Zwift has launched the 2024 Zwift Academy. The programme is Zwift’s talent identification pathway, designed to uncover hidden talent and support their development through the professional ranks.
Academy alumni include Jay Vine and Neve Bradbury, with Bradbury fresh from winning the Queen Stage, Young Rider Classification, and finishing third overall at the Giro d’Italia Women.
Registration for the 2024 Zwift Academy opened on July 15, with the program running from August 5 to November 3. The program is open for a longer window compared to previous years, allowing aspiring riders greater flexibility to optimize their training and racing calendars to peak for the challenge the Zwift Academy provides.
In August to November, workouts will test and challenge participants. Workouts will be available on demand, providing riders with control over their programmes. Each workout is designed to push Zwifters, and to find their limits. In addition to the testing workouts, riders will also need to compete in two race scenarios in order to complete the campaign. The races will help provide insight into how riders deploy their physical capabilities in a racing environment.
“Zwift Academy has consistently delivered high-performing riders to Alpecin – Deceuninck,” said Alpecin – Deceuninck’s Performance Director, Kristof de Kegel.
“From Jay Vine in 2020, to Luca Vergalito, who this year moved to the WorldTour, the standard has increased every year and we’re very excited to discover who will join the team in 2025.”
Dan Fleeman, Performance Director at CANYON//SRAM said “We crafted the Zwift Academy programme this year to really push the boundaries for all entrants, to take all riders through a series of workouts that mirror the demands of WorldTour level racing, based on real WorldTour data.
“We know the riders that earn the contracts with both Alpecin – Deceuninck and CANYON//SRAM will have extremely bright careers as professional cyclists ahead of them.”
Zwift Academy is open to everyone and last year saw over 100,000 riders take part. All Zwifters who complete the workouts and races will earn exclusive in-game unlocks including the Zwift Academy kit after the second activity. After all Zwift Academy activities are finished Zwifters unlock the ZA bike paint job. One lucky Zwift Academy finisher will also win a Canyon Aeroad bike in Zwift Academy colours.
First launched in 2016, Zwift Academy has built its profile as a talent identification programme with a history of finding young riders ready to take the next step in their racing careers. Female participants will have the chance to earn a contract with CANYON//SRAM Generation, following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Maddie Le Roux.
Male participants will vie for a contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck’s development team, joining last year’s winner Louis Kitzki. These development teams create a formal pathway to the WorldTour, such as Zwift Academy 2022 winner Luca Vergallito’s promotion to the development team after just one year.
