Olympic Esports Series 2023: Team Fuego win Zwift cycling event in Singapore

The first winners of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 have been crowned. Team Fuego – formed of Lou Bates, Marlene Bjärehed, James Barnes, and Martin Maertens – held off a strong challenge from Team Epic to win the gold OES trophies in Zwift (cycling).

Cycling was held as a team event over six different races, with players scoring points for their teams depending on their performances and finishing positions in the game.

The races were held in Zwift's Scotland world, a nod to the real-world UCI World Championships being held in Glasgow in August, and featured women's and men's elimination races, sprint races, and climb races.

Team Fuego took an early lead by winning the women's elimination race through Sweden's Bjärehed, who attacked on the final uphill kick to the line with teammate Bates coming third.

But Team Epic, who saw their rider Jacquie Godbe finish second, hit back immediately in the men's elimination race. Through strong teamwork, they too produced a one-and-three finish as Ben Hill was able to ride away to a lead of over 30 seconds he did not lose, while teammate Michał Kamiński prevented Team Lava's Lionel Vujasin from chasing Hill.

Bjärehed followed her early success by winning the women's sprint race in a photo-finish with Team Lava's Kong Lam, before Hill was once more able to strike back for Epic in the men's sprint with another early attack and clear win.

The race for the overall title therefore came down to the climbs.

Bates put her team in a strong position by attacking with 360m left on the ascent, opening up a five-second gap to her chasers. With Epic's Charlotte Colclough finishing second, it meant the gap between the teams was only five points heading into the men's race – with eight on offer for the win.

The men's climb saw attacks and counter-attacks, but was ultimately won by Team Lava's Vujasin. While there was a nervous wait for a photo-finish to decide the minor places, Team Fuego could not be mathematically caught.

Maertens, who rode the climb for Fuego, said after his team's win was confirmed: "It's just insane, did not believe it that when we came here we were going to achieve it. All my teammates were great, everyone put in a little extra percent to win the title.

"I have dreamed of (winning an Olympic event), I never thought I would have that chance at some point and now it's real."