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

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.

AusCycling National Club Cycling Esports Series
Overall standings after Round 1

1. Vikings Cycling Club 280
2. Waratah Masters Cycling Club 223
3. eRANDWICK 200
4. Canberra Cycling Club 183
5. Hawthorn Cycling Club 164
6. Parklife Cycling Club 144
7. Jindabyne Cycling Club 143
8. Bathurst Cycling Club 134
9. Port Adelaide Cycling Club 134
10. Gold Coast Cycling Club 131
11. St George Cycling 119
12. Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club 115
13. Mornington Cycling Club 115
14. Sydney Uni Velo Club 111
15. Northern Cycling Inc 94
16. St Kilda Cycling Club 88
17. Dubbo Cycling Club 79
18. Southern Cross Cycling Club 79
19. Coburg Cycling Club 69
20. BrunZwick 66
21. Knox BMX Club 61
22. Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club 52
23. Sydney Cycling Club 51
24. University of Queensland Cycling Club 44
25. Blackburn Cycling Club 38
26. Parramatta Cycling Club 38
27. Balmoral Cycling Club 30
28. Geelong Mountain Bike Club 29
29. Birrarung Cycling Club 10
30. Norwood Cycling Club 7
31. Sunshine Coast Cycling Club 4

For full results, visit the series page.