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Zwift has seen its first round of 2017 top graduates emerge from the Zwift Academy to move closer to a professional cycling contract with top ranked men’s and women’s teams.
The 20 semi-finalists, ten men and ten women from around the world, completed a structured program of group rides, races, and workouts over a six week period in the Zwift online cycling environment.
Over 2,100 women competed in the first of the CANYON//SRAM Racing | Zwift Academy, almost double the participants from 2016. Previous CANYON//SRAM Racing | Zwift Academy graduate Leah Thorvilson just completed her first successful season with the CANYON//SRAM Racing this past summer, taking part in races like La Course, by Le Tour de France.
Semi-finalists from the Team Dimension Data | Zwift Academy program rose to the top of a pool of nearly 10,000 cyclists from across the globe. These riders are after a spot on the team’s Continental squad as an Under 23 rider.
CANYON//SRAM Racing | Zwift Academy riders will receive Wahoo Fitness’ KICKR trainers and participants in Team Dimension Data | Zwift Academy will receive Tacx’s Neo Smart trainer as they move toward the next round of riding and racing.
At the close of the semi-final round, six finalists will travel to their respective week-long team camps in late November and early December. One winner from each Academy will be announced at the close of each camp.
