Ep. 71: Zwift Games 25 Men’s Champion Neal Fryett—Under the Radar, First Over the Line

In this episode of The Virtual Velo Podcast, co-hosts Emma Martin and Chris Schwenker welcome Neal Fryett—one of the fastest finishers in elite cycling esports and a rider who’s quietly built one of the sport’s most impressive palmarès.A standout for Team USA, Neal has paired raw sprint power with sharp tactical instincts to claim the Sprint Stage at the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships and win the Sprint, Epic, Climb, and Overall titles at the Zwift Games—becoming the only racer, male or female, to win all four.Fresh off the final race of the Zwift World Series, Neal reflects on his breakout season, the strategy behind his biggest wins, and what it’s like to succeed without the spotlight. We dig into his origin story, sprint technique, weigh-in controversy, evolving race formats, and where he sees the sport heading next.Quietly dominant and always calculated, Neal’s story is one every cycling esports fan won’t want to miss.Don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to delve even deeper into the intriguing topics discussed in this episode.Early Details Reveal Key Zwift Games Changes for 2025 [Zommunique, Nov 11, 2024]Who Will Win the Zwift Games 2025 Overall Championship? [Zommunique, Mar 17, 2025]Zwift Games Finale: What the Hell Just Happened?!? [proecycling, Mar 25, 2025]VVN’s Most Impactful People in Cycling Esports For 2025 [Zommunique, Apr 8, 2025] Join us for a conversational ride as we lend a voice to the digital athlete and bridge the gap between athlete and avatar.Statements made by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast, its hosts, or its partners. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions.