Ep. 81: Mika Söderström – The 2-time National Road Champ That Identifies as an Esports Racer
Sweden’s Mika Söderström is a rare cycling talent. A two-time Swedish Road Race Champion and multiple-time Cycling Esports National Champion, she’s one of the only athletes to hold and defend both jerseys simultaneously—yet she still identifies first and foremost as an esports racer.In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, Mika joins hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker to share how her introduction to cycling—beginning on her father’s smart trainer on Zwift—when coupled with a data-driven strategy, has carried her from the forest paths north of Stockholm to a top-ten finish at the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships and a sprint jersey at the MyWhoosh Championships. Despite these palmares, she balances elite competition with life as a Ph.D. researcher in brain wave biomedicine, where the precision of science complements the discipline of elite sport.Mika offers unique insights into the nuances between road and esports racing, from strategy and preparation to the mental and physical demands of each. She explains why, despite her road victories over some of Sweden’s best Women’s WorldTour pros, she feels more motivated to defend her esports national title. She also opens up about navigating weigh-ins, balancing studies with training, and why she believes the future of esports lies in embracing its own identity rather than imitating the road.And true to her competitive spirit, Mika insists that to be the best you have to beat the best—welcoming all challengers, road pros included.Join Emma and Chris for a wide-ranging conversation with one of esports’ most compelling athletes, bridging intellect, versatility, and passion both on and off the bike, as Mika shares her perspective from the upper echelon of road and esports competition.Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.AusCycling and the Swedish Cycling Federation Crown 2024 Cycling Esports National Champions in Live Event Finals on the Same Day [Zommunique, Mar. 27, 2025]Procycling Stats: Mika SöderströmThe voice of the peloton: TCA has released its annual rider survey [Escape Collective, Sep. 2, 2025]VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025] Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.
--------
47:55
--------
47:55
Ep. 80: From indieVelo to TrainingPeaks Virtual – A conversation with Dr. George Gilbert about philosophy, phase one, new features, and the future
In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, join hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker as they welcome back Dr. George Gilbert for his fifth appearance. In this episode, Dr. Gilbert, now the Vice President of Virtual Platforms at TrainingPeaks, offers an exclusive look at the rapid evolution of the platform since its acquisition and transition to TrainingPeaks Virtual, just 10 months prior.Gilbert opens up about the massive improvements, including a brand-new user interface and a vibrant 3D world, as well as new roads, graphics, and training modes. He discusses how the platform’s vision evolved from the TrainingPeaks philosophy of helping purpose-driven athletes achieve their goals through “deliberate practice”. You’ll hear about how the company measures success not by peak concurrent users or flashy marketing, but by its ability to empower coaches and make athletes faster.The conversation dives deep into the platform’s focus on realistic racing physics, the strategic role of its 10,000 unique bots, and its stance on elite-level competition. Dr. Gilbert emphasizes that TrainingPeaks Virtual is not here to compete with event organizers but to provide the world’s best tools and infrastructure for them to utilize.Finally, get an exclusive sneak peek at a feature that promises to be a game-changer for purposeful training: GPXplore. This new feature will enable athletes to upload any GPX file and instantly ride a fully auto-generated virtual version of any course worldwide. From famous climbs like the Stelvio and Sa Calobra to the punishing cobbles of the Koppenberg, GPXplore promises to transform course recon and race-specific training.Tune in to this compelling episode to discover how TrainingPeaks Virtual is setting itself apart in the world of cycling esports and a new vision of what’s possible for athletes and coaches.Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.New Virtual Cycling Platform indieVelo is Defining the Future of Esports [Zommunique, June 6, 2023]Cycling Esports Platform indieVelo Moves to Open Beta—What it Means For Virtual Cycling Users [Zommunique, June 30,2025]Find the 4 other episodes featuring Dr. Gilbert here [Zommunique]VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025] Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.
--------
52:56
--------
52:56
Ep. 79: Cycling Canada National Esports Champion Tiffany Penner
Power, process, and the pursuit of a World Title. In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, Cycling Canada National Esports Champion Tiffany Penner joins co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker for a wide-ranging conversation about her journey in cycling esports—from her early days in sport to lining up in Abu Dhabi for the 2024 UCI World Championship final.Tiffany shares what life looks like off the bike, how she trains, and what it means to carry the maple leaf into competition. She reflects on the current state of cycling esports in Canada, her goals for the 2025 Worlds, and how she approaches some of the more sensitive aspects of elite-level racing, including weigh-ins and athlete well-being.A thoughtful and powerful presence in the virtual peloton, Tiffany offers a glimpse into what drives her—and where she believes the sport is headed.Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship: Public Qualifier, Semi-Finals, and Finals Details [Zommunique, July 12, 2025]Revamped format revealed for the 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Escape Collective, Aug 14, 2025]UCI Releases National Federation Quotas and Preliminary Format for 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Zommunique, June 13, 2025]USA Cycling 2025 Esports World Championship Selection Criteria Clarified [Zommunique, July 25, 2025]VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025] Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.
--------
32:35
--------
32:35
Ep. 78: Virtually a Niche Within a Niche with Biketerra founder Matt Gibbs
In a landscape dominated by virtual cycling giants like Zwift, MyWhoosh, and Rouvy, why would anyone launch a grassroots platform from scratch? In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, we sit down with Matt Gibbs, the quietly determined founder of Biketerra—a browser-based, community-powered alternative that’s carving out space in a sport already defined by consolidation.We explore the origins of Biketerra, its unique approach to user-generated routes, the surprising way it’s bringing fans closer to events like the Tour de France, and whether there’s a future for independent platforms in a landscape ruled by million-dollar budgets. Matt also opens up about business realities, growth goals, and where he hopes Biketerra will be in a year—and beyond.Is Biketerra a bold vision ahead of its time, or virtually a niche within a niche? Tune in and decide for yourself.Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship: Public Qualifier, Semi-Finals, and Finals Details [Zommunique, July 12, 2025]UCI Releases National Federation Quotas and Preliminary Format for 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Zommunique, June 13, 2025]USA Cycling 2025 Esports World Championship Selection Criteria Clarified [Zommunique, July 25, 2025]VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025] Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.
--------
43:47
--------
43:47
Ep. 77: Matt Smithson talks $1 Million MyWhoosh Championship and UCI Worlds
In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, Matt Smithson, Director of Esports and Game Operations at MyWhoosh, joins co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker for a wide-ranging conversation on the $1 million MyWhoosh Championship and the 2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.We delve into the vision behind the platform’s flagship events, explore how the race formats are evolving, and examine what it takes to deliver world-class esports competition.Matt shares behind-the-scenes insights on hardware verification, weigh-in procedures, broadcast learnings, growth ambitions, and what’s next for MyWhoosh in the rapidly developing virtual racing landscape.Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.2025 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship: Public Qualifier, Semi-Finals, and Finals Details [Zommunique, July 12, 2025]UCI Releases National Federation Quotas and Preliminary Format for 2025 Cycling Esports World Championships [Zommunique, June 13, 2025]All of the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship Smart Trainers Will Be Tested, Standardized, and UCI-Approved [Zommunique, Aug 6, 2024]VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025] Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.
Acerca de The Virtual Velo Podcast p/b TheZommunique.com
Welcome to the Virtual Velo Podcast! Explore the rapidly evolving world of cycling esports with your hosts, Chris Schwenker and Emma Martin. Chris, the cycling esports reporter at Escape Collective, with features in Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, and road.cc, joins forces with Emma, the charismatic cycling commentator for the UCI, MyWhoosh, and Zwift. Together, they bring you the most comprehensive in-depth reporting, expert interviews, and balanced coverage of the emerging discipline of virtual cycling esports across multiple platforms, like Zwift, MyWhoosh, TrainingPeaks Virtual, and more.
España