Zwift Games Announced: “Largest Cycling Esports Competition Ever Held”

Today, Zwift announced plans to hold the inaugural “Zwift Games” beginning in late February 2024. While we don’t have all the details, this looks to be unlike any competition we’ve seen on Zwift, offering a large prize purse and competition across three disciplines in what Zwift describes as “the most democratic cycling championship ever held.”

The entire press release can be found below. We’ll share more information in the coming weeks as it is made available.

Zwift, the global online fitness platform, is set to redefine and amplify cycling esports with the launch of Zwift Games. Set to become the largest cycling esports event ever held, the Zwift Games are designed to give any cyclist the chance to enjoy fun and challenging virtual competition and to compete alongside thousands of other Zwifters. 

The Zwift Games are open to all, providing an open qualification pathway to the Zwift Games Elite Finals and the chance to be crowned overall Zwift Games Champion. Qualification races will take place in late February 2024, with Zwift Games Elite Finals to be held over the first two weeks of March 2024. The Zwift Games will crown men’s and women’s Champions across the three medal disciplines, as well as overall male and female champions. Winners will also take home a share of Zwift’s biggest-ever prize purse. 

To give Zwifters a look at the future of Cycling Esports, Zwift will also host exhibition races that showcase the latest innovations in Zwift racing.  

Uniquely, any Zwifter from around the world will be able to enter any of the Championship events and experience the fun of competition. Zwifters interested in participating in the Games without vying for the overall crown of Zwift Games Champion world title can enter community events linked to each Championship. Such an open competition promises to make the Zwift Games the most democratic cycling championship ever held. 

The Zwift Games will include the following three championship races: 

The Sprint Championship: This race is built with the best elements of the Zwift Battle Royale pioneered for the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. A challenge for the best cycling esports sprinters, racers will tackle several events back-to-back on a variety of courses, including some that are new to Zwift. Qualifiers will be open to all Zwift riders with the top finishers progressing to the finals. 

The Epic Championship: This is the race for Zwift’s steeliest athletes, those who like to go long. This grueling race will be at least 60km long, and will test every facet of competitors’ resolve. The race will make use of Watopia’s new Coastal Causeway and a new route. An Epic community event will take place at the same time as the championship, and any Zwifter can participate in either event without a qualifier, creating what may be the world’s largest-ever cycling esports event! 

The Hill Climb Championship: Since it first opened in 2018, the Alpe du Zwift has been a Zwift monument and right-of-passage for the more than 600,000 Zwifters who have navigated its 21 hairpin turns and scaled its heights. During the Zwift Games, the mountain goats of Zwift racing will have the chance to race from the bottom of this icon to the top and definitively establish who is the best Cycling Esports climber. With so many racers attempting to set a fast time on the iconic course, we could see new records for the ascent. Interested in participating in a group climb, but not looking to race? You can join in the accompanying community challenge, which will also feature the Alpe and other iconic Zwift climbs, that all have different levels of challenge.  

Like all Zwift races, parity will be a central pillar of the Zwift Games. Race distances will be equal for men and women, and prize money will be split equally. 

Further details, including the exact dates, formats, information on global broadcasts, and prize purse distribution will be shared in December.

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