Over 160,000 took part in Zwift Academy Road 2022, and it’s now down to just 3 women vying for a pro contract with CANYON//SRAM and 3 men vying for a contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck.

Zwift partnered with GCN to bring you a series of 5 episodes documenting the finals process – a new episode each day this week, hosted by Si and Manon. Here is the final episode.

Watch Episode 5:

Episode Summary (Spoiler Alert!)

In the final day of competition, our six remaining finalists are taking on a 3-hour outdoor ride with pros, including a “little” climb at the end. (Or at least, that’s what Si tells the riders. In reality, the climb is the Coll de Rates Extreme – a route that Tadej Pogačar has used to test his legs!)

But first, we get a report on the two finalists who crashed yesterday. Chiara seems to be doing well with a slightly swollen hand. Alex has some major cuts on her arm that had to be checked at the hospital, but she’s bandaged and on the bike today.

At the end of the long women’s outdoor ride, members of the CANYON//SRAM team pace up the final climb for the first ~30 minutes. The target pace is 4.5W/kg, but the pros are pushing a bit more! The finalists reach the final bit of climb, and Chiara attacks. She will stay away to finish first in the end. Alex arrives 2 minutes and 27 seconds later, with Nele in third.

Next the men are up, beginning the 9.8km climb at a target of 5W/kg. The truth is, the Alpecin-Deceuninck pros are pushing above the target, and it strings out the group. In the final 3km Luca charges to the front, in his element and spinning at 6.3W/kg. Jasper is behind, trying to hold Luca at a respectable distance. But Lucas paces the climb well and catches Jasper, coming across the line in second. Jasper is noticeably disappointed with this performance.

Winners Chosen

At the end of the day, the judges choose the two winners of Zwift Academy 2022: Luca and Alex.

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