April 1/20 0:52 am - UCI & Zwift Sign Licence Agreement

Posted by Editor on 04/1/20
 

April Fools.

Last Fall, the UCI and online cycling company Zwift announced that they would work together to produce the first Esports Cycling World Championships - Esports World Championships Announced for 2020.

Now, the UCI has unveiled a plan to licence all esport bike racing, meaning riders will need to take out a UCI licence before they can use Zwift for any type of multi-rider online program.

To participate in multi-rider activities, potential participants will have to login with an RFID-equipped UCI racing licence and, eventually, a retinal scan. They will then be able to take part in online races, which will become part of the UCI world calendar, with UCI points awarded.

"As we have seen in the current situation, where cycling events have had to be postponed or cancelled all over the world, there is a real need for an alternate way for cyclists to race," said UCI President David Lappartient. "The UCI has taken the lead in developing a new way to compete."

There has already been a backlash among Zwift users who don't want to have to take out UCI licences just to participate in group rides.