Ep. 75: CEO Petr Samek on Rouvy’s Rise Up the Virtual Cycling Ranks to #2

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 distinctive vision, and the bold decisions that continue to shape its path.

Craving numbers? We ask Samek point-blank about subscriber counts, year-on-year growth, and whether an IPO is on the horizon. Curious about tech? We get into the bold decision to retrofit Zwift’s Cog, Click, and Play hardware for virtual shifting, plus the Rouvy Route Creator that turns your GoPro footage into a user-generated rideable course.

Money on your mind? Samek explains the logic behind Rouvy’s price hike, the $6 million Pale Fire Capital injection, and how Lidl-Trek, Visma | Lease-a-Bike, IRONMAN, and LifeTime Grand Prix partnerships fit the long game.

And because racing matters, we dig into FulGaz integration, amateur and elite cycling esports plans, and whether Rouvy will throw its hat back in the ring to host the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships…AGAIN!

Realism, strategy, and big-picture vision—all straight from the source. Hit play and ride along.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.

• ROUVY and Lidl-Trek Tech Partnership Could Change The Way Pro Cycling Teams Prep Races [Zommunique, Jan. 8, 2024]
• ROUVY Acquires FulGaz and Partners With IRONMAN [Zommunique, Jan. 21, 2025]

Join us for a conversational ride as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar.

Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.