Cycling esports is on course to become a globally enjoyed genre which could potentially rival the ‘real-life’ version of the sport in the future. From the United States to New Zealand and elsewhere, athletes are clamoring to jump on a bandwagon that could become hugely lucrative.
How Esports Cycling Became Popular
The UCI Cycling eSports World Championships kicked off in 2020 and surprisingly gained traction among real-life riders and virtual enthusiasts. Technology allows athletes to compete on smart trainers and virtual courses where they face the harsh challenges they would encounter in a real-life scenario. The 2025 edition of the UCI Cycling eSports World Championships was a cracker. The competition was held in Abu Dhabi for the first time, and was an exciting vision into the future of cycling.
Different phases combined sprints, climbs and crit-style races that pushed players to the maximum. It was quite the spectacle for fans of cycling and eSports. New Zealand cyclist Kate McCarthy stole the show by winning the women’s tournament. McCarthy bounced back from a disqualification earlier in the year to deliver a career-defining performance. Intriguingly, her participation in the prestigious event garnered plenty of attention from the betting industry in her homeland.
Betting on esports is on the rise
Wagering on cycling eSports has become hugely popular over the last couple of years. People love the competition and want to punt on the outcomes. Many betting operators in New Zealand capitalized on the interest by offering an extensive range of markets while McCarthy was competing in the competition. NZ has a boisterous and youthful population of cycling lovers, and they were eager to show their support for the Kiwi rider by wagering on her to emerge victorious. Online betting in New Zealand is rampant and the opportunity to engage with a new genre proved to be an enticing proposition for Kiwi bettors.
Betting helps bring new eSports followers into the ecosystem. Revenue from wagering also flows into sponsoring competitions and esports teams. Wagering on eSports is a form of entertainment that is intriguingly different from the excitement traditional sports delivers. The eSports betting experience can often be more immersive. This interest in eSports betting has added to the popularity of cycling esports, giving it more legitimacy to the public. With more people tuning in to watch and bet on virtual cycling competitions, the industry is well on course to become a massive global success.
A global sport with growing appeal
While McCarthy was making New Zealand proud with her performance, stars from other countries showed they are also elite riders and deserve to be talked about. American cyclists Hayden Pucker and Neal Fryett competed fiercely on the virtual stage and impressed fans. Their appearance at the event shows that eSports is taking root in the US. Pucker is already a household name in US eSports and showed the audience the best of his ability. He embraced the challenge and finished in fifth place.
Zwift games champion Fryett did not have the best of races but still recorded a respectable 14th-place finish. He will hope to bounce back in subsequent competitions. For budding esports cyclists, the event was a chance to prove their mettle against other top riders without being bankrolled by big sponsorships. People who do not have the financial resources to compete in traditional racing cycling events can now show what they are made of virtually. Over the coming years, athletes from even more diverse backgrounds and locations will compete with the elites as esports becomes more accessible.
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Wow, cycling esports is really blowing up! It’s cool to see how technology is making sports more accessible and exciting. Definitely something to keep an eye on!