The Virtual Velo Podcast p/b TheZommunique.com

What can a small, densely packed island nation teach the rest of the world about the future of virtual cycling? In Episode 91 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris Schwenker and Emma Martin speak with Yi Jun, founder of Virtual Cycling Singapore (VSG), about building a structured, community-driven virtual cycling program in one of the most space-constrained places on earth. With limited room to ride,...

The  Virtual Velo Podcast  is back for 2026, and we’re kicking off the new year with one of cycling esports’ rising talents: Team USA’s Nicole Meyer. In Episode 90, co-hosts Chris Schwenker and Emma Martin sit down with Nicole to explore her rapid climb from her first races in 2024 to top performances in the Zwift World Series, MyWhoosh Sunday Race Club, and a hard-earned spot representing the USA...

Paweł Ścierski didn’t coast into cycling esports. He arrived at full speed, beating established names and forcing the community to take notice. In Episode 89 of the  Virtual Velo Podcast , Chris Schwenker sits down with the young Polish rider to trace his path from national-level mountain bike racing to the sharp end of elite cycling esports competition, unpack the rapid performance gains that rai...

Fresh off his third UCI Cycling Esports World Championship, Jason Osborne returns to the  Virtual Velo Podcast  for one of his most open conversations yet. From an extended stay in Abu Dhabi — part training camp, part cultural deep dive — to settling back into life as a full-time esports professional, Jason pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to stay at the top of a sport still defini...

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 ingen...

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...

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...

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...

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 sto...

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 sha...

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...

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. Gil...

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 li...

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 or...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , Matt Smithson, Director of Esports and Game Operations at MyWhoosh, joins co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker for a wide-ranging conversation on the $1 million MyWhoosh Championship and the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. We delve into the vision behind the platform’s flagship events, explore how the race formats are evolving, and e...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome Matthew Lefthand—the newly crowned world-record holder for the greatest virtual cycling distance in 24 hours—and Larry Oslund, Records Chair of the World Ultra Cycling Association (WUCA). Lefthand’s transformation from 280 pounds to elite ultra-cyclist is nothing short of inspirational. Just two years a...

In a space dominated by gamified worlds and high-profile competition, one platform has quietly carved out its own lane—grounded in realism, driven by innovation, and growing on its own terms. In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker sit down with Rouvy CEO Petr Samek for a rare, wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about the platform’s origins, its d...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , guest co-host award-winning cycling journalist Aaron Borrill and Chris Schwenker sit down with Ross Burrage, co-founder of Uganda’s Masaka Cycling Club Foundation. Ross shares how a grassroots cycling initiative in rural East Africa is transforming lives — breaking generational poverty, challenging gender norms, and unlocking elite-level talent. We ex...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker sit down with grimpeur extraordinaire Illi Gardner—multi-time British and European Hill Climb Champion, two-time Everesting world record holder, and the 2024 Zwift Games Climb Champion. With over 10,000 climbing QOMs to her name, including iconic climbs like Ventoux, Tourmalet, Galibier, Zoncolan, Stelvio, and...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome  Australian Cycling Esports National Champions Kate Trdin and Josh Harris  to discuss their standout seasons and dive into the highs and lows of the 2025 AUS Cycling Esports National Championships. Kate and Josh share candid reactions to the move to MyWhoosh, the innovative hybrid racing format, and the...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome  Neal Fryett —one of the fastest finishers in elite cycling esports and a rider who’s quietly built one of the sport’s most impressive palmarès. A standout for Team USA, Neal has paired raw sprint power with sharp tactical instincts to claim the Sprint Stage at the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Champio...

Sweden is setting the bar for national federations in cycling esports—and at the center of it all is Conny Björnehall,  Chairman of Ecycling for the Swedish Cycling Federation . In this episode of the  Virtual Velo Podcast , Conny shares how Sweden has quickly become a global force in the discipline, from sending eight riders to the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship Final in Abu Dhabi, t...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome Michael Vink, a rider who’s made his mark on the WorldTour and the virtual world of cycling esports. After a successful stint with UAE Team Emirates, Michael’s journey to the pro ranks was anything but conventional—he broke into the pros racing on MyWhoosh, and his decision to embrace cycling esports ha...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome cyclist, nutrition coach, and influencer Kate MacLeod. With her diverse athletic background, spanning road cycling, gravel, and esports, Kate brings invaluable insights into the evolving world of cycling esports. Tune in as Kate shares her expertise on performance nutrition, highlighting key differences...

In this episode of  The Virtual Velo Podcast , we sit down with  Dean Cunningham , an elite cycling esports racer for  Restart pb Alex Coh Coaching , event organizer, and outspoken leader in the community. Known for his no-nonsense approach and deep passion for the sport, Dean isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. We dive into his  cycling esports journey , his motivations for stepping into  t...