Zwift Academy Finals
Zwift Academy Finals is a reality competition series where top amateur cyclists battle for a professional contract. Through intense challenges, training sessions, and real-world tests, finalists push their limits for a chance to turn their virtual racing dreams into a pro cycling career.
Seasons
1. The Hunt For The Next Pro Cyclist!
Air Date: 2021-12-15
150,000 riders from around the globe took part in the #zwiftacademy, competing head to head from their own homes in a series of challenges and tests on the virtual roads of Zwift in a bid to become a professional cyclist. Only the very best have made it this far, and now, having analysed all the data, just 10 finalists remain for the finals. Both the men’s and women’s finalists have been flown in from around the world and will be staying in the Zwift Academy beach house in the cycling paradise of Mallorca. They’ll spend five days on the Island battling it out in a series of real-life and virtual challenges all hoping to impress the pro team Coaches and Superstars of CANYON//SRAM women's team and Alpecin-Fenix men's team, however, there are only two life-changing pro team contracts up for grabs.
2. Sprint Leadouts & Full Gas Hill Climbs
Air Date: 2021-12-16
It's day two of the Zwift Academy Finals and our hopefuls take to the roads of Mallorca for the very first time. Can our male finalists hold their own in a sprint lead out against a strong Alpecin-Fenix team including Mathieu van der Poel and Tim Merlier? And how will our female finalists fare under the watchful eye of CANYON//SRAM riders Elise Chabbey & Neve Bradbury? Finally, things hot up as we see our finalists battle it out in a surprise hill climb! #zwiftacademy
3. Racing, Surprise Eliminations & Broken Dreams
Air Date: 2021-12-17
It's day three of the Zwift Academy Finals where our hopefuls take on a turbulent training ride in a Mallorcan storm. And, the gloves are off as we see our finalists enter the race arena, going head to head in a Zwift points race. A prime opportunity for finalists to impress the pro team coaches! #zwiftacademy
4. Head To Head Racing In The Mountains
Air Date: 2021-12-18
It's day four of the Zwift Academy Finals and our pro team judges send our finalists and pros into the mountains taking on Mallorcas toughest climbs. With pro team contracts on the line, there's nowhere to hide as the finalists are pitted against each other racing up the mighty Sa Calobra - 9km of climbing with an average gradient of 7%! #zwiftacademy
5. The Final Decision - Crowning Cycling's Next Superstars
Air Date: 2021-12-19
It's the last day of the Zwift Academy Finals and just six riders remain. For the final challenge, finalists will have to battle it out in the race arena, tackling some of Zwift's toughest climbs in their last chance to impress the Team Judges. The life changing pro team contracts at Alpecin-Fenix and CANYON//SRAM are within touching distance, but only two finalists will walk away victorious. It all comes down to this! #zwiftacademy
1. The Search For The Next Pro Cyclist!
Air Date: 2022-12-13
160,000 riders from around the globe took part in the #zwiftacademy, competing head to head from their own homes in a series of challenges and tests on the virtual roads of Zwift in a bid to become a professional cyclist. Only the very best have made it this far, and now, having analysed all the data, just 10 finalists remain for the finals. Both the men’s and women’s finalists have been flown in from around the world and will be staying in the Zwift Academy in Denia, Spain. They’ll spend five days battling it out in a series of real-life and virtual challenges all hoping to impress the pro team Coaches and Superstars of CANYON-SRAM and Alpecin–Deceuninck, however, there are only two life-changing pro team contracts up for grabs.
2. Pro Skills Test & Full Gas Hill Climb TT!
Air Date: 2022-12-14
After yesterday’s brutal introduction, the Zwift Academy finalists now hit the road as they aim to show the team directors why they deserve to stay and fight for a pro contract! The finalists head out with Mathieu van der Poel and the other pros from Alpecin-Deceuninck and Canyon-SRAM to test their bike handling and group riding skills, before going against the clock in a tough uphill time trial. 💪
3. Who Will Be Eliminated?
Air Date: 2022-12-15
In episode 3 of #zwiftacademy, our finalists face their first double day of challenges, first with some skills tests on the road, before heading indoors to the Zwift Arena to take each other on in an epic Zwift race. This will decide who stays and who will face the first elimination of the series!
4. Finalists Race The Pros... Who Will Win?
Air Date: 2022-12-16
Episode 4 of #zwiftacademy and it's a big one. Our finalists are taking on two of the world's top pros, Mathieu Van der Poel and Pauliena Rooijakkers - who do you think will come out on top?
5. Decision Time! Who Wins The Pro Contract?
Air Date: 2022-12-17
In our final episode, a winner will be crowned - and take the chance of a lifetime, a contract with a pro cycling team.
1. Episode 1
Air Date: 2024-02-20
Episode 1 for Chasing Down A Dream |" Zwift Academy - airing on Eurosport and Discovery Plus from February 20th 2024.
2. Episode 2
Air Date: 2024-02-21
Episode 2 for Chasing Down A Dream |" Zwift Academy - airing on Eurosport and Discovery Plus from February 20th 2024.
3. Episode 3
Air Date: 2024-02-22
Episode 3 for Chasing Down A Dream |" Zwift Academy - airing on Eurosport and Discovery Plus from February 20th 2024.
4. THE FINALE 😬
Air Date: 2024-02-23
Who will secure their place in the peloton next year? After three gruelling episodes its all come down to this! Watch all episodes of Chasing Down A Dream on Eurosport and Discovery Plus from 20th February.
1. The Competition To Find Cycling's Next Superstar
Air Date: 2025-02-15
100,000 cyclists entered—and there's only 2 professional contracts up for grabs! 🚴♂️🔥 Zwift Academy 2025 is here! It's the ultimate cycling competition. After a global search on Zwift for the best cycling talent, the pool has been narrowed to just 4 men and 4 women. They're competing for a spot with @alpecindeceuninck and @canyonsramzondacrypto (women). In this episode, we meet the finalists as they take on their biggest challenge yet—proving their Zwift fitness translates to Europe’s roads! Can they impress the coaches and secure a life-changing contract? Who will come out on top? Dan Lloyd and Si Richardson are here to find out!
2. Have The Finalists Got The Skills To Cut It As A Pro?
Air Date: 2025-02-22
In this episode of Zwift Academy, our finalists take on the ultimate bike-handling test at a karting track to see if their Zwift fitness truly translates to the roads. With Mathieu van der Poel and Zoe Bäckstedt setting benchmark lap times, do our finalists have the bike skills to push their limits without crashing? Will they learn from the pros' line choices and find the perfect balance between technique and speed? With a life-changing contract on the line at @alpecindeceuninck and @canyonsramzondacrypto the stakes couldn’t be higher. 🚴♂️🔥
3. The Pros Apply The Pressure – Which Finalists Crack?
Air Date: 2025-03-01
After a global search on Zwift for the best cycling talent, eight riders were selected to compete for two professional contracts. In Episode 1, we found out who was the strongest and most powerful, while in Episode 2, we tested bike handling skills & watched how our finalists performed against Mathieu van der Poel and Zoe Bäckstedt! Now, we test the riders in a sprint lead-out, racing against the pros, and watch them support the pros in a second challenge behaving as a team. How will they do? And will they be able to set aside their personal ambitions?
4. Who Turns Pro & Who Goes Home?
Air Date: 2025-03-08
Welcome to the Zwift Academy finale! It's time for our @alpecindeceuninck and @canyonsramzondacrypto coaches to decide who will be crowned cycling's next superstar, and who will be going home empty-handed... After a global search on Zwift for the best cycling talent, eight riders were chosen to compete for two professional contracts. They’ve been tested on speed, power, bike handling, racing against pros, and working as a team. Now, it all comes down to the final challenge. How will they perform? And which two will earn the life-changing pro contracts? 🚴♂️🔥
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Rating
8.0/10
Release Date
2021-12-15
Episodes
18 (4 seasons)
Status
Returning Series
Cast
Production Companies
Global Cycling Network