Kate Trdin, Josh Wilson win inaugural AusCycling Esports National Championships

Kate Trdin (Launceston City CC) and Joshua Wilson (Cradle Coast CC) have been crowned Australia’s first cycling esports national champions, winning the 2024 AusCycling Esports National Championships on Friday.

The two Tasmanians were victorious in vastly different ways when they tackled the in-person finals at Queensland University of Technology’s The Cube in Brisbane.

After a round of elimination semi-finals earlier in the evening, both finals were decided over a 14.1-kilometre race on the ‘Rolling Highlands’ route on Zwift. It was a shorter distance than originally planned after connection issues hampered the men’s final.

A tactical, cagey race played out between the six women’s finalists, with Brianna Samuhel playing the role of chief aggressor.

However, each of Samuhel’s attacks was chased down by her five rivals, all of whom seemed happy to save their energy for a sprint finish.

Inside the final kilometre, it was once again Samuhel who launched first, hotly pursued by Vicki Whitelaw, Tilly Field, Peta Antonello and Trdin.

With 450 metres to go, a patient Trdin activated a draft powerup and launched her sprint from the back of the field. In the last 200 metres, she kicked again at 10w/kg to clinch the uphill sprint and win the national championship.

“I’m just kind of in shock. I just can’t really believe that I did it,” Trdin, 25, said.

“I think having the course shortened probably helped me a little bit because I’m more of a sprinter.”

Trdin’s loudest fan at The Cube was her partner and fellow competitor Josh Harris, who made the final of the men’s competition.

“I could just hear Josh absolutely screaming and I thought, ‘Oh my god, I better not stuff this up, otherwise I’m going to be in trouble,’” Trdin said.

“My 15-second to one-minute power is probably my strength, as opposed to my FTP-type efforts.

“I was happy to wait for the sprint. Just sat in and did the least that I could down the back. I didn’t have the best powerup coming up to the finish but had the numbers.”

Field finished strongly in the sprint to win the silver medal, followed by Whitelaw in third.

The men’s final was rife with drama. When connection issues brought the race to a halt, officials decided to restart the final over a shorter distance, postponing the re-run to the end of the women’s final.

Cautious racing characterized the event until a race-defining move from Wilson with 4.4 kilometres remaining.

The 39-year-old's attack drew a response from Andrew Downie, but he couldn’t match Wilson’s all-out, 30-second surge.

Wilson pushed his lead to more than 20 seconds as the race neared the finish, giving the Tasmanian plenty of time to celebrate clinching the inaugural title.

Harris was the best of the rest in the sprint finish for minor medals, winning silver ahead of Marc Gates to complete a Tasmanian sweep of the men’s podium, and a sweep by riders from AERO (Australian E-sport Racing Organisation).

“I can’t really believe it. To win a national title is something I never expected to do, so it’s a very proud moment for me,” Wilson said.

“It was touch-and-go watching the time gap. I just knew that if everyone committed I’d get run down, but I was banking on the fact that they wouldn’t all work together, and luckily that’s what happened.

“It’s a very short format compared to what I’m used to, so I don’t feel exhausted, but it definitely hurt a lot. Those last few kilometres were pretty grim.

“I did some all-in moves in all three races and those can really backfire. It’s really all-or-nothing and if you put in all your gas and get caught then you’re going to come last, but it worked out for me, so I’m stoked.”

Wilson thanked his AERO teammates for helping him reach the top step.

“I’d also like to say thank you to my mate Josh [Harris], he’s been a great mate of mine and helped me get into esports racing,” Wilson explained.

“I wouldn’t be here without him and I’m sure he had more to give tonight and he didn't want to chase me down, and he ended up second.

“So, a big thank you to him and to the AERO crew who have taken me on board in their team.”

You can watch the full replay on the AusCycling YouTube channel.

Results - 2024 AusCycling Esports National Championships

Women

1. Kate Trdin (Launceston City CC)
2. Tilly Field (Club M.U.D Ballarat)
3. Vicki Whitelaw (Canberra CC)
4. Peta Antonello (Footscray CC)
5. Brianna Samuhel (Parklife CC)
6. Jessica Bemrose (Gold Coast CC)

Men

1. Joshua Wilson (Cradle Coast CC)
2. Josh Harris (Launceston City CC)
3. Marc Gates (Hobart Wheelers/Dirt Devils CC)
4. Cameron Winfield (Penrith CC)
5. Trent Stevenson (Echuca/Moama CC)
6. Andrew Downie (Carnegie Caulfield CC)

The AusCycling Esports National Championships are part of the 2024 Brisbane Cycling Festival from March 1 – April 14. Visit brisbanecyclingfestival.com for more info.

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Photos: Alex Polizzi