over double the number of participants from 2018.
On the men’s side the 10 semi-finalists from the Team Dimension Data | Zwift Academy emerged from a staggering crop of 30,000 cyclists from across the globe.
What’s Next?
Following the end of the semi-finals, twenty will become six. These six finalists (three from each program) will travel to their respective week-long team camps in Cape Town, South Africa and Malaga, Spain to ride and complete structured drills with their prospective teams, after which two professional contracts will be awarded.