Ep. 41: The Virtual Velo Podcast Ushers In a New Era

In Part One of Episode 41 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris and Si welcome elite cycling esports racer and award-winning cycling journalist Aaron Borrill. "Captain South Africa" shares how Cycling South Africa supports their National Cycling Esports team as a unique cycling discipline and how he plans to help get his teammates ready for the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on MyWhoosh.

Aaron's deep knowledge of the sport and journalistic reputation was invaluable to the collaborative "VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2024" panel. Alongside fellow panelists Chris and Si, they explored the inspiration, process, and engagement that propelled "The List" to success. This celebration of the athletes and individuals who've made their mark on cycling esports was a genuine team effort. They also outlined their plans for further enhancements in 2025, inviting the audience to be part of the journey to make 'The List' even better.

In the Second Part, Chris says an emotional bye to Si and hi to his new co-host, Emma Martin, as they usher in a new era of the Virtual Velo Podcast. She shares her background as a national-level MTB and cyclocross racer, British Cycling MTB commission member, and her early days as a virtual cyclist and women's-only event pioneer on Zwift.

She transitioned to broadcasting after an academic career as an Associate Dean of Research. Her impressive list of productions includes multiple UCI World Cycling Championships and European Championships events, the Women's Tour of Iceni and Tour of Boudica on Zwift, and live commentating for the British Cycling National Crit Series. Alongside co-host Matt Payne, cycling esports fans can hear her every Sunday commentating MyWhoosh's flagship race series, the Sunday Race Club.

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

• UCI Releases 2024 Cycling Esports World Championship Race Book Clarifying Event Details [Zommunique, May 6, 2024]
• 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]
• UCI in Transition: Examining the Governing Body’s Contribution, Relevance, and Evolving Role—Does Cycling Esports Need The UCI? [Zommunique, April 10, 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!