As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to look back on another milestone year for The Coalition — a year filled with racing success, community growth, and countless moments that reminded us why this team is such a special corner of the virtual (and IRL) cycling world.
Not only has the community celebrated countless moments together racing online, but more of you decided to get together and ride IRL. This is the true sense of a community – where strangers become lifelong friends. Love it!
The Coalition turned four
We kicked off the year by celebrating The Coalition’s fourth birthday. What started as a small group of riders has grown into one of the biggest and most active communities on Zwift.
We held our place as the second-largest team in the Zwift Racing League and officially entered the top ten largest teams on the platform — a testament to the energy and commitment of riders across every time zone.
Meetups & community rides
Beyond the headline results, 2025 was a year of connection and creativity through weekly meetups and community events.
Highlights included:
- Segment of the Month
- Mass ladder races
- London PRL Full and PRL Half badge-hunting rides
These events remain the heartbeat of the team — where new riders find their footing and veterans keep coming back.
More than just an esports community, the Coalition also met in real life, with IRL meetups in:
- Glasgow (to watch the women’s Tour of Britain)
- Berlin & Hamburg
- Michigan
- Mallorca
- California
... to name but a few!
Zwift Racing League: strength in depth
Our Zwift Racing League squads once again delivered across all divisions. From seasoned ZRL racers to breakout performances, the depth of talent across the roster has never been stronger.
Week after week, riders showed tactical sharpness, consistency, and the trademark Coalition grit that has become our identity. You can also read my 2024/2025 Season overview here.
We always encourage the sharing of race reports within the community to champion the performances of teams and individuals at all levels and spread the love. Some of the following quotes demonstrate the unbreakable attitude of our members:
“Six times up the escalator was a little spicy – but our teamwork was spicier.”
“Who needs an anvil anyway when you have strong legs to get to super-tuck speed?!”
“I 💜 my TENACITY teammates who put everything they have out on the course every ZRL race. Dropped chains, hotel A/C, nothing could keep us from our plan… and we did it!”
Ladder League continues to grow
Probably the fastest growing race series in recent years, Ladder League has evolved from a few founding teams to one of the most popular formats on Zwift.
Coalition participation has followed a similar trend and we now have over 15 teams and nearly 200 racers, covering all time zones and a wide spread of vELO categories.
Our Diamond-ranked team Akkadium peaked at number one in the Americas and number two in the world rankings. Here’s to seeing them hit the top spot in 2026 (no pressure).
We also had two riders become the second and third ever to reach 100 ladder races:
- Nils Hagendorf
- Dave Grindrod
A huge achievement for two ever-present figures in the ladder racing scene.
Even more racing!
Wherever there is racing, Coalition will be present.
Throughout 2025, Coalition racers and teams took part in:
In a year where ECRO stepped forward as a larger player in the e-racing calendar, it was great to see volunteers organising and arranging teams to compete.
No matter which series emerge in 2026, one thing is guaranteed: The Coalition will be there, ready to race and have fun.
Coalition Champs 👑
The annual Coalition Champs brought together riders from every corner of the team for bragging rights, big efforts, and even bigger celebrations.
With stacked categories and fierce competition, the Champs once again highlighted the diversity and strength of our community — and, as always, the pre- and post-race Discord banter did not disappoint.
Champions of 2025
- A: Jesse Bauer, Janneke Michielsen
- B: Tilo Staudacher, Louise Deak
- C: James Balloch, Joanna Borowik
- D: Alastair Van Der Vlies
Ollie Jones wins the Zwift World Series
One of the standout achievements of the year came from the very top of the sport: Ollie Jones taking the overall win in the Zwift World Series.
His consistency, racecraft, and sheer power set the tone for the elite squad all season long. It was a defining moment not just for Ollie, but for the entire Coalition community cheering him on.
UCI Esports World Championships
The UCI Esports Worlds delivered another proud moment as Michal Kaminski took second place in this year’s event.
Combined with Lionel Vujasin’s second place in 2024, this marks the second consecutive year The Coalition has placed a rider on the podium at the biggest race in the sport — an incredible achievement for a community-driven team.
Rapha Festive 500
As the year closed, many riders completed the annual Rapha Festive 500.
Whether indoors, outdoors, or a mix of both, it remains the perfect way to finish the year and roll into 2026 with tired legs and full hearts. The Coalition hosted public and private events throughout the challenge, focusing on some of the more exclusive routes available.
The road ahead
2025 was a year of milestones, podiums, and unforgettable moments.
But more than anything, it showcased what makes The Coalition truly special: a community built on support, competition, and the shared joy of riding bikes — virtually or otherwise. We have lots of great things in the works for the new year, so watch this space!
Here’s to an even bigger 2026. Ride on, Coalition.
If you're not already a member – then there has never been a better time to join! Find out everything you need to know here.
Last but not least, here's me on a BMX ;)
