Two contracts that change lives.Trip inside Zwift Academy 2021

In this 2021 edition of the Zwift Academy, we had the opportunity to be one of the two media around the world (together with the French magazine Cycle) to be able to observe in first person this unique event.

Mallorca was the dream scenario in which we could accompany during the last week of the finals, the ten finalists (five men and five women) and the professional teams Alpecin-Fenix and Canyon // Sram.

We live a fierce struggle among the participants who, in a display of humanity and sports spirit, became a small family well linked from the first moment.

Zwift Academy, what is it?

If you do not know the concept of this event you can see in this article all the details of this year.In short, it is a talent collection program, through an international competition carried out through the ZWIFT application.

About 150.000 people started in this adventure, of which only five men and five women were selected for the final event: five days in Mallorca training and competing with each other and rolling with two professional teams.

For the first time in this edition the male and female categories were combined and they all shared the camp for five days doing pineapple.

The Zwift Academy winners award

Ah, haven't I said it yet?Well, it turns out that the winners were neither more nor less than a contract with a World Tour team, starting the season in January 2022.Alpecin-Fenix in the case of men and Canyon // sram in the case of women.

Teaching MySelf How to Pickle Okra.This friday night is too live.#YEEEEEE
— Lauren. Sat Jun 22 03:42:59 +0000 2013

This is practically turning a dream into reality;Can you imagine how the kids have left life during these days?And how indelible this experience for them has been.

Zwift Academy finalists

During the final week a reality was recorded that you can see in this link and in which - as in all good reality - and to the surprise of the participants, there were eliminations in two successive days.In the end, there were three living participants in the competition:

Final women Zwift Academy 2021

FINAL MEN ZWIFT ACADEMY 2021

Here we leave you a video in which we talk to some of them on the day before the grand final:

Maud Ouderman, winner of the Zwift Academy Road 2021

In the female category he was proclaimed winner - and therefore he made one of the professional contracts - the cyclist Maud Oudeman who already pointed ways to proclaim himself champion.He was "cyclist of the day" on several occasions, and in the last 16km test in roller and via Zwift left no option at the climb.What does not mean that Rachel Wales put the complicated things until the end.

Here you have their impressions before and after the last test, with the nerves to the skin of leather:

Alex Bogna, winner of the Zwift Academy Road 2021

Among the boys the thing was more tight, but Alex Bogna stood out in the imaginary snow of the mountains during an Epic Kom.A tremendous climbing that, together with his great charisma, served to convince the jury and his new team, the alpecin-fenix.

If you want to meet him a little more, here you have it in a double interview before and after the final 16km.We had the opportunity to chat with him, just moments after proclaiming himself winner.

With this event, Zwift continues to climb in cycling and increasing the recognition of both fans and professionals.An application that has been much more useful than for entertainment or a tool to cope.Zwift is the definitive tool for training and improving cycling throughout the year.