Zach Nehr dives deep into the world of cycling esports, unpacking its rapid evolution and what it takes to train and coach athletes for peak performance—indoors and out.

Matti and Zach explore Zach’s background of collegiate racing and coaching to the professional road scene, and how the pandemic unexpectedly propelled him into the universe of indoor racing.

What sets Zach apart is his insistence on meeting each athlete where they are, adapting plans around individual needs, training environments, and even race start times that can hit at 2 AM thanks to global competition. He highlights the critical importance of communication, balancing intensity, and keeping a sharp eye on mental as well as physical fatigue—especially for those riding the line between indoor and outdoor racing.

Whether you want to refresh your coaching toolkit, re-energize your winter training, or just geek out on how racing is changing, this episode is your ticket into the fast-paced universe of cycling esports. There’s something here for every coach and athlete ready to embrace structured training in a virtual space—no matter where you start.