Top 8 Virtual Cycling Events Available Now
No matter if you prefer to cycle in the fresh air or on your indoor setup, there’s an event out there that matches your training needs and objectives.
As the colder months make outdoor cycling less appealing due to early nightfalls, harsh weather conditions, and busy schedules, you might find yourself turning to your indoor trainer more often to stay in shape for the warmer days ahead. But, let’s face it, cycling alone indoors can quickly become monotonous.
To inject some excitement into your routine, keep your motivation high, and stave off the indoor training blues, virtual cycling events are a fantastic solution. They come in a wide array of formats to suit different schedules and skill levels, ensuring there’s something for everyone to jump-start their year.
Whether you’re looking for a light activity to get back into the swing of things or a grueling challenge to push your limits, you’ll find an event that’s right for you.
Top 8 Virtual Cycling Events to Tackle This Year
Jumping into a race or event might seem daunting at first, but these virtual cycling events are designed to guide you through specific milestones or workouts within a set timeframe. While the majority are intended for indoor participation, there are options for those who wish to measure their effort outdoors, with some requiring a subscription.
Most events are accessible via apps, allowing you to easily set objectives, monitor your progress, and meet your fitness goals for the season. To get started, ensure you have the necessary equipment: a bicycle, a GPS device, a smart trainer or bike, a cadence sensor, and a heart rate monitor.
1. FulGaz Grand Tour
Duration: January 1, 2024 – February 18, 2024
Objective: Enhance your cycling routine and embrace a competitive spirit
Cost: Monthly subscription at $15, or opt for an annual plan at $126
Platform: FulGaz
Rewards: Win an exclusive two-day getaway to Monterosa, Italy, enjoy a VIP experience at the Volta Catalunya, gain entry to a Race Across Series event in Belgium, Paris, Switzerland, or France, or snag one of 21 Precision Fuel and Hydration e-gift cards.
The FulGaz Grand Tour kicks off with a scenic Italian route, with sessions spanning 9 to 50 kilometers and lasting from 45 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes. The adventure continues on January 15, through France’s iconic landscapes, featuring longer rides up to two hours and elevations reaching 1,512 meters. The final leg takes you through Spain from January 29, with varying intensities and inclines, promising an engaging and challenging experience.
Participants aiming for prizes must complete all 21 stages by February 11, 2024, and share a favorite ride snapshot on social media as per FulGaz’s guidelines.
2. 2024 USA Cycling Esports League and National Championships
Dates: December 2, 2023 – January 27, 2024
Goal: Compete for the 2024 USAC National Championship title
Subscription: $15 monthly or $149 annually, additional license required
Platform: Zwift
Prizes: Winners earn the coveted Zwift virtual championship jersey
The third annual Esports National Championships by USA Cycling, in collaboration with Zwift and Echelon Racing Promotions, features a series of six races. The action began on December 2, with three initial races leading up to the USA Nationals Championship during January 6-7, 2024. Additional races are slated for January 13, 20, and 27, offering more opportunities to compete.
Racers need a Zwift membership, a Zwift Power profile for tracking results, a valid USA Cycling license, and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Race formats include criteriums, hill climbs, time trials, gravel, and rolling courses, with distances ranging from 25 to 46 kilometers.
Zwift ensures a level playing field with Category Enforcement, placing competitors in groups based on their functional threshold power (FTP), from categories A through D, ensuring fair and competitive racing for all participants.
Both events offer unique challenges and rewards, catering to a wide range of cyclists seeking to enhance their indoor cycling experience with a blend of consistency, competition, and community engagement. Whether you’re exploring virtual landscapes or competing for a championship title, these virtual cycling events promise excitement, challenge, and the chance to achieve your cycling goals.
3. Wahooligan Tour for a Cause: Cycle, Contribute, and Conquer
Dates: February 25, 2024 – March 2, 2024
Objective: Finish each stage’s workout within 50 hours to maintain momentum
Cost: Membership at $15 monthly or $149 annually, plus a $20 contribution
Platform: Wahoo SYSTM
Rewards: Secure a digital badge from Wahoo
The Wahooligan Tour presents a unique seven-day cycling challenge that not only benefits your fitness but also supports a noble cause. By participating, you contribute to the Davis Phinney Foundation, established by the renowned ex-professional cyclist and Olympian, Davis Phinney. The foundation dedicates its efforts to enhance the lives of those living with Parkinson’s Disease through awareness and support.
This challenge offers a diverse range of workouts on the Wahoo X platform, taking you on an epic journey through the mythical lands of Sufferlandria and beyond. It’s an opportunity to push your boundaries both mentally and physically.
What sets the Wahooligan Tour apart is its format. It’s not about racing against others but about challenging yourself and the clock. You’re given a generous 50-hour window to complete each stage, allowing for flexibility and focus on personal improvement.
In addition to the challenge itself, Wahoo enhances the experience with live sessions to keep your spirits high. And there’s more than just a digital badge on the line. After the tour wraps up, finishers enter a draw for various prizes, with chances increasing for those who donate more or engage in fundraising throughout the event.
Embark on the Wahooligan Tour to test your endurance, contribute to a meaningful cause, and possibly earn great rewards. It’s a chance to cycle with purpose, connect with a community of like-minded individuals, and possibly walk away with more than just a sense of achievement.
4. Everesting
Availability: Year-round
Goal: Ascend the equivalent of Mount Everest’s elevation in a single effort
Cost: $29 for official attempts; free for self-guided challenges
Platforms: Strava, Zwift, or any preferred elevation tracking method
Rewards: A spot in the Everesting Hall of Fame for app-verified climbs
Everesting invites you to tackle the daunting task of climbing 29,029 feet—the height of the world’s tallest mountain—in one go. Whether you choose an indoor or outdoor hill, the mission remains the same: repeat your chosen ascent until you reach the total elevation gain. The challenge is formidable yet achievable, with the freedom to attempt it at any location and the only rule being to stay awake throughout the endeavor.
To plan your climb, utilize the Everesting calculator to estimate the repetitions needed based on your selected hill. Guidance from a Scientific Reports study advises elite cyclists to opt for inclines over 12%, whereas less powerful riders should aim for gradients of 10% or less for efficiency. To validate your effort, indoor attempts must be logged on Zwift, while outdoor or other indoor climbs should be recorded on Strava. Submit your Strava link to the Everesting website for verification, and gain your place in the Hall of Fame within a week of approval.
5. Strava Ride
Availability: Year-round
Objective: Complete diverse cycling challenges
Cost: $12 monthly or $80 annually
Platform: Strava
Rewards: Digital finisher’s badges
Strava offers a continuous series of cycling challenges, inviting riders to set and achieve various distance, elevation, and time goals throughout the year. Challenges are inclusive, allowing participation on a handcycle, virtually, or outdoors, with activities marked for different privacy settings contributing to your leaderboard standing. Ensure your rides are uploaded within three days post-challenge to qualify.
Challenges range from completing a Gran Fondo of 62.1 miles, ascending 7,000 meters, to riding distances of 200 or 600 kilometers within a month. Additionally, your efforts can simultaneously count towards other Strava achievements, such as maintaining a consistent weekly activity schedule or hitting monthly activity milestones.
Both the Everesting and Strava Ride Challenges offer unique opportunities to push your cycling limits, whether you’re aiming to join an elite group of climbers or seeking varied goals throughout the year. With options for every level of cyclist, these challenges provide the perfect motivation to stay active, challenge yourself, and achieve new heights in your cycling journey.
6. Peloton’s Year-Long Challenge
Duration: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Objective: Maintain an active lifestyle
Cost: $44 monthly
Platform: Peloton
Rewards: Digital badge for milestones reached
Peloton’s Annual Challenge returns for its fifth year, encouraging subscribers to stay active across multiple disciplines, including cycling, treadmill, rowing, and cross-training workouts. With 13 progressive tiers from 1,000 to 20,000 minutes, participants can track their active minutes to climb up the leaderboard. Join the ranks of over 88,000 participants aiming to build a consistent workout routine throughout the year.
7. Sunday Race Club Series: Competitive Weekly Racing
When: Every Sunday
Goal: Enhance consistency and strength
Cost: Free
Platform: MyWhoosh
Prize Pool: Approximately $17,000
MyWhoosh offers weekly cycling competitions with a Sunday series featuring a total prize pot of around $17,000. Open to all skill levels, these races divide competitors into categories based on the MyWhoosh Power Passport Test, ensuring fair matchups. After three events, racers can qualify for larger races with up to 600 participants. The top five in each weekly race are prize-eligible, with winnings distributed after each month’s races. Expect up to ten weeks for prize processing.
8. Rapha Festive 500
Dates: December 24, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Objective: Cycle 500 kilometers
Cost: Free
Platform: Strava
Reward: Digital Strava badge
The Rapha Festive 500 returns for its 14th iteration, challenging cyclists to cover 500 kilometers during the last week of the year. This test of endurance and determination requires registration on Strava and can be tackled individually or with a group. Participants face winter’s whims head-on, either solo or alongside fellow riders. For those seeking camaraderie, Festive 500 groups form in cities across the U.S., including Bentonville, Boulder, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle.
These diverse cycling events cater to a wide array of interests and goals. Whether you’re looking to maintain a year-round active lifestyle, engage in competitive racing, or set a personal end-of-year milestone, there’s a challenge waiting for you. With opportunities to earn digital badges, win significant cash prizes, or simply prove your mettle, these cycling adventures offer something for every enthusiast eager to pedal their way through 2024.
