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news
British Cyclling Zwift eRacing Championship 2019 (picture copyright Simon Wilkinson, SWPix (7).jpgShould national champion's jerseys be awarded for eRacing? Tom Pidcock sparks Twitter debate
A tweet from rising star Tom Pidcock has ignited a fierce online debate about whether or not eRacing – also known as virtual cycling – is a proper sport, and whether a national champion’s jersey should be awarded for it.
Posting to Twitter on Friday – the day after the inaugural British Cycling Zwift eRacing Championships at the BT Sport studios in London – the 19-year-old wrote: “Do you know what’s funny? eRacing national champs.”
Do you know what’s funny? eRacing national champs
— Tom Pidcock (@Tompid) March 28, 2019
The Team Wiggins rider has a wardrobe full of champions’ jerseys – national, European and world – won at junior and under-23 level and in 2017 became British senior criterium champion, beating a field including riders more than twice his age.
The respective winners last Thursday – Rosamund Bradbury and Cameron Jeffers – were both presented with the iconic red, white and blue national jersey, and their respective avatars will have the right to wear it on Zwift over the coming 12 months.
It’s pretty common for posts on Twitter to polarise opinion, and certainly some people replying to Pidcock’s tweet were categorical that national champion’s jerseys need to be earned on the road, not indoors.
Others, however, said that getting more people cycling, and generating more interest in the sport, was more important, while ex-pro Matt Stephens – a former national champion on the road, and who was commentating for BT Sport last Thursday, also chipped in.
Here’s a selection of the responses. You can find the full thread here – and once you’ve read it, let us know in the comments where you stand on the issue.
It’s just another new strand of our wonderful sport Tom. Not a replacement. An addition. Another access point. That’s fun. And it’s gaining momentum. You should give it a whirl. You’d probably be ok at it.
— Matt Stephens (@RealStephens) March 29, 2019
That’s my mate on the left.. he is over 30, father of 2 kids and is self employed..so no not funny, quite impressive really pic.twitter.com/I1lcBU2HNM
— clair wadden (@myboocycles) March 29, 2019
Totally agree, it was being done in another form, 'roller racing', 50 plus years ago, BC should be concentrating on boosting the dwindling road racing scene to produce more great u23 riders like yourself, not touting a training aid as some kind of cycle sport.
— Rhyl Cycling Club (@JonathanHarland) March 29, 2019
Against the general trend of negativity Tom, I'm with you! I've trained indoors for years, I live in the UK, but a national champs? Another access point to the sport? Pin a number on in cross, MTB, TTs, BMX, RR, anything, experience a real race, where skills is also involved.
— Shaun Green (@GreenCoaching68) March 29, 2019
Stand by your principles Tom and resign from @OfficialWIGGINS immediately. You really wouldn’t want to be associated with someone who competes at static rowing. Whatever next, competitive static cycling?
— SwamBikedRan (@FL600) March 30, 2019
Racing on E! That's taking doping to a whole new level.
How would one sign up for this? Asking for a friend— Shez (@Sh3zz4) March 29, 2019
It’s just like any other video game championships. And if people are having fun, what’s the harm? We can’t all be pro cyclists, ya know.
— Richard Howell (@mexikid) March 29, 2019
You know what's funny? Cyclocross
— Nick White (@just_nickwhite) March 30, 2019
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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25 comments
It’s not my bag, and I think it’s a bit daft to award actual jerseys, which are usually awarded to people who’ve actually ridden somewhere, for sitting on a stationary bike, but hey ho, it seems to be the way of things now when mediocrity is rewarded. I had to laugh at Bradbury’s comments about being disadvantaged on the “hills” as she was a larger rider. What hills? It would make feck all difference if you were the size of a strand of spaghetti, or a small moon, you didn’t ride up any actual hills. Still, if it keeps interest levels in cycling up, it’s not all bad.
Its no more cycling than indoor climbing is climbing. It is just training. Cycling, like climbing isn't just the pushing of pedals, it's dealing with conditions that are beyond the riders control. Just another pathetic nod in the direction of those who want something different nd expect the world to drop its standards to cater for them.
Could we not solve this by just giving them a "virtual" jersey? Their Zwift avatar can have it.
i don't do Zwift but I do ride indoors and for me it is a training tool (though I do set myself targets and race against myself) rather than a sport in its own right. Fair play to those who do it and win though. There is still effort involved. But it's not for me
Then don't read and comment on it then, the clue is in the headline.
Really helpful, thanks mate. You're a gem. Have you thought of giving your invaluable advice to British politicians? I think Brexit would be sorted out in 5 minutes.
Just make sure that the jersey rules are the same as for real champions' jerseys, so you would only be able to wear the thing indoors, on the turbo, where nobody else has to see you.
But, seriously, isn't this stuff getting a bit out of hand? I mean, it's clearly a good way to make indoor training easier on the head when the weather is too nasty or you don't have time to get outside, but do official competitions really make sense?
Do competitions ever make sense then?
- Fastest on a bicycle round an indoor circle of wood? Whopp-de-do...
- Fastest down a hill on two planks of wood? Erm, ok...
- Lifting the most heavy things? Well that'll be handy when you're in IKEA I guess...
It's a different skill from road racing, but I'm not sure a pissing contest about whose competition is most "valid" is going to go well for anyone.
Is road.cc sponsored by this lot to post a story a day about them? Of no interest.
Then don't read and comment on it then, the clue is in the headline.
Yes you can tell it's an internet debate as all subtlety of position & debate is lost, so if Zwift eracing is worth a national jersey,why not an ebike championship too? how about a Strava national jersey for how many QoMs/KoMs,miles,average speeds? why not for close pass videos, people like to rate them too, maybe a national jersey for best fashion statement on a bike
Fortunately like all internet arguments its solved by getting on a real bike & cycling out in the real world
Because an eBike gives you motorised assistance, perhaps? There is a difference between using a regular bicycle on a virtual platform and riding an electrically assisted bike, virtually or otherwise. Personally, I feel much more like I have taken part in a sport, and worked a hell of a lot harder, after an hour on Zwift compared to an hour on the road.
Agree with the turbo trainer bit. I feel like I've been out on the roads for two hours after an hour on the turbo. Then again I don't have one of those fancy motor assisted ones that simulates downhills so taking a break in never an option with my lowly Tacx Vortex.
I did think I was in some weird alternate reality when I'd just been on Zwift in the garage and then came into the living room and BT had eracing on. I didn't know it was big enough to get airtime.
I'm sure his boss Bradley Wiggins would be super happy with his comment, after all he competed in the UK Indoor Rowing Champs which is also has Zwift like virtual world which you row against other competitors.
eRacing is not a computer game like a driving simulator, you still have to train and do all the exact same things you do to compete on the Road, Track, Cyclocross etc., the guys and girls give everything in these events, did you see the normalised power they did, it is shocking to pretend this is anything other than another form of cycling.
Lets not get started on the indoor/outdoor debate, as I'm sure British Track Team who we all rejoiced would be overjoyed to say it isn't true cycling.
Do away with the 'e-doping' power boosts,I might agree with you,till then it's like claiming Mario Kart is as demanding as racing an F1 car
I agree completely with the power boost/drafting stuff, that is stupid and should go, they are on Real Bikes (as per your previous comment) and doing Real Efforts with Real Power.
You can put cyclocross, track cycling and mountain biking and any kind of casual road biking in the same category if you think Zwift racing isn’t “real” cycling.
Cycling comes in so many different forms, Zwift racing is a brilliant way to compete without having to travel or risk being involved in early season crashes. It’s not going to replace any other form of cycling, it’s just a new one to add to the list.
The national jersey is just as deserved as any other.
How will you regulate the rules. Doping motor assist someone else riding for you. This is just a marketing
I have the even more lowly Tacx Flow Smart ... and I quite enjoy the downhill stuff. Took great pleasure in a 1:25 ascent of Alpe du Zwift the other night, followed by a 0:12 descent.
Well, since they were all in the same room, taking part in the event at the same time, presumably on turbo trainers provided by the race organisers, that seems as straightforward as in any other race to me.
Matt Stephens, who gets paid by Zwift, in positive Zwift social media post shocker.
It’s a glorified spin bike. I use it regularly during the dark months, but it’s just a glorified spin bike.
I love indoor training and racing. I also like watching outdoor racing.
Its a similar discussion about Ebikes. It allows a section of the population to enjoy many aspects of riding or racing
I've never understood why a lot of activities are considered to be sports, whether they take place inside, outside, in a pool, or in a pub, using engines, animals or powered by human muscle alone. Nowdays even computer games are considered sports. The word 'sport' is a very flexible label blurring the distinctions of pastimes, hobbies and games but as far as I am concerned if people enjoy doing it, it has some competitive element and doesn't involve outright abuse of any animals involved then it can claim to be a sport.
- don't understand why anyone would stay inside to ride there bike instead of outside this is not a sport it's a training tool nothing more. Yes I know about cold weather I'm a Canadian I just think this is anti social. Unlike real cycling which is a social team sport
It's not like it takes away from any other bit of cycling is it ?
The jerseys are only to be worn by their avatars.
If you dont Zwift you won't see it.
Also Zwift can be very sociable. Organised rides that you can chat to your mates on over all continents.
As you know you can't ride outside all of the time and it's a great use of time. Dark cold ice and wind doesn't bother you - and you keep fit so you can rode longer outside. It's a great way to train.
It's not like it takes away from any other bit of cycling is it ?
The jerseys are only to be worn by their avatars.
If you dont Zwift you won't see it.
Also Zwift can be very sociable. Organised rides that you can chat to your mates on over all continents.
As you know you can't ride outside all of the time and it's a great use of time. Dark cold ice and wind doesn't bother you - and you keep fit so you can rode longer outside. It's a great way to train.
It's not like it takes away from any other bit of cycling is it ?
The jerseys are only to be worn by their avatars.
If you dont Zwift you won't see it.
Also Zwift can be very sociable. Organised rides that you can chat to your mates on over all continents.
As you know you can't ride outside all of the time and it's a great use of time. Dark cold ice and wind doesn't bother you - and you keep fit so you can rode longer outside. It's a great way to train.
The internet is a very silly place.