The cycling federation UCI has introduced new measures to prevent cheating and dangerous health risks at the Esports World Championships. For the first time, riders will undergo a hydration test before they are allowed to start. The finals of the Esports World Championships will take place tonight in Abu Dhabi.
With the new protocol, the UCI aims to counter suspicions of unhealthy practices. At last year’s World Championships, there were suspicions that participants deliberately dehydrated themselves in saunas and used diuretics to shed weight before the weigh-in, gaining an advantage going into the race.
This not only creates an unfair playing field but also poses possible health risks for the athletes. Dehydrated riders not only perform slower but are also at greater risk of injury and reduced cognitive capacity.
Urine test four hours before the start
To combat this new form of cheating, the UCI is taking a radical approach this year. All participants must report for a urine sample four hours before their race. This sample is tested on site using a refractometer—a device that determines whether riders are sufficiently hydrated.
The standard is strict: urine with a specific gravity below 1.020 is considered "well hydrated" and guarantees passage to the official weigh-in. Those who do not meet this threshold may not weigh in immediately and must retest after taking in sufficient fluids.
The weigh-in itself takes place under strict conditions. Riders weigh in their race kit (bib shorts, jersey, socks, no shoes) on a calibrated digital scale. A neutral medical team conducts the entire process.
The Esports World Championships consist of three different stages in a virtual world specially built for the UCI on the MyWhoosh platform, featuring a points system where riders start from zero. All finalists race on the Elite Justo 2 smart trainer, which has been thoroughly tested and verified by the UCI to ensure fairness and accuracy throughout the race.
UCI Cycling Esports World Championships
