Zwift Academy Returns to Find the Next Stars of The Peloton

July 16, 2024

Extended window aims to help aspiring riders in their bid to win a professional contract with the CANYON//SRAM Generation and Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Teams

/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Zwift, the global online fitness platform for cyclists, today announced the launch of Zwift Academy. The programme is Zwift’s renowned talent identification pathway, designed to uncover hidden talent and support their development through the professional ranks, joining an elite alumni, including Jay Vine and Neve Bradbury. Neve is fresh from winning the Queen Stage, Young Rider Classification and finished third overall at the Giro d’Italia Women.

Registration for Zwift Academy opens on 15 July, with the programme running from 5 August to 3 November. The programme is open for a longer window compared to previous years, allowing to provide aspiring riders greater flexibility to optimize their training and racing calendars to peak for the challenge of the Zwift Academy.

The world-class workouts will test and challenge participants more than ever before. Workouts will be available on demand, providing riders complete control over their programme. Each workout is designed to push Zwifters and to find their limits as the only globally accessible Talent ID and WorldTour testing protocol. In addition to the testing workouts, riders will also need to compete in two race moments in order to complete the campaign. The races will help provide insight into how riders deploy their physical capabilities in a racing environment.

“Zwift Academy has consistently delivered high-performing riders to Alpecin – Deceuninck. From Jay Vine in 2020, to Luca Vergalito who this year moved to the WorldTour, the standard has increased every year and we’re very excited to discover who will join the team in 2025” said Alpecin – Deceuninck’s Performance Director, Kristof de Kegel.

Dan Fleeman, Performance Director at CANYON//SRAM said “We crafted the Zwift Academy programme this year to really push the boundaries for all entrants, to take all riders through a series of workouts that mirror the demands of World Tour level racing, based on real World Tour data. We know the riders that earn the contracts with both Alpecin – Deceuninck & CANYON//SRAM will have extremely bright careers as professional cyclists ahead of them.”

Zwift Academy is open to everyone, and last year saw over 100,000 riders take part. All Zwifters who complete the workouts and races will earn exclusive in-game unlocks including the Zwift Academy kit after the second activity and after all Zwift Academy activities are finished Zwifters unlock the ZA bike paint job. One lucky Zwift Academy finisher will also win a Canyon Aeroad in Zwift Academy colours.

First launched in 2016, Zwift Academy has proven to be a renowned talent identification programme with a history of finding fantastic, young riders ready to take the next step. Female participants will have the chance to earn a contract with CANYON//SRAM Generation following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Maddie Le Roux. With male participants vying for a contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck’s development team joining last year’s winner, Louis Kitzki. These development teams create a formal pathway to the World Tour such as Zwift Academy 2022 winner Luca Vergallito’s promotion to the development team after just one year.

Find out more about this year’s Zwift Academy by visiting www.zwift.com/zwift-academy