Zwift Academy leads German crit racer to a spot on Canyon/SRAM
Tanja Erath beat out a field of 2,100 other athletes to land on the team's roster
Four months of testing, training and competition later, through Zwift’s online training environment, Canyon/SRAM Racing has announced its 2017 winner for the Zwift Academy program—Tanja Erath of Dortmund, Germany, a former triathlete and criterium racer, who beat out a field of more than 2,100 athletes to take the prize.
That prize? A pro contract and the opportunity to ride for Canyon/SRAM Racing during the 2018 season.
Erath, she said, was surprised to take the honours. “I started this confident in my skills as a cyclist and a racer,” she said, “but had no idea that it’d end with me here in Koblanz [Germany, the site of the team’s winter training camp] with a World Tour schedule ahead of me. It’s been such a journey and I’m humbled by the talent I’ve been up against.”
“I’m overwhelmed!” the athlete effused.
The competition’s three rounds were carefully scrutinized and judged by a panel of experts, paying close attention to data gathered by Zwift from online rides and workouts. Along with Zwift and Canyon/SRAM, coaches from TrainSharp were also among that panel of judges, who narrowed down the field to 12 semi-finalists, reportedly, before deciding upon the final three. Out of those three, Erath was chosen.
That competition now behind her, Erath faces the next step: determining her race schedule and training regimen going into winter 2018. That schedule will be determined by the management of Canyon/SRAM Racing, and will involve specific training to develop her race skills as the upcoming season approaches. In doing so, Erath will have all of the team’s resources at her disposal, including team coaching, the support of performance staff, and other benefits.
Erath’s first competition on the UCI schedule is anticipated to be in the spring, after that winter of training is completed.
Last year’s winner, Leah Thorvilson—one of Erath’s new squadmates—is looking forward to riding alongside the young German rider. “Tanja’s clearly got tons of talent and a great head on her shoulders for competition and racing,” Thorvilson said. “She will have a lot of learning ahead of her, just like I did and continue to do, but she’s shown enough resilience balancing her medical studies and training that I know she will take this in stride.”
“I’ve got great memories of what my 2016 announcement was like,” Thorlivson recalled, “and I’m just thrilled to see her moving into this world in this way.”
Another round of the Zwift Academy competition will return in 2018, the company and Canyon/SRAM Racing have announced.
