Ep. 40: Ex-Zwift Performance Team Employee Flint McInnis

In Episode 40 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris and Si welcome former Zwift employee Flint McInnis for an insightful, forward-thinking conversation on the state of racing on the platform. Flint, a Zwift competition team member and forum moderator, played a vital role in developing the Zwift Racing Score before being affected by Zwift’s recent restructuring.

During the episode, Flint shares insights into the development of the Zwift Racing Score and the challenges that hindered its implementation and delayed other platform features. He gives his opinion on the commitment to racing, cheating, the lost UCI Cycling Esports World Championship bid, and why he feels “Zwift should just pick a direction and go with it!”

Following the interview, Chris and Si had an in-depth discussion about several esports breaking news stories, including:

• UCI’s release of National Federation Quotas for the World Championship Semi-Final
• UCI’s Esports Director Michael Rogers’ departure
• In-Person Live Event Finals in Sweden, Denmark, France, and Australia
• Zwift Games Broadcast Viewership and Community Engagement
• and is Zwift planning to roll out a VR headset?

Check out the articles cited in the episode for an even deeper dive.

• UCI Tells Nations How Many Riders They Can Bring To The 2024 Esports World Championship and Other Details [Zommunique, March 31, 2024]
• Michael Rogers Steps Away From Role as UCI Head of Cycling Esports [Zommunique, April 3, 2024]
• Meet the 2024 AusCycling Esports National Champion Kate Trdin [Zommunique, April 3, 2024]
• AusCycling and the Swedish Cycling Federation Crown 2024 Cycling Esports National Champions in Live Event Finals on the Same Day [Zommunique, March 27, 2024]
• Danish Federation’s Cycling Esports Leadership is an Example for NGBs [Zommunique, February 28, 2024]

Clip in and take a conversational ride with us as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar!