The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and virtual cycling platform MyWhoosh have jointly announced the official format for the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. This upcoming fifth edition of the event is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2025, and will be hosted at the Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Building on the foundation of the 2024 championships, which were also held in Abu Dhabi, the 2025 edition introduces a refreshed competition structure. The event will adopt a three-stage race format for both semi-finals and finals, combining virtual and physical elements in a hybrid setting. The competition will be available for global viewing through live broadcasts on the UCI and MyWhoosh YouTube channels.
The road to the finals will begin with the semi-finals on October 3, 2025. A total of 150 male and 150 female riders will compete in these semi-finals, with 70 percent of the spots awarded through national federation qualification races. The remaining 30 percent will be filled through public events organized by MyWhoosh. Additionally, a select number of wild card entries will be included to complete the final lineup. Ultimately, the finals will showcase 20 men and 20 women competing for the world title.
The competition’s unique three-stage format is designed to push athletes across a range of cycling abilities. The first stage, “Sprinter’s Paradise,” involves eight laps on a 1.5-kilometer circuit, where riders earn points through intermediate and final sprints. The second stage, “Punchers’ Playground,” spans 12 kilometers and features steep virtual climbs, two sprint sections, and bonus points awarded for climbing efforts and a final sprint. The final stage, “Last Rider Standing,” is a 7.2-kilometer uphill elimination race with 554 meters of virtual elevation gain. Riders are progressively eliminated at checkpoints until one remains to claim the highest points available. The cumulative points from all three stages will determine which riders advance from the semi-finals and ultimately decide the men’s and women’s world champions in the finals.
UCI President David Lappartient emphasized the elite level of the competition, noting that the rigorous qualification system and challenging race structure ensure that only the best riders will reach the finals in Abu Dhabi. He also praised MyWhoosh’s innovation in shaping a race format that offers no room for error and fully showcases the potential of virtual cycling.
Matthew Smithson, Director of Esports and Game Operations at MyWhoosh, added that the new format is carefully crafted to challenge top competitors, captivate audiences, and reinforce virtual cycling’s legitimacy on the international stage.
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