In this episode of the Virtual Velo Podcast, we sit down with CEO Kimberly Coats and Jeremy Ford of Team Africa Rising to explore one of the most ambitious development projects in modern African cycling: a plan to bring over 1,000 young cyclists across Africa into virtual racing through a new network of Virtual Performance Centers.

From Rwanda’s historic Road World Championships to the ingenuity sparked during the pandemic, we trace how virtual training has begun to level the playing field for riders who have long faced barriers to accessing the global racing scene. Kimberly and Jeremy walk us through the origins of Team Africa Rising, the challenges they confront on the ground, and how partnerships with platforms like Zwift and Wahoo are helping to unlock a new era of talent identification, safety, and opportunity on the continent.

Joined by award-winning cycling tech journalist and South African native Aaron Borrill, host Chris Schwenker explores what this initiative means for the next generation of African cyclists — and what the future might look like if virtual racing continues to reshape the sport on the African continent.

A conversation about access, ambition, and the power of virtual cycling to make an authentic and real grassroots impact.

Donate here to support Team Africa Rising’s work on the ground in Africa!

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

• ​The impossible tale of Adrien Niyonshuti, from a wooden bike to the World Championships [Escape Collective, Sept. 2025]
• ​Zwift, a bike, and a dream: The virtual rise of a Ugandan cycling club [Escape Collective, June 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.

Two-time UCI Cycling Esports World Champion Kate McCarthy joins the Virtual Velo Podcast, fresh off her successful title defense in Abu Dhabi. She’s joined by her partner, Olympian and former track world champion Dylan Kennett, for a straightforward conversation about racing, preparation, and life behind the results.

Kate talks through how this year’s final unfolded, what felt different, and how support from family and friends shapes her racing experience. Dylan shares his perspective from years at the top of the sport, his role in Kate’s training and strategy, and what he believes cycling esports needs to continue progressing.

We cover their story as a couple, the challenges of outside criticism, thoughts on doping controls and the new weigh-in policy, and where they see the discipline heading. It’s an honest look at the realities of competing—and succeeding—at the highest level of cycling esports.

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

• Kate McCarthy’s road race redemption is a victory for cycling esports [Escape Collective, Feb. 2025]
• Listen to ep. 57 with Kate here.
• Osborne and McCarthy repeat as cycling esports world champions [Escape Collective, Nov. 2025]
• Preview: Can the favorites repeat at the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships? [Escape Collective, Nov. 2025]
• We need to talk openly about weight in cycling esports too [Escape Collective, Aug. 2025]
• Triple world champion Jason Osborne calls for year-round anti-doping measures in cycling Esports [Domestique, Nov. 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, the Virtual Velo Podcast rolls into the biggest week on the cycling esports calendar. USA Cycling Esports National Champion Hayden “Farmwatts” Pucker returns to the show as he prepares to take on the world’s best at the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships live final in Abu Dhabi on November 15th.

Co-hosts Chris Schwenker and Emma Martin catch up with Hayden on his mindset heading into his second consecutive Worlds appearance, the rivalries taking shape, and what to expect from this year’s new course and format. Hayden talks about defending his National title on TrainingPeaks Virtual.

Chris also breaks down his top storylines and predictions as the sport’s brightest talents converge under the lights in the desert for esports cycling’s grandest stage.

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

• Get to Know Why They Call This Elite Cyclist, Hayden “Farmwatts” Pucker [Zommunique, Jan. 2024]
• Listen to ep. 51 with Hayden here.
• Revamped format revealed for the 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Escape Collective, Aug. 2025]
• TrainingPeaks Virtual to Host USA Cycling Esports National Championships Through 2028 [USA Cycling]
• We need to talk openly about weight in cycling esports too [Escape Collective, Aug. 2025]
• USA Cycling Awards 20 Stars and Stripes Jerseys at the 2025 Cycling Esports National Championships [Zommunique, Feb. 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.

Project Echelon co-founder Eric Hill returns to the Virtual Velo Podcast to share an announcement that he believes could reshape the future of cycling esports.

From leading the top American UCI Continental team to empowering veterans through sport, Eric has built a movement grounded in purpose and performance. Now, through a new partnership with USA Cycling and TrainingPeaks, he’s bringing that mission into the cycling esports space for the 6th edition of the Echelon Racing League.

Hosts Chris Schwenker and Emma Martin dig into the details—why is he moving from MyWhoosh to TrainingPeaks Virtual, how the partnership will impact racers and the broader esports community, and what it means for the legitimacy and accessibility of virtual cycling.

What is the significance of the first USA Cycling Esports National Series and the plans for the 2026 National Championships?

They ask what the community wants to know about the league details, explore the value-proposition, and ask if cross-over events are the vision of “true cycling esports.”

Is this the moment where technology and tradition meet to create a new kind of racing experience? Or does it blur the lines defining cycling esports as a unique discipline?

Tune in for an inside look at how Eric Hill and Echelon Racing Promotions are bridging the gap between real and virtual worlds—one season at a time.

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

• Listen to ep. 32 with Eric here and ep. 59 with Eric here.
• TrainingPeaks Virtual to Host USA Cycling Esports National Championships Through 2028 [USA Cycling]
• RGT leads the charge for inclusion of disabled athletes in virtual cycling [CyclingNews, Feb. 7, 2022]
• “USA Cycling Embraces Cycling Esports and the Olympics Would be a Game-Changer,” Says the Chief of Sports Performance [Zommunique, June 2023]
• USA Cycling Awards 20 Stars and Stripes Jerseys at the 2025 Cycling Esports National Championships [Zommunique, Feb. 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.

The 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship finals are set for Abu Dhabi, and once again, Jacquie Godbe is on the start list—continuing her streak of qualifying for every World Championship since the sport began.

The multi-time USA Cycling Esports National Champion, bronze medalist at the 2023 Worlds, and practicing physician returns to The Virtual Velo Podcast to share a deeply personal story of resilience, balance, and purpose.

Hosts Chris Schwenker and Emma Martin talk with Jacquie about juggling life as an elite esports racer, cancer researcher, and medical doctor, her remarkable comeback from brain surgery, and the mindset that carried her through recovery. She reflects on the evolution of women’s health in endurance sport, the new UCI weigh-in and hydration protocols, and how integrity and athlete welfare must shape the future of cycling esports.

With humor, heart, and intellect, Jacquie offers an unfiltered look at what it means to compete, heal, and lead by example—both on the bike and in life.

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, host Chris Schwenker is joined once again by Jacob Fraser, the UCI’s Cycling Esports Coordinator, for an in-depth conversation ahead of the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.

Jacob reflects on last year’s groundbreaking Worlds—the first live final on MyWhoosh—and shares insights into what worked, what didn’t, and how lessons learned are shaping this year’s event. The discussion covers everything from race format changes and qualification controversies to weigh-in protocols, anti-doping measures, and the ongoing push for hardware standardization.

Looking ahead, Jacob offers a candid look at the UCI’s long-term vision: athlete health safeguards, a sanctioned event calendar, international rankings, and how broadcast innovation can capture new audiences.

With Zwift stepping back from elite racing and TrainingPeaks Virtual entering the scene, the landscape is shifting fast, and Jacob provides clarity on where cycling esports is heading next.

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

• Listen to ep. 54 with Jacob here [Spotify]
• When ‘close enough’ isn’t good enough: Inside cycling esports’ hardware crisis [Escape Collective, Aug. 19, 2025]
• We need to talk openly about weight in cycling esports too [Escape Collective, Aug. 25, 2025]
• The UCI’s rocky roadmap for cycling esports [Escape Collective, Mar. 21, 2025]
• The UCI takes important measures to protect rider safety and health, and approves 2026 UCI calendars for several disciplines [UCI, Sept. 25, 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.

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.