All sorts of live events have been postponed or flat-out cancelled in 2020 but many are being reimagined as immersive online experiences, including a virtual Tour de France. Usually, the professional road cycling competition is held in July and it has been pushed back to late August.
Zwift, the online cycling and running physical training program, will be hosting a virtual Tour de France over the course of three weekends starting July 4th—and professional cyclists will be competing. While the virtual event won't be an exact replica of the grueling road cycling competition, there will be six stages, each of which takes about an hour to complete. For the event, riders will see their virtual avatars cycling in Watopia, a fictional world with details taken from French coastal towns to enhance the atmosphere.
Virtual Cycling Tours
Professional Cyclists Will Be Competing in a Virtual Tour De France
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Sports Events - Virtual events, such as the virtual Tour de France, are being created as immersive online experiences in place of canceled live events.
2. Immersive Online Experiences - The popularity of immersive online experiences, like the virtual Tour de France, is on the rise as a way to engage audiences and provide unique entertainment.
3. Integration of Virtual Reality - The integration of virtual reality technology in virtual sports events, like the virtual Tour de France, presents opportunities for enhanced user experience and realistic simulations.
Industry Implications
1. Sports and Fitness - The sports and fitness industry can embrace the trend of virtual sports events, like the virtual Tour de France, to attract and engage a wider audience.
2. Online Entertainment - Online entertainment platforms and streaming services can explore partnerships with virtual event organizers, like the virtual Tour de France, to provide users with unique and immersive experiences.
3. Virtual Reality Technology - The virtual reality technology industry can seize the opportunity to develop and provide innovative solutions for virtual sports events, like the virtual Tour de France, to enhance user engagement and interaction.