Ep. 44: Anti-Cheating Esports Researcher Dr. Andrew Richardson and the 2024/25 Zwift Elite Race Book Breakdown

The Virtual Velo Podcast p/b TheZommunique.com

In Episode 44 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, hosts Chris and Emma welcome Andrew Richardson, Ph.D., a foremost anti-doping cycling esports research associate at Newcastle University, UK.

The scientific review "Zwift's Anti-Doping Policy: Is it Open to Cheating?" published in the International Journal of Esports in early 2022 was one of the first to tackle the controversial topic of cheating in cycling esports. "Perceptions of Cheating and Doping in E-Cycling," published in Sport in October 2023, challenges the perceptions of a cheating culture in cycling esports.

Dr. Richardson shares his perspective on the rapid rise of doping in cycling esports, offering suggestions to curb the widespread issue, appropriate punishments, and the governance model necessary for Olympic recognition.

Zwift has revealed the 2024/25 Elite Community Racing Season details.

Chris and Emma will discuss the exciting changes and other developments in the fast-paced digital world of cycling esports, breaking down what they mean for the athletes, community, and fans.

Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode. We’ve curated a selection of articles that inspired our conversation, providing you with exclusive insights.

• Is Zwift's Anti-Doping Policy enough to eradicate cheating culture? [CyclingNews, April 22, 2022]
• Perceptions of Cheating and Weight Doping in Virtual Cycling: A Multi-Study Review [Zommunique, February 2, 2024]
• The Olympic Esports Games set for 2025: here's what we know about the event [Cycling Weekly, January 31, 2024]
• Flamme Rouge Racing (FRR) Invites You To Be One of the First to Recon the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship Courses and Formats [Zommunique, June 15, 2024]

Join us for a conversational ride where we not only lend a voice to the digital athlete but also bridge the gap between athlete and avatar. We invite you to be part of this exciting exploration of the future of virtual sport and digital athlete engagement!