Free-to-use virtual cycling platform MyWhoosh today announced its 2023 Championship series — and big money is on the line. The race series will offer the “largest prize pot in e-sport cycling history to date”: $1 million.
You read it right. Seven digits. You’ll need 8 days to finish the race, including one rest day.
Like the Tour de France, the action starts on the flats for the sprinters and cranks up the elevation for the climbers each day. Participants can enter individually or as a member of a team. MyWhoosh will elect and deny riders for the race based on the performance data they submit and then categorize racers based on performance tiers.
The final selection will consist of 120 of the “most competitive” riders, according to MyWhoosh protocols. Prizes will disburse to general classification winners and stage winners.
Each stage will feature a new course. Men’s stages will be approximately 70 km (44 miles), and women’s stages will be approximately 50 km (31 miles). No 2 days will be the same, MyWhoosh said. Featured segments include the Tour of Al’Ula, Tour of Arabia, Australia, and Tour of Colombia. Each road stage will range in distance and elevation gain/loss, and day 4 will consist of a time trial.
If you want to win, you better bring the noise. Racers will find themselves matched up against grinders like Michael Vink, UAE Team Emirates pro. Vink spoke about the efficacy of MyWhoosh in a press release.
“I’ve experienced first-hand the opportunities that success on MyWhoosh can offer amateur riders. And this race series is a chance to not only secure an incredible prize pot but for riders to shine on a platform that is recognized by the UCI World Tour,” Vink said. “I’m excited to go toe to toe with the participants.”
Signups for the race series open on Feb. 27, ahead of the races beginning on March 30.
To register, find more information, and view prize purse details, go to the MyWhoosh website.
