National Club Esports Series: Vikings Cycling Club takes early lead after Round 1

16 Sep 2021 | 04:47 PMBy: Ryan Miu

Vikings Cycling Club has taken the early lead after the opening round of the AusCycling National Club Cycling Esports Series on Wednesday evening.

The Australian Capital Territory club tops the standings on 280 points ahead of last season’s winner and runner-up respectively, Waratah Masters on 223 points and eRANDWICK with 200.

In a strong start by riders from the nation’s capital, Canberra Cycling Club sits in fourth place on 183 points with Hawthorn in fifth.

Round 1 of the six-round series attracted an impressive turnout, with over 600 competitors lining up across four men’s and four women’s grades.

Riders took on a 12-lap virtual criterium around Zwift’s “The Bell Lap” course; a short, intense urban race of 24 kilometres.

Kirsty Lower and Rob Fisher led the way for Vikings CC, taking maximum points in Women’s C Grade and Men’s D Grade respectively. Their tally was bolstered by excellent performances across the women’s grades, with Katie Gregory, Sophie Chapman and Elizabeth Lowe among many from the club who scored highly.

After being absent from the first esports series earlier this year, it seems the ACT clubs have announced their intention to make up for lost time and challenge for the Series 2 title.

The series continues with Round 2 next Wednesday evening on the steep climbs of Zwift’s “New York – Knickerbocker” course.