2025 UCI Esports World Championship field selected
The virtual platform MyWhoosh hosted the semi-finals for the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship on October 3, where the top 20 male and female elite esports riders punched their tickets to the live final in Abu Dhabi on November 15.
The remote event consisted of a three-race modified omnium points format beginning with the stage one uphill elimination followed by a 12 km (7.5 mile) rolling parcours. The qualification round concluded with eight laps of a 1.5 km (0.93 mile) rolling circuit that's ideal for sprinters.
For the women, the current rainbow jersey-wearing Kiwi Kate McCarthy was the top qualifier, followed by 2024 silver medalist Gabriella Guerra of Brazil. The United States and Sweden led the way with five finalists, behind multi-time USA Cycling Esports National Champion Kristen Kulchinsky and two-time esports and road racing National Champion Mika Söderström of Sweden.
In the men's race, two-time and defending champion Jason Osborne of Germany took the top spot, followed by former UAE Team Emirates road racer Michael Vink of New Zealand. Belgium led the way with a squad of six, including Continental road racer Lennert Teugels. 2023 World Champion Bjørn Andreassen of Denmark will be making the trip to Abu Dhabi for the second time alongside USA Cycling Esports National Champion Hayden Pucker.
Notable names not on the starting line were 2024 men's silver medalist Lionel Vujasin of Belgium and the women's bronze medalist, Kathrin Fuhrer of Switzerland.
