All stages will be broadcasted live on different DPG platforms (such as ad.nl) and on the Team Jumbo-Visma website. The races always start with a neutralised first half. This gives commentators Hidde van Warmerdam, Thijs Zonneveld and Marc de Maar the opportunity to interview the riders and coaches with whom they are connected via webcam. In this way the virtual race gets not only a sportive but also a journalistic perspective. Moreover, Team Jumbo-Visma attributes great importance to the social character of the e-race.

“It’s a welcome sporting incentive, the honour is at stake, but it’s also valuable to bring our riders together in this way”, says Merijn Zeeman, sportive director of Team Jumbo-Visma.

Because all riders of the team have the same material at their disposal, a Tacx smart trainer, the competition is fairer than during the e-races in which the participants don’t have the same resources. The series is organised on the Zwift platform. This is one of the few platforms on which virtually riding in the wheel actually leads to a lower physical effort and therefore more tactical racing is possible.

Richard Plugge, director of Team Jumbo-Visma, is happy with the collaboration with De Persgroep (DPG). “We try to generate as much exposure as possible for our team and our partners in these times without road races. This concept fits in very well with that. The fact that DPG supports this initiative provides us with the added value we were looking for.”

Plugge and Zeeman will be interviewed live in the broadcast tomorrow by the commentary trio. After the e-race Mike Teunissen will also lead a social ride that is open to everyone. This will also be broadcasted live, including an extensive interview with Teunissen.

Watch live the first stage of the Team Jumbo-Visma eCompetition