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VeloNews article on the UCI esports world championships on Zwift
Last Post 12/28/2020 06:12 PM by Bill H.. 12 Replies.
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eurochien
Posts:163
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| 12/06/2020 10:19 AM |
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This is from VeloNews (https://www.velonews.com/news/road/explainer-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-uci-esports-world-championships-on-zwift/)
"Wait, why the heck are they holding a world championships for video game bike racing?
Fair question. Look, I realize that to the uninitiated, Zwift and esports and virtual bike racing seems silly. To those of us who have tried it, watched the races live, or regularly participate in virtual cycling events, esports is an adequate replacement for the 100-proof real stuff. And throughout 2020, we’ve all needed to find a replacement for IRL (in real life) bike racing. It should come as no surprise that participation on Zwift and other virtual platforms skyrocketed this year due to the loss of mass-participant events to the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe Zwift’s users have in total pedaled the equivalent distance from Earth to the outer rings of Saturn since the platform’s 2014 launch. It should also come as no surprise that elite esports took an enormous leap forward this year, with the pro series on Zwift garnering attention and attracting bonafide stars of the sport.
So, my real answer to the naysayers is: Sorry, folks. The virtual cycling genie is out of the bottle, and it’s not going back inside anytime soon. You can try it, or not. But complaining about the merits of virtual cycling will, at some point, make you the proverbial old man yelling at a cloud."
Yeah, I guess that makes me a naysayer. I don't have any interest whatsoever watching a virtual, computer animated rendition of people riding their trainers, however hard they may be riding. I understand they're trying hard to promote this as the second-best thing to the real racing, but to me it doesn't even come close. Weather, road hazards, bumping elbows, where are those elements in a Zwift "race"? Forget about the landscapes as seen from a TdF or the Giro helicopter or motorcycle. I clicked on their Tour of the Gila Criterium just to see what that was all about (I raced there several times as a cat 3/masters back in the day) and got bored within 20 seconds and turned it off. |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 12/07/2020 10:19 AM |
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"To those of us who have tried it, watched the races live, or regularly participate in virtual cycling events, esports is an adequate replacement for the 100-proof real stuff." You nailed it.
I want to maintain my form and hopefully come out of winter stronger and with these apps and my smart trainer, I will. |
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eurochien
Posts:163
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| 12/07/2020 01:38 PM |
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Posted By Hot Habanero on 12/07/2020 10:19 AM
"To those of us who have tried it, watched the races live, or regularly participate in virtual cycling events, esports is an adequate replacement for the 100-proof real stuff." You nailed it.
He nailed it. I am on the naysayers' side... Unfortunately I couldn't figure out a way to format my post so it all came out in one big paragraph, but Fred Dreier from VeloNews is all for it. I personally think a UCI esports world championship is bs. Who in their right mind would WATCH something like that??? I can understand participating (not my bag, but ok,sure) but watching that "race" to me is absurd. Viewership for "real " cycling has been declining for years, I don't think e-cycling is going to revive that. I feel sorry for the commentators and cycling journalists who have to pretend to be excited about a virtual race because there hasn't been much else going on. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 12/07/2020 02:25 PM |
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I watched a couple of the virtual races (Flanders, etc) during lockdown simply because there was nothing else...it was OK, but hardly something I would make a steady diet of.
As for the eWorld Champs.....pfffft. The fact they are awarding a rainbow jersey for this is ridiculous, IMO.
I'll do the occasional race on Zwift for fitness and to challenge myself, but it is hardly something I take so seriously. PLus, there are a host of issues with cheating on Zwift (weight / height doping, calibration issues, etc). |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 12/07/2020 03:32 PM |
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Wasn't the virtual Flanders race like 30 kms?
I could see a future for virtual racing but in order for there to be a future they should stop pretending for this to have any relationship to road racing. Once you invite those kind of comparisons the virtual thing can only be a letdown. The virtual thing should leverage the fact that you can make things happen that would not be possible in real world. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 12/07/2020 04:06 PM |
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I just laugh and laugh at the FB Zwift posts about sandbaggers, weight dopers, non-calibrated trainers... on and on and on! Like a bunch of junior high school girls with their pettiness.
I tried to watch some race or another... dullsville. I'd rather pull out one of my old WCF videos 
I've done a few races on Zwift- it's ok for something indoors |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 12/08/2020 11:25 AM |
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Wasn't the virtual Flanders race like 30 kms?
Yeah, something like that....again, it worked as a fix when you couldn't get anything else, but I can't really see tuning in to something like the ongoing Zwift Racing Series on a regular basis (especially when you don't know the riders).
I just laugh and laugh at the FB Zwift posts about sandbaggers, weight dopers, non-calibrated trainers... on and on and on!
I'll admit to occasionally getting frustrated at what I can see is blatant cheating (and I only race rarely), but then I check myself and say "whatever dude....i'm more than happy to meet you on the road someday."
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 12/09/2020 10:16 AM |
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| What I meant was that virtual cycling is great for training. As for racing or watching others race on virtual courses? Fuck that. I've got plenty of other things I'd rather be doing.
I agree about feeling sorry for the cycling press attempting to make hay about virtual races. I can't imagine ever being truly excited or passionate about that, but then again they have little else to cover as you mentioned. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 12/09/2020 10:23 AM |
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I watched some of the coverage today in the background at the office.....I have never heard of either winner, not did I know any of the names of the podium finishers in the men's race.
Meh.... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 12/13/2020 12:23 PM |
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Just had a thought while spending time on Zwift this morning. I don't believe it takes into account altitude. In comparing my wattage numbers on certain Zwift segments to a few years ago when I lived at 2,000' (3,300' feet LESS,) I'm lower yet I know for almost absolute certainty that I'm in better shape and stronger. It stands to reason that altitude has sapped 2-4% and everything I've read about how altitude effects power supports this. But Zwift doesn't take this into consideration so someone living in Colombia is at a distinct disadvantage to someone powering away on the Florida coast.
Thoughts? This would make it a very uneven playing field. In real world races, everyone is racing under the same conditions. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 12/13/2020 05:13 PM |
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I had similar thoughts on one of the Zwift climbs... I'm breathing air at 1,200' not 6,000'
Does that make me a Zwift cheater? |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 12/13/2020 05:46 PM |
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| Clearly 6ix needs to invest in an oxygen tent and dale in an airtight panic room that one can suck the air out of. |
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mondonico
Posts:158
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| 12/28/2020 06:12 PM |
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| Watching someone racing on an app does not push any buttons for me. But then there are video gamers who make over million a year and are watched all the time. Who'd of thunk. Not me. |
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