Rider Perspective: 2024 UCI eSports World Championships in Abu Dhabi

By Zach Nehr

Five days before the UCI eSports World Championships, I was packing my bags for the trip of a lifetime. For the first time in history, the eSports World Championships were being held in person. I’d meet many of my teammates and competitors for the first time, face-to-face.

We’ve been racing each other for years, but always from different parts of the world. It was often the morning in New Zealand as I warmed up in the American evening. When my 3:00 am alarm went off for SRC, my European competitors had already two coffees and breakfast.

In Abu Dhabi, we would be lining up to race on Saturday evening, under the lights and in front of a massive crowd. It would be an unforgettable experience, but first, we had to get there.

Traveling to Abu Dhabi was interesting for everyone. Some riders faced cancelled flights and lost bikes, but I only had a 14-hour flight from Chicago to the UAE. I’d been to Abu Dhabi before—in early 2024—so I knew what to expect when it came to the jet lag. I fell asleep at 6:00 pm on the first night in Abu Dhabi and slept wonderfully for 12 hours.

After a few days adjusting to Abu Dhabi, it was time to start preparing for the World Championships. All of the riders traveled to the race venue on Friday, a little more than 24 hours before the event. For the first time, we were able to see the massive stage, lights, sound, and production that MyWhoosh had put together. As soon as we walked into the venue, our jaws hit the floor.

After a brief meeting, we were all able to get on stage and test out our bikes. MyWhoosh took care of everything, which meant that us riders never had to lift a finger. If we needed to adjust our shifting, the MyWhoosh team was there to help. When someone wanted to swap their cassette, a team of MyWhoosh mechanics rushed straight over. If we needed anything at all such as a water bottle or towel, the MyWhoosh team had it taken care of.

From a rider’s perspective, the experience couldn’t have been any better. The last thing that you want on race day is to stress about your bike or a small piece of equipment—MyWhoosh had us taken care of from start to finish.

After the pre-race checks, we all went back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep. The next morning was the weigh-in, and that was certainly a sight to see. Most of the men’s riders were in the sauna for 30-60 minutes ahead of the morning weigh-in. There was still 12 hours to go until the race, so most of us believed we had plenty of time to rehydrate and refuel.

It was quite a memorable experience that morning. I’d been racing against these guys for years, but never even seen them in person. Now, here we were, sitting in a sauna together in Abu Dhabi, having a chat on the morning of the UCI eSports World Championships.

With the weigh-in done, all the riders could focus on fueling properly for the biggest race of the year. The women went to the venue around 3:00 pm, while the men drove over at 5:00 pm. The music was pumping through the speakers as we walked backstage, past Tadej Pogačar, Peter Sagan, and so many others in the audience.

After the men’s pre-race meeting, we had time to go out into the seats and watch the women’s UCI eSports World Championships. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience, watching the best riders in the world battle it out until the final sprint.

As soon as the women’s race ended, the men went backstage to prepare for their race. I knew exactly what to do, so I took my time getting my things ready. Moments before a race like this are so fascinating because you can see how different riders react. Some are very talkative and relaxed, cracking jokes and slapping each other on the bike. Others are ultra-focused: headphones on, music blasting, and a “don’t talk to me” look on their face.

I am somewhere in the middle, joking a bit, but keeping quiet and trying to relax my breath. In these moments, I really try to take it all in. For a moment, I will take off my headphones, let my thoughts settle, and take a long look around. I’m at the first-ever in-person UCI eSports World Championships.

As soon as we walked out on stage, we slipped our shoes on and began warming up. Team USA had a plan for Stage 1, and I was laser focused on my pre-race preparation. Once the race began, we put our plan into action and drifted off the back of the main group. When I saw the rest of the riders coasting on stage, I knew our plan had worked to perfection. Team USA went 1-2-3 in Stage 1, the perfect start to the World Championships.

In Stage 2, I went on the attack for the sprint points, and it was surreal to hear the crowd and commentators cheering my name. I’m so used to racing at home that it was quite a shock to hear the noise in the arena.

My legs ran out of gas in Stage 3, but I had the privilege of watching the race finale right alongside my competitors. I looked across the stage in awe—the lights, cameras, sound, and energy were incredible. All the riders left that stage with a smile on their face.

As the race concluded, riders collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. Those that had the energy to stand walked across the stage to hug their friends and competitors the same. This moment brought so much joy to my heart because we were all happy for each other. There were no bitter feelings or frustrations—we were all so happy to be there and to have left it all out on the bike. The 2024 UCI eSports World Championships was over, but it was something that we will never forget.

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 About the Author

Zach is the Verification & Coaching Manager at MyWhoosh, as well as a freelance writer, professional cyclist, and the owner of ZNehr Coaching. He writes about everything related to bikes and endurance sports, from product reviews and advertorials to feature articles and pro data analytics. You can find Zach racing the Sunday Race Club on MyWhoosh every weekend.