Ep. 90: Team USA’s elite cycling esports racer Nicole Meyer

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 at the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships live final in Abu Dhabi.

Nicole shares what life looks like off the bike, how she balances elite-level racing with real-world family responsibilities, what it takes to compete from the US West Coast at “ungodly” hours, and how she’s developed her gritty racing style into elite success.

We also dive into the shifting landscape of multi-platform racing, the move of USA Cycling Nationals to TrainingPeaks Virtual, the challenges facing the Cycling Esports World Cup, and where Nicole hopes cycling esports goes next.

A fun listen to kick off the fourth year of the Virtual Velo Podcast.

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

• Osborne and McCarthy repeat as cycling esports world champions [Escape Collective, Nov. 2025]
• Cycling esports has a bunch of new rules in 2026: Will the UCI’s gamble pay off? [Escape Collective, Feb. 2026]
• This is what it takes to win a cycling esports World Championship [Escape Collective, Jan. 2026]
• The story of cycling esports’ most dominant season yet [Escape Collective, Feb. 2026]

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.