The esports industry has developed rapidly since the pandemic ©Getty Images

USA Cycling along with Project Echelon have decided to include multiple age categories, apart from the men’s and women’s elite divisions, in the upcoming Esports National Cycling Championships 2022 starting on February 20.

The tournament will be hosted on virtual cycling app RGT Cycling.  

"We are happy to be able to work with our partners to host an Esports National Championship this year, and recognise the athletes and team that have made this a vibrant new form of competition over the past few years," said USA Cycling chief of racing and events Chuck Hodge.

The elite men and women will race three laps, with each lap being 27.79 kilometres, with 319 metres of elevation gain, not including any lead-in.

The same course will be used for men and women in the 35-50 and 50-60 age categories and participants from the category will race two laps each.

Participants in the 11-16 and 17-18 age categories will race one lap each.

All racers must hold a USA Cycling racing license in order to be eligible.

The registration fee for the event will be £7.44 ($10/€8.94) per race.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) Esports World Championships, hosted by the Zwift platform, will begin soon after on February 26.