- We have been invited by our partner Zwift
here to Cape Town for Team Dimension Data's get together
to witness the final of a quite incredible competition.
So, over 9,000 cyclists registered for the Zwift Academy
a couple of months ago, and they've been whittled down
gradually through a series of group workouts,
group training rides, and a vigorous training programme.
They've been assessed by a panel
of six experts from the team and from Zwift,
and now we're down to just three.
(upbeat piano music)
- [Cyclist] I just topped off the most
amazing work of my life.
- My name's Nick White, I'm 20 years old
and I come from Ballarat, Australia.
- I'm Ollie Jones, I'm 21
and I'm from Christchurch, New Zealand.
- My name's Sam Mobberley, I'm from Auckland, New Zealand.
I live on the Gold Coast of Australia.
I'm one of three finalists of the Zwift Academy.
- One of these three incredibly talented
young individuals will next year be riding for
Team Dimension Data's Continental Squad.
To find out who, we're going to be putting them
through their paces one final time,
overseen by some of the best co-riders in the world.
This training camp is the ideal place
for the team to see the three riders in the real world
and for the riders, it's an amazing opportunity
to be around and learn from some
of the best cyclists in the world.
- Yeah, it's been a really rigorous process.
Firstly, they had to go through six weeks
of training, some structured workouts, group rides, races.
Then out of that group of 10,000 people that started,
they were selected as part of a group of 10.
From that group, we selected our three finalists.
Aside from the scientific, power-based, and information
we received we also did in-depth questionnaires
to find out more about them as people,
as well as the palmaris and history in cycling.
- [Daniel] So John, you've been in charge
of kind of looking at all the guys' numbers,
and I understand that those numbers are quite impressive.
- Yeah, so if I'm the most kind of usual Zwift users
the numbers are maybe like two-and-a-half watts a kilo
or so, for the kind of like thresholds.
These guys are around six watts a kilo,
kind of level, so definitely up there.
With kind of a Conte and kind of a pro Conte
Wiltor kind of level.
Yep, really impressive.
- [Daniel] So onto the three challenges.
The first will be the climb, which is as it says
on the tin really, a timed effort up a local climb.
Next they will take on the teammate challenge
to see how they can adjust and react
to real-life race scenarios.
And finally the sprint leadout where they will attempt
to deliver a top pro sprinter to the finish line
as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- This is a very simple one, a five-and-a-half kilometre
timed effort up a well-known climb
here in Cape Town called Signal Hill.
Now we've enlisted the help of Steve Cummings,
current British National Champion.
Two-time winner of stages pretty mountainous
in the Tour de France.
And he's gonna give the guys his tips.
(energetic electronic music)
This climb is a particularly awkward one.
The first part is tough, but then it eases off
before final kick up to the line.
So, not a true climber's climb.
In a race in fact, I think the likes
of Van Avermaet or Sagan would stand
just as much chance as a Froom or Quintana.
So it offers all three of our Zwift finalists
the chance to do well.
- Yeah, no I do look at my power, would look at my power
but as a guide, more to hold me back at the thought
probably just so I don't go--
You know, when it's a race.
- [Daniel] Steve's advice is simple but very important.
He suggests that for the duration of around 14 minutes
you should try to stick at around 20 watts over your FTP.
But only keep an eye on power for the
first four minutes, before then going on feel.
He also reminded the guys to get air
on the fatter sections of the climb,
something that can be very easy to forget.
(dramatic electronic music)
- Right, well then guys that's the hardest effort
of the couple of days out the way you'll be pleased to know.
You all did really well.
Steve's going to read the results out for us now.
- Okay Nick, you did 13:26.
Sam, you did 13:16.
And Ollie, you did 12:57.
- 12:57, yeah.
Good performance from all of you though,
because we looked at the current Strava record
and you're all well inside of the fastest time ever
on Strava up here.
We're gonna get back to the hotel now
and get yourselves some lunch, get a little bit of rest.
And then test two is this afternoon.
Okay guys, the second test is all about being a teammate.
I'm sure you all know very well Bernie Eisel.
He has spent many years in his career looking after his
teammates, especially Mark Cavendish,
and making sure it finishes in a sprint,
so Mark can do his stuff at the end of a race.
So we have come to a 30 kilometre loop.
We're gonna do it two times.
You're gonna be chasing an imaginary breakaway,
and this is all about you helping each other,
your teammates, if you feel strongly you can do
longer turns, if you're not feeling so good
you can pull off a bit sooner.
But Bernie is team captain, he'll be sat on the back
of you, giving you instructions as to what the time gap is,
how hard you need to go, whether you need to knock
it off slightly or if you need to go faster.
- I think we just go out there and do it.
(upbeat electronic music)
- Riding on the front of a peloton
is not as simple as it might seem.
You have to constantly adapt to the weather conditions,
the terrain, how the breakaway are riding,
and indeed how the rest of the teams are riding around you.
And there is nobody better to teach the guys
this kind of race craft than Bernie Eisel.
As you will very well see.
- Okay folks, situation five-man breakaway.
Three world tour, two other guys working nicely together.
Strong group, and 60 k's to go on these two loops.
Normally, easy to bring them back,
but they're working nicely together
and haven't done too much yet.
Share the work, and let's go.
(upbeat music)
You always wait two seconds.
So you go into the corner fast,
you come out the corner you wait two seconds,
and then you build it up again.
Because the second guy, third guy's fine.
But then four, five, six is just gonna get stretched out.
And especially in cross sprint,
other teams will try to move in take their spot,
and then you know, you end up being 30th.
As you can see they stopped the team cars now.
(laughter)
Three guys left at the front, so really going for it
50 k's to go.
You see that also on your screen,
straight, two more left hand corners,
then 6 k's straight to the finish.
Tail cross wind.
So at the moment we have to pick up the speed like they do.
Because if two guys are coming back already,
it means--
Now it's headwind and the last six is tail, cross wind.
So it's definitely gonna happen there.
And we need full horsepower still there.
But also picking up speed now to bring them back.
It's like you always have just three commanders.
One is like, stop, and a mechanical failure.
One is go, and one is hold.
Because go and slow is too similar.
So you have literally three commanders.
And whatever they yell behind you,
you try to understand it and tell the guy in front of you.
Go, go, go, go, go!
Great.
And now we start rotating.
Little bit more to the left.
Full cross wind here.
Steady, steady.
All about riding steady.
Stay right, stay right.
Nice job.
And now it's like the other teams will come up, you know.
They will start challenging, you know.
And you go.
- We thought we'd wait until we got back to the hotel
to go with Bernie and talk about how the guys got on.
They're now getting showered.
But it seems like they went alright out there today.
- They went great, it was great fun.
I think they learned a lot in just two hours.
- Yeah, I'm sure they really enjoyed it,
getting some bits and tips and information
on race craft from yourself.
So thanks very much for doing that.
- No problem, it was fun.
- So I think Bernie's now going to head off
and give his feedback along with Steve Cummings
from the climb earlier.
One more test to come.
Okay guys we are nearing the end of the academy now.
This is the third and final test,
and it is a leadout.
Now you've all proven yourselves very much on the climb,
already I know you're very good climbers,
but even the best climbers in the world have still
got to be capable of being at the front of the bunch
in a really fast-sprint finish.
So you're going to be doing two kilometre leadout,
three times, we're going to rotate you each time,
and the person you're leading out
is Edvald Boasson Hagen, who they call the boss
because he's also incredible on the climbs
with an awesome sprint at the end.
(upbeat electronic music)
For this challenge we have chosen a two-kilometer stretch
of pretty flat coastal road.
Now two kilometres is a long way when you're trying
to deliver a sprint or a top speed,
and the guys have an added complication today.
They are facing a very tough head wind.
So it's going to be really important they judge their
effort, otherwise they're going to be slowing down
at the end of their turns instead of speeding up.
- Should start a bit easier and then bring up the speed.
So you go a bit slower at the start,
and bring up the speed, carry on, and you did a good job.
Considering delivered a bit early for you.
But that was good.
But there are things to improve, so we try to bring it
up to speed slowly, and deliver in the higher speed
so we don't get swamped by all the teams.
Not that many teams out now, but--
(laughs)
For later on.
A bit more to the right.
- Up the right.
- Right, pick up the speed now.
- Up!
- Up, up, up!
(frantic electronic music)
- On your left through this corner.
On your left.
- That was a lot better, more correct
delivering and pacing at the start.
There are areas we could get even better is
when you swap off the start, just building up,
not have a peak when you get to the front.
Because then I have to do a peak,
and every time you go up, and I have a small
acceleration it kills the legs.
So it's better to go gradually up.
But that was a lot better delivering,
considering the head wind.
(laughs)
So it is really windy and hot out there.
(light dance music)
Okay get up.
(wind blowing)
- You're done, you've completed all three
of the challenges that we've set for you
and you've passed it with flying colours.
Especially this last one, Edvald was particularly pleased
with the way that you dealt with the conditions here
and also the way that you improved
between the third one and the first one.
But there's nothing more that you can do.
Team Dimension Data have got an incredibly
difficult decision on their hands now,
and I wouldn't want to be the one making it.
But I wish you all the best of luck,
and I know that even if you don't make it here.
- Thanks, Dan.
- If you keep working,
- Thanks, Dan.
- You're gonna get there eventually.
(slow drums)
This is it guys.
Sam, Ollie, Nick, I know you're all really nervous.
I'm actually very, very nervous for you as well.
It's been a great week.
A decision has been made, and about to give it
to you is the Team Dimension Data
Team Principal, Doug Ryder.
Very briefly, before we get to the final decision, Doug,
a few brief comments on the week with the guys.
- Yeah, you guys are amazing, and it's an absolute
privilege to have you in Cape Town, South Africa
after thousands and thousands and thousands of applicants
the three of you have made it here, so you know
just pat yourselves on the back for that already.
So congratulations.
It's been amazing to see how you've interacted
with the team both on and off the bike,
and you're all three exceptional guys.
And it's been an absolute privilege to have you here.
And to have the chance to ride with
the Team Dimension Data World Tour Team.
- [Daniel] Okay, Doug, thank you.
Right, it's time.
Let's find out who the winner is.
- So the rider that'll be on the 2018 Team Dimension Data
Continental Team is Ollie.
Congratulations, Ollie.
Well done, Ollie, good job.
Well done, man.
- Well Ollie, congratulations, how do you feel?
- Amazing.
Yeah.
I think these two guys have been so good the whole week,
and we all get on so well so, yeah--
- I think that they've been going through a lot
and it's been such a hard decision
and all of the pros that you rode with spoke highly
of you all, so it's not been easy from anyone's
point of view.
Sam, I'm gonna ask you how you feel,
I think I probably know but--
- I'm stoked, I'm actually stoked for him, he deserves it.
He's deserved it for a long time.
I'm happy for him, and he deserves it all.
- You're going in the pool!
(laughing)
(triumphant guitar music)
- And how would you sum up your
feeling right now in just a few words?
- Just absolutely ecstatic.
Just so much work has gone into it.
So many hours, and a lot of sacrifices as well.
And not just from me, from my family,
my whole support network.
And I'm just--
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm happy.
And just speechless.
(laughs)
- Sam, what have you taken home from this week?
- Yeah for me, just jump on every opportunity
is what I can take from this is, I had no idea
this was coming and within eight weeks
I was at a camp with world tour riders, so.
- Disappointed, I know.
But what are you going to take home from these
last few days with Dimension Data.
- Just the experience, just being able to ride
with the guys, and everything they've taught us is huge.
Just gained a new wealth of knowledge
in cycling as well as just how a world tour team operates.
- Still a lot of nervous excitement,
the guys are still just inside the hotel there.
But what a journey it's been for them and for us in fact,
over the last week or so, I'm sure this is something
that none of them are ever going to forget in their lives.
This though, is hugely exciting.
The fact that Zwift is capable of identifying huge talents
in terms of numbers, and then they can work with
a team like Dimension Data, who can then put them
into their Continental squad and polish them
making the finished guys with tactics and everything
else that you need to be a professional bike racer.
I would not be at all surprised if the future Tour de France
champion in the not-too-distant future is identified
just using numbers on a virtual online cycling world.
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