Virtual cycling platform Zwift has announced the winners of their 2023 Zwift Academy finals, with German Louis Kitzki and South African Maddie Le Roux earning pro contracts from a field of over 108,000 Zwift riders who participated.

In its eighth year, the Zwift Academy amateur talent identification and training program, in partnership with Alpecin-Deceuninck and CANYON//SRAM, awarded professional contracts this past week to two athletes who distinguished themselves above all others at on-site in real life training camps in Spain. Former triathlete Maddie Le Roux, 27, will join CANYON//SRAM Generation, while Germany’s young star Louis Kitzki, 20, will join the Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team.

“Maddie excelled in many of the challenges but where she stood out from all the finalists was supporting her designated leaders during the Zwift race,” said CANYON//SRAM team director, Adam Szabó. “This moment was a turning point in the week, and we were sure this was what we were looking for in our team.”

In men’s competition, “The finalists were the closest ever to compare on a physical level. Louis [Kitzki] has the combination of a young age with the belief and awareness that his ‘weak points’ are only working points, which gave him the advantage over the other finalists,” said Alpecin-Deceuninck performance manager, Kristof de Kegel.

Le Roux and Kitzki set themselves apart from more than 108,000 Zwifters who participated in the 2023 Zwift Academy. They were among the top finalists of three men and three women who were invited to Alpecin-Deceuninck and Canyon//SRAM training camps in Denia, Spain to compete for pro contracts.

Photo Credit: Zwift/Harry Powell

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