In Episode 52 of the Virtual Velo Podcast, Chris and Emma welcome Great Britain’s cycling esports superstar, Lou Bates. From a bustling corner of her Zurich hotel lobby, Emma found a coveted Wi-Fi signal and a short window of time. She’s there putting words to the action, calling numerous 2024 Road and Para-Cycling World Champions for the BBC. [Please excuse the sound quality.]

Will Lou be one of them at this year’s Cycling Esports World Championships? After a technology mishap ended her quest for the rainbow bands in 2023, the powerful puncheur is on a mission in 2024. She blitzed the semi-finals to take the top spot and punch her ticket to the live event Cycling Esports World Championship Final in Abu Dhabi.

Lou shares the wild, emotional roller coaster ride and explains why, even if it rolls to a stop, it wouldn’t change who she is or her love for cycling.

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.

• 2024 UCI Cycling Esports Finalists Punch Their Tickets to the Live Event in Abu Dhabi [Zommunique, Sept. 10, 2024]
• Elite Eracer Lou Bates Has Found the Tricky Balance [Zommunique, Feb. 5, 2022]
• All of the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship Smart Trainers Will Be Tested, Standardized, and UCI-Approved [Zommunique, Aug. 6, 2024]
• This Season On Zwift: The Racer’s Edition 2024/25 [Zommunique, Sept. 16, 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!