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Virtual bike races as hard as Tour de France, says expert

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Virtual bike races as hard as Tour de France, says expert
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  • Virtual cycle races take place of cancelled road races
  • Big names like Chris Froome have been taking part
  • Cycling data expert says virtual races are proving to be just as hard as the real thing

Virtual cycle racing is proving to be just as hard as road races such as the Tour de France, according to professional riders and a leading sports data analyst.

Races on virtual platforms such as Zwift and ROUVY have filled the void left by the cancellation of professional road races over the past few weeks, with big-name riders like Chris Froome and Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet taking part in events such as the Digital Swiss 5, the Zwift Tour for All and the Team INEOS eRace on Zwift.

Together with a panel of cycling experts from bonusfinder.com, professional cycling coach and data scientist Philipp Diegner – who regularly analyses UCI WorldTour races – has assessed the publicly available performance data from more than 200 efforts made by pro riders in recent virtual races.

Although virtual races are up to six times shorter than road races, Diegner said they have proved to be just as difficult as road races and have caught some professionals off guard. ”The racing is short and particularly intense,” he explained. “It is 45-90 minutes of racing instead of 3-6 hours. The consequence for the riders is that there is no opportunity to save energy like they have in road races, so they have to make prolonged, all-out efforts that push them to their physical limit.

“Professionals are not necessarily used to this and it can be a shock to the system. Virtual racing is as hard as road racing; it is just that endurance is a more decisive factor in road racing, whereas virtual racing is one hour of pure, intense suffering.”

Pro rider Chris Hamilton, who rides for Team Sunweb, agreed with Diegner when he described one virtual race as “the hardest thing I have ever done”.

Diegner selected the following 10 performances as the most impressive he has seen in the professional virtual races to date.

 

Rider Team Race Time Speed (avg km/h) Power (avg watts) W/kg (avg) Ride Info Source
Chris Hamilton Team Sunweb Digital Swiss 5 Race 5 01:00:13 37.7 393 6.05 Strava
Filippo Ganna Team INEOS Digital Swiss 5 Race 2 00:55:17 48.7 463 5.51 Strava
James Piccoli Israel Start-Up Nation Zwift Tour for All Stage 3 01:41:56 42.7 335 5.2 Zwift Companion
Louis Meintjes NTT Pro Cycling Zwift Tour for All Stage 5 01:23:40 33.3 323 5.7 Zwift Companion
Stefan De Bod NTT Pro Cycling Zwift Tour for All Stage 5 01:23:49 33.3 357 5.4 Zwift Companion
Nicolas Roche Team Sunweb Digital Swiss 5 Race 3 01:12:11 27.9 391 5.51 Strava
Pello Bilbao Bahrain – McLaren Zwift Tour for All Stage 3 01:42:39 42.4 330 5.5 Zwift Companion
Rohan Dennis Team INEOS Team INEOS eRace on Zwift 00:58:01 29.2 373 5.18 Zwift Companion
Tobias Ludvigsson Groupama – FDJ Digital Swiss 5 Race 4 00:48:00 46 428 5.63 Strava
Nicolas Roche Team Sunweb Digital Swiss 5 Race 3 00:54:17 29.4 397 5.59 Strava

 

 

Watts per kilogram is widely recognised as the most accurate barometer of effort in pro cycling. It takes the average power a rider produces over a set period of time and divides it by their weight in kilograms. The hardest road races require the winner to produce about 4/wkg over five hours. In virtual races, the winners have been nudging 6w/kg for between one hour and 1hr 45min.

Diegner said: “Chris Hamilton only finished fourth in race five of the Digital Swiss 5 but riding for one hour at 6.05w/kg is world class. He rode the last 12 minutes at 6.58w/kg, which would win him most WorldTour mountain stages.

“James Piccoli’s win on stage three of the Zwift Tour for All was a similarly amazing effort. He rode for one and a half hours at over 5w/kg and then kicked again and rode the last six minutes 25 seconds at 6.46w/kg. That’s unimaginable for amateur riders on Zwift.”

One lesson that emerged from the analysis was that the riders who are most successful on the road, such as Froome and 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal, were not necessarily as effective in virtual races.

Diegner believes this was because successful road riders did not adjust to the nuances of virtual racing as well as others, but he expects them to start replicating their road success in virtual races with time and experience.

“Take Egan Bernal in the Team INEOS eRace on Zwift,” Diegner added. “He wasn’t competitive. That may be because he did not go all-out and was treating it as a training effort. But ultimately, once a rider with his capability gets used to the intensity, he will start winning like he does on the road.

“It is similar with sprints. Someone like [former three-time world champion] Peter Sagan might not get virtual racing right to begin with, but when he learns when and how to expend his power, he will start winning with the same regularity as on the road. Knowing when to start the sprint and how to reach max power in online races is a skill that has to be developed.”

Industry News

IGSA Celebrates 25th Anniversary

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The International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) is celebrating 25 years of its role in support of gaming industry standards.

IGSA president Peter DeRaedt said: “In addition to the many champions and pioneers of our technical standards, we’re also proud and honoured to have featured a keynote video by Trevor Croker, CEO of Aristocrat Leisure, a founding IGSA member, and this week to feature a keynote video address by Rich Schneider, chief product officer of Light & Wonder and another 25-year IGSA member.”

Mark Pace, vice-president of the IGSA, said: “It has been great to see the congratulations and well wishes come in from all over the world from our current and former members, friends and colleagues.

“These companies have joined in celebrating IGSA’s 25-year anniversary through video messages that we have posted on our social media channels and website.

“We invite all our current and past members to join us at our annual meeting celebration and get-together at Canaletto in the Palazzo on October 10 while you’re at G2E.”

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Industry News

Former iGaming Director Unveils Holistic Wellbeing Platform for the Gaming industry

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Former iGaming Director Unveils Holistic Wellbeing Platform for the Gaming industry
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HabitRewire, an industry leader in health and wellbeing for the iGaming sector, announced the debut of its innovative iGaming wellbeing platform. The turnkey white-label wellbeing solution can be accessed at any time, anywhere via a user-friendly app, helping employees across the world improve their wellbeing 24/7, inside and outside the workplace.

Presented as a ready-to-use white-label solution that can be branded as the company’s own, it offers an holistic, wide-ranging, and result-driven wellbeing solution that can be instantly deployed.

The platform draws upon HabitRewire’s ‘Habit Rewiring’ methodology, which is backed by robust scientific evidence. This innovative method is engineered to stimulate sustainable behavioural change, helping employees use daily practices to build the skills and habits to improve their physical health, mental wellbeing, and workplace productivity.

“True health and wellness stretch beyond diet and exercise,” affirmed Leo Judkins, Founder of HabitRewire. “Our platform delivers personalised, comprehensive wellbeing interactions across nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, time management and productivity to help employees reach their goals efficiently and effectively, wherever they are.”

The uniqueness of HabitRewire’s platform lies in its CRM capabilities and unique focus on the iGaming industry, reflecting Judkins’ rich, 12-year experience as a CRM Director in the field. His extensive knowledge from developing marketing automation platforms and managing global marketing teams, combined with personal journey of losing 35kg has directly influenced the creation of the HabitRewire platform.

“We use behavioural data, customer segmentation, and automated lifecycle campaigns to create personalised interactions throughout the employees entire wellbeing journey. From the initial stages of activation, onboarding and engagement, right through to retention and reactivation phases.” Judkins noted.

HabitRewire’s platform incorporates an various features such as weekly challenges, daily check-ins, community chats for peer-to-peer encouragement, leaderboards, workouts, recipe books and lifestyle guides.

Designed with the modern workforce in mind, the platform provides employee with a personalised dashboard that includes training advice, nutrition tips, and recovery strategies. The app allows users to schedule coaching calls with a team of experts that includes certified nutritionists, online personal trainers, sleep coaches, stress management professionals, and behaviour change specialists. Additionally, users can track their progress in real-time and sync their data with wearables and services like Apple Health.

“Most wellbeing solutions aren’t accessible for the employees who need it the most. They simply don’t have the time or energy to participate, which a key part of the problem. Our objective is to help people achieve their health and wellbeing goals, no matter where they are in their journey or what’s going on in their life right now” stated Judkins.

HabitRewire’s innovative platform signifies the shift towards proactive and individual care in the workplace, delivering wellbeing solutions directly to employees’ fingertips, no matter if they work from home or from an office.

Companies using HabitRewire’s platform can expect enhanced performance, increased productivity, and a significantly improved working environment. All quantified in weekly management reports that show measurable results.

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Australia

What are Some of the Best Games Developed by Australian game Developers?

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The Australian game development industry has been gaining traction in recent years, with many talented developers creating innovative and engaging games across a variety of genres. Australian game developers have made a significant impact on the gaming industry, with games such as “Hollow Knight,” “Unto the End,” and “Hand of Fate” gaining critical acclaim and a dedicated following.

This blog post will highlight some of the best games developed by Australian game developers and explore their unique features and gameplay mechanics. Additionally, we will discuss the relationship between Australian game development and the casino/gambling industry, highlighting successful collaborations between game developers and casinos/gambling sites.

The Australian game development industry has also been instrumental in shaping the future of gaming, with many developers pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of gameplay, graphics, and storytelling. As technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Australian game developers adapt to new trends and emerging technologies

Top Games Developed by Australian Developers

Australian game developers have created some truly outstanding games that have gained critical acclaim and a dedicated following. Here, we will provide an overview of the top games developed by Australian developers.

“Hollow Knight” – Developed by Team Cherry, “Hollow Knight” is a 2D action-adventure game that has garnered widespread praise for its atmospheric world-building, challenging gameplay, and intricate level design. The game’s stunning hand-drawn visuals and haunting soundtrack create an immersive experience that draws players into a dark and mysterious world.

“Unto the End” – Developed by 2 Ton Studios, “Unto the End” is a 2D side-scrolling action game that emphasizes realistic combat mechanics and player choice. The game’s striking visuals and moody soundtrack set the stage for a challenging and engaging experience that rewards careful observation and strategic thinking.

“Hand of Fate” – Developed by Defiant Development, “Hand of Fate” is a unique blend of action RPG and card game mechanics. Players navigate a series of randomly generated dungeons, battling enemies and collecting loot, while card-based mechanics determine the flow of the game. The game’s atmospheric visuals and immersive sound design make for a compelling and memorable experience.

“The Gardens Between” – Developed by The Voxel Agents, “The Gardens Between” is a puzzle game that centers around time manipulation mechanics. Players navigate a series of surreal, dreamlike environments, manipulating time to solve puzzles and progress through the game. The game’s stunning visuals and evocative music create a mesmerizing experience that is both relaxing and thought-provoking.

“Crossy Road” – Developed by Hipster Whale, “Crossy Road” is a mobile game that has gained widespread popularity for its addictive gameplay and charming visuals. Players navigate a series of obstacles, attempting to cross a busy road without getting hit by cars. The game’s bright and colorful graphics and catchy soundtrack make for a fun and engaging experience.

Australian Game Developers and the Casino Industry

The Australian game development industry has played a significant role in the casino and gambling industry. Australian game developers have created a wide range of games that are popular among casino players, including slot machines, table games, and online casino games.

One of the reasons Australian game developers have become popular in the casino industry is their expertise in creating visually appealing and immersive games. These games are designed to engage players and keep them coming back for more. Additionally, many Australian game developers have a background in creating video games, which has allowed them to bring a unique perspective to casino game design.

Another factor that has contributed to the success of Australian game developers in the casino industry is their focus on innovation. Many Australian game developers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of game design and technology. This has led to the creation of new and exciting games that offer players a fresh and engaging experience.

The success of Australian game developers in the casino industry has not gone unnoticed. Many of the world’s largest casino and gambling companies have partnered with Australian game developers and some of the best bitcoin gambling sites are now offering these games to their users. These partnerships have also resulted in creation of some of the most popular games in the casino industry, such as “Lightning Link” and “Dragon Link” by Aristocrat, and “Big Red” and “Queen of the Nile” by Ainsworth.

Australian Game Developers and the Future of Gaming.

Furthermore, Australian game developers have been instrumental in the growth of online gambling. Many online gambling sites now offer a wide range of games developed by Australian game developers, including online slots, table games, and video poker. The availability of these games has helped to attract a new generation of online gamblers who are looking for exciting and engaging games.

The Australian game development industry has been at the forefront of innovation, with many developers pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of gameplay, graphics, and storytelling. As technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Australian game developers adapt to new trends and emerging technologies.

One of the most significant trends in gaming is the growth of mobile gaming. As more and more people use their mobile devices to play games, Australian game developers have been quick to capitalize on this trend by developing games specifically for mobile platforms. Many Australian game developers have created mobile versions of their popular games, which has helped to broaden their reach and attract new players.

Another emerging trend in gaming is the rise of virtual and augmented reality. While still in its early stages, virtual and augmented reality has the potential to revolutionize the gaming industry. Australian game developers are at the forefront of this trend, with many already developing games that take advantage of this technology. The use of virtual and augmented reality in gaming could potentially create an entirely new gaming experience, where players are fully immersed in the game world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Australian game development industry has made a significant impact on the gaming industry, creating some of the most popular and innovative games in recent years. Their focus on immersive gameplay, stunning visuals, and innovative mechanics has helped to shape the future of gaming.

Moreover, the Australian game development industry has been instrumental in the growth of the casino and gambling industry, with many of their games becoming some of the most popular in the industry. Their expertise in creating visually appealing and engaging games has helped to attract new players to the industry.

Looking to the future, Australian game developers are well-positioned to take advantage of emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality. With their track record of innovation and creativity, we can expect to see Australian game developers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in gaming, creating new and exciting experiences for players around the world.

In addition, as the gaming industry continues to grow, we can expect to see a greater focus on inclusivity and diversity. Australian game developers have already demonstrated a commitment to creating games that feature diverse characters and storylines, and this trend is likely to continue in the future.

Overall, the Australian game development industry has proven to be a significant contributor to the gaming industry, and it is important to recognize their achievements and contributions. As the industry continues to evolve and grow, we can expect to see Australian game developers play an even greater role in shaping its future.

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