Cycling South Africa announces 2023 UCI Cycling eSports World Championships Team.
CyclingSA is proud to announce Team South Africa for the third edition of the UCI Cycling eSports World Championships, which will take place on 18 February 2023 on Zwift’s all-new Scotland course specially designed for the event. Team South Africa will be sending four men and five women, including experienced multi-discipline rider Jacques Janse van Rensburg and former world champion Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio.
Elite Men:
- Aaron Borrill
- Brad Gouveris
- James Barnes
- Jacques Janse van Rensburg.
Elite Women:
- Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio
- Maude Le Roux
- Catherine Colyn
- Courteney Webb
- Nadine Visser
UCI SELECTION PROCESS
National federations were ranked for men and women and allocated riders on a sliding scale based on the following:
- Number of Zwift community members
- Size and quality of the elite level cycling eSport talent pool
- UCI Road rankings
Following the UCI ranking system, South Africa was awarded two men and three women riders in the 2022 Championships, a further two Wild Card slots were awarded to the women’s team. Cycling eSports is now a UCI-recognised discipline, and CSA chose to select the strongest possible team based on a number of factors:
- Performance in previous world championship events
- Rider’s participation and performance in Premier Division
- Rider’s suitability to the course
- Rider’s Zwift ranking
- Any other top-flight eSports racing results on other platforms besides Zwift
- The result was that the following riders were selected to represent South Africa:
Elite Men:
- Aaron Borill
- Brad Gouveris.
Elite Women:
- Catherine Colyn
- Courteney Webb
- Nadine Visser.
ZWIFT EUROPE AND AFRICA CONTINENTAL QUALIFIER
National Federations were able to qualify additional riders through the Continental Qualifiers held on 13 November 2022. These qualifier races ensured an additional pathway for cycling esports athletes to earn a spot for the World Championships.
The result was that the following riders qualified to represent South Africa:
Elite Men:
- James Barnes
- Jacques Janse van Rensburg.
Cycling South Africa wishes the squad all the best with their preparations and participation in the 2023 UCI Cycling eSports World Championships.
End.