Imogen Cotter, who was 2nd in the elite national road race championships this year, is into the final 10 riders from about 9,000 entries in Zwift Academy 2019.
Cotter, who rode in Belgium this year, is now in with a
chance of a pro contract with Canyon SRAM.
However, before the successful rider of the 10 remaining
women in contention secures the contract for 2020, they must see off other nine
riders.
And that means making it through one of the two semi
finals as well as the final.
It means while Cotter has done exceptionally well so far,
there is still a way to go.
The Zwift Academy 2019 involves indoor training app Zwift partnering with two pro teams; Dimension Data for men and Canyon SRAM for women.
From the start of August until end of September there are
eight workouts on Zwift that each rider must complete, as well as four races.
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Each rider that completes these ‘academy’ work-outs is
eligible to be selected for the next round; the semi finals.
However, of the 9,000 riders who start out, just 10 had
made it to those semi finals and Cotter is among them.
As well as completing the academy work outs and races on
Zwift, each rider’s data is also analysed by coaches.
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Their strength is assessed as well each riders’ cycling
and sporting background and their experience along with other factors.
In the semi final stages, Cotter and the other remaining
nine riders will get two weeks to complete four indoor workouts and three
outdoors workouts.
And from there three women will be chosen to go to the
next round; the final of the competition.
In that final round the three remaining riders will go on
a training camp with Canyon SRAM for a week.
At the end of that week, one of the three women will be selected
to win a pro contract to ride with Canyon SRAM next year.
“I’m over the moon and a bit overwhelmed that I’ve been
chosen to advance to the semi-finals. To be in the last 10 feels crazy,” she
said.
“I’m ready to knuckle down for the next two weeks of grueling workouts,” she added of the next phase to come.
In announcing the remaining 10 riders, Zwift said of Irish cyclist Cotter: "A former runner with national titles, Imogen was discovered through a Cycling Ireland transfer program.
"She is a weapon on the bike, securing 2nd place at Irish Road Nationals after competing in track cycling.
"She recently traded the beaches of Mallorca for the cobbles of Belgium to further develop her strengths.
"Imogen is proficient on long, sustained efforts and relaxed in high-pressure situations, and now wants to boost her sprinting power."
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