This is a sponsored article, brought to you in association with Zwift
Look around the professional peloton today and you’ll see swathes of riders raised on the sport from a young age, before racing at a high level through their teens and eventually turning pro. More often than not that’s the case, but there are exceptions.
Exceptions like marathon runner Leah Thorvilson, forced to change sports in her mid-30s after being told she couldn’t run again. Or Tanja Erath, a triathlete who began a switch to cycling full-time just two years ago at the age of 26. Then there’s 21-year-old Ollie Jones, who converted to cycling in 2016 due to injuries suffered during his previous career in speed skating.
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They do have one thing in common though — all three came through the Zwift Academy, a new way to discover pro-level talent via the multiplayer online training program. A growing number of real-life professionals — including Mark Cavendish, Adam Yates and hundreds of others — use Zwift for training, but since 2016 Zwift Academy has opened to door to the pro ranks to everyone.
August will see the start of Zwift Academy’s third season. A series of workouts, group rides and races whittles down a field of thousands to the best man and woman, both of whom are awarded a one-year pro contract with the Dimension Data for Qhubeka U23 team and CANYON//SRAM Racing respectively.
The first graduates from Zwift Academy, Thorvilson, Jones and Erath go to show how inclusive it is, with their wide age ranges proof that age is no barrier for a place at the top table.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/zwift-academy-medal-factory-of-the-future
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