Sweden’s Mika Söderström is a rare cycling talent. A two-time Swedish Road Race Champion and multiple-time Cycling Esports National Champion, she’s one of the only athletes to hold and defend both jerseys simultaneously—yet she still identifies first and foremost as an esports racer.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, Mika joins hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker to share how her introduction to cycling—beginning on her father’s smart trainer on Zwift—when coupled with a data-driven strategy, has carried her from the forest paths north of Stockholm to a top-ten finish at the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships and a sprint jersey at the MyWhoosh Championships. Despite these palmares, she balances elite competition with life as a Ph.D. researcher in brain wave biomedicine, where the precision of science complements the discipline of elite sport.

Mika offers unique insights into the nuances between road and esports racing, from strategy and preparation to the mental and physical demands of each. She explains why, despite her road victories over some of Sweden’s best Women’s WorldTour pros, she feels more motivated to defend her esports national title. She also opens up about navigating weigh-ins, balancing studies with training, and why she believes the future of esports lies in embracing its own identity rather than imitating the road.

And true to her competitive spirit, Mika insists that to be the best you have to beat the best—welcoming all challengers, road pros included.

Join Emma and Chris for a wide-ranging conversation with one of esports’ most compelling athletes, bridging intellect, versatility, and passion both on and off the bike, as Mika shares her perspective from the upper echelon of road and esports competition.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• AusCycling and the Swedish Cycling Federation Crown 2024 Cycling Esports National Champions in Live Event Finals on the Same Day [Zommunique, Mar. 27, 2025]
• Procycling Stats: Mika Söderström
• The voice of the peloton: TCA has released its annual rider survey [Escape Collective, Sep. 2, 2025]
• VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025]

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, join hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker as they welcome back Dr. George Gilbert for his fifth appearance. In this episode, Dr. Gilbert, now the Vice President of Virtual Platforms at TrainingPeaks, offers an exclusive look at the rapid evolution of the platform since its acquisition and transition to TrainingPeaks Virtual, just 10 months prior.

Gilbert opens up about the massive improvements, including a brand-new user interface and a vibrant 3D world, as well as new roads, graphics, and training modes. He discusses how the platform’s vision evolved from the TrainingPeaks philosophy of helping purpose-driven athletes achieve their goals through “deliberate practice”. You’ll hear about how the company measures success not by peak concurrent users or flashy marketing, but by its ability to empower coaches and make athletes faster.

The conversation dives deep into the platform’s focus on realistic racing physics, the strategic role of its 10,000 unique bots, and its stance on elite-level competition. Dr. Gilbert emphasizes that TrainingPeaks Virtual is not here to compete with event organizers but to provide the world’s best tools and infrastructure for them to utilize.

Finally, get an exclusive sneak peek at a feature that promises to be a game-changer for purposeful training: GPXplore. This new feature will enable athletes to upload any GPX file and instantly ride a fully auto-generated virtual version of any course worldwide. From famous climbs like the Stelvio and Sa Calobra to the punishing cobbles of the Koppenberg, GPXplore promises to transform course recon and race-specific training.

Tune in to this compelling episode to discover how TrainingPeaks Virtual is setting itself apart in the world of cycling esports and a new vision of what’s possible for athletes and coaches.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• New Virtual Cycling Platform indieVelo is Defining the Future of Esports [Zommunique, June 6, 2023]
• Cycling Esports Platform indieVelo Moves to Open Beta—What it Means For Virtual Cycling Users [Zommunique, June 30,2025]
• Find the 4 other episodes featuring Dr. Gilbert here [Zommunique]
• VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025]

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

Power, process, and the pursuit of a World Title. In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, Cycling Canada National Esports Champion Tiffany Penner joins co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker for a wide-ranging conversation about her journey in cycling esports—from her early days in sport to lining up in Abu Dhabi for the 2024 UCI World Championship final.

Tiffany shares what life looks like off the bike, how she trains, and what it means to carry the maple leaf into competition. She reflects on the current state of cycling esports in Canada, her goals for the 2025 Worlds, and how she approaches some of the more sensitive aspects of elite-level racing, including weigh-ins and athlete well-being.

A thoughtful and powerful presence in the virtual peloton, Tiffany offers a glimpse into what drives her—and where she believes the sport is headed.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship: Public Qualifier, Semi-Finals, and Finals Details [Zommunique, July 12, 2025]
• Revamped format revealed for the 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Escape Collective, Aug 14, 2025]
• UCI Releases National Federation Quotas and Preliminary Format for 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Zommunique, June 13, 2025]
• USA Cycling 2025 Esports World Championship Selection Criteria Clarified [Zommunique, July 25, 2025]
• VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025]

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

In a landscape dominated by virtual cycling giants like Zwift, MyWhoosh, and Rouvy, why would anyone launch a grassroots platform from scratch? In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, we sit down with Matt Gibbs, the quietly determined founder of Biketerra—a browser-based, community-powered alternative that’s carving out space in a sport already defined by consolidation.

We explore the origins of Biketerra, its unique approach to user-generated routes, the surprising way it’s bringing fans closer to events like the Tour de France, and whether there’s a future for independent platforms in a landscape ruled by million-dollar budgets. Matt also opens up about business realities, growth goals, and where he hopes Biketerra will be in a year—and beyond.

Is Biketerra a bold vision ahead of its time, or virtually a niche within a niche? Tune in and decide for yourself.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship: Public Qualifier, Semi-Finals, and Finals Details [Zommunique, July 12, 2025]
• UCI Releases National Federation Quotas and Preliminary Format for 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Zommunique, June 13, 2025]
• USA Cycling 2025 Esports World Championship Selection Criteria Clarified [Zommunique, July 25, 2025]
• VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025]

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, Matt Smithson, Director of Esports and Game Operations at MyWhoosh, joins co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker for a wide-ranging conversation on the $1 million MyWhoosh Championship and the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.

We delve into the vision behind the platform’s flagship events, explore how the race formats are evolving, and examine what it takes to deliver world-class esports competition.

Matt shares behind-the-scenes insights on hardware verification, weigh-in procedures, broadcast learnings, growth ambitions, and what’s next for MyWhoosh in the rapidly developing virtual racing landscape.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship: Public Qualifier, Semi-Finals, and Finals Details [Zommunique, July 12, 2025]
• UCI Releases National Federation Quotas and Preliminary Format for 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Zommunique, June 13, 2025]
• All of the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship Smart Trainers Will Be Tested, Standardized, and UCI-Approved [Zommunique, Aug 6, 2024]
• VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025]

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome Matthew Lefthand—the newly crowned world-record holder for the greatest virtual cycling distance in 24 hours—and Larry Oslund, Records Chair of the World Ultra Cycling Association (WUCA).

Lefthand’s transformation from 280 pounds to elite ultra-cyclist is nothing short of inspirational. Just two years after discovering cycling, he became one of only a handful of athletes to surpass the 500-mile mark in 24 hours on the road—eclipsing it on his first attempt, and then followed it up with 658.31 certified record-setting miles on Zwift. Along the way, he’s crushed course records at the Hoodoo 500 and Race Across the West, beating not only solo competitors but entire relay teams.

With his blend of mental resilience, untapped physiological potential, and scientific precision, Lefthand may just be getting started. As Oslund puts it, he has the potential to rewrite the ultra-cycling record books.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• The anatomy of a record-setting 24-hour virtual ride [Escape Collective, May 16, 2025]

Join us for a conversational ride as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar.

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

In a space dominated by gamified worlds and high-profile competition, one platform has quietly carved out its own lane—grounded in realism, driven by innovation, and growing on its own terms.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker sit down with Rouvy CEO Petr Samek for a rare, wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about the platform’s origins, its distinctive vision, and the bold decisions that continue to shape its path.

Craving numbers? We ask Samek point-blank about subscriber counts, year-on-year growth, and whether an IPO is on the horizon. Curious about tech? We get into the bold decision to retrofit Zwift’s Cog, Click, and Play hardware for virtual shifting, plus the Rouvy Route Creator that turns your GoPro footage into a user-generated rideable course.

Money on your mind? Samek explains the logic behind Rouvy’s price hike, the $6 million Pale Fire Capital injection, and how Lidl-Trek, Visma | Lease-a-Bike, IRONMAN, and LifeTime Grand Prix partnerships fit the long game.

And because racing matters, we dig into FulGaz integration, amateur and elite cycling esports plans, and whether Rouvy will throw its hat back in the ring to host the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships…AGAIN!

Realism, strategy, and big-picture vision—all straight from the source. Hit play and ride along.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• ROUVY and Lidl-Trek Tech Partnership Could Change The Way Pro Cycling Teams Prep Races [Zommunique, Jan. 8, 2024]
• ROUVY Acquires FulGaz and Partners With IRONMAN [Zommunique, Jan. 21, 2025]

Join us for a conversational ride as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar.

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, guest co-host award-winning cycling journalist Aaron Borrill and Chris Schwenker sit down with Ross Burrage, co-founder of Uganda’s Masaka Cycling Club Foundation. Ross shares how a grassroots cycling initiative in rural East Africa is transforming lives — breaking generational poverty, challenging gender norms, and unlocking elite-level talent.

We explore the club’s innovative scholarship model, its partnership with the UCI, and how Zwift cycling esports has become a vital tool for talent development in a country with limited infrastructure. From virtual training rooms in Masaka to international World Championship podiums and beyond, this is the powerful story of how a bicycle — and a global cycling community — can change everything.

Visit the Masaka Cycling Club to become a supporter and change the life of a kid through the power of the bicycle.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• The Ugandan Zwift Team [ZwiftInsider, Mar 3, 2021]
• VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025]

Join us for a conversational ride as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar.

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker sit down with grimpeur extraordinaire Illi Gardner—multi-time British and European Hill Climb Champion, two-time Everesting world record holder, and the 2024 Zwift Games Climb Champion.

With over 10,000 climbing QOMs to her name, including iconic climbs like Ventoux, Tourmalet, Galibier, Zoncolan, Stelvio, and Madone, Illi has redefined what it means to be a pure climber in both the real and virtual worlds.

Illi tells us which climb is harder—Alpe d’Huez or Alpe du Zwift—whether she was relieved when Demi Vollering didn’t take her crown during the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, and if she’s worried her Col de la Madeleine record will fall on this year’s queen stage.

We break down the life and process of the world’s pre-eminent summit sniper—and contemplate whether her dominance on the steepest slopes puts her in the conversation as the best pure climber of the modern era, or if the lack of a pro palmarès closes the door on that debate.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• Elite Eracer Illi Gardner—No Special Effects Required in Her Stunning Performance [Zommunique, Apr 24, 2022]
• A True QOM—Former Professional Cyclist Illi Gardner Breaks Down What It Takes To Win the Zwift Games! [Zommunique, May 29, 2024]
• How are Indoor Specialists Using Esports-Specific Training to Push the Boundaries of Performance? [Zommunique, Mar 11, 2025]
• VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025]

Join us for a conversational ride as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar.

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome Australian Cycling Esports National Champions Kate Trdin and Josh Harris to discuss their standout seasons and dive into the highs and lows of the 2025 AUS Cycling Esports National Championships.

Kate and Josh share candid reactions to the move to MyWhoosh, the innovative hybrid racing format, and the live-event broadcast coverage from QUT’s “The Cube.”

Plus, they offer insights on training adaptations, esports credibility, and what the future holds for cycling esports in Australia and beyond.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• AusCycling Announces 2025 Cycling Esports National Championships Will Be in April on MyWhoosh [Zommunique, Mar 11, 2025]
• Deciphering How Indoor Specialists Can Push World Tour Power [Zommunique, Feb 19, 2025]
• How are Indoor Specialists Using Esports-Specific Training to Push the Boundaries of Performance? [Zommunique, Mar 11, 2025]
• VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025]

Join us for a conversational ride as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar.

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.