Thomas de Gendt has announced that he has received a last-minute wildcard invitation to compete in the first edition of the Esports World Championships on December 9.

De Gendt, an expert in the Lot Soudal escape, will join the Belgian team, which includes Victor Kampenaerts and cyclocross European champion Eli Iserbeath, as well as Esteban Chavez, Rigoberto Uran, Tom Pidcock, Alberto Bettiol Cory Williams, and Lawson Craddock also made the final start list.

Twenty national teams and two wildcard teams will take part in the 50 km virtual race on the Zwift platform. The women's start list includes Annemiek van Fruten, Ashley Moolman Pasio, and Anna van der Breggen, with big-name professional riders competing against Esports' top racers.

The Esports World Champion will receive a special virtual jersey for their avatar and a real version to wear at UCI Cycling Esports events during the 2021 season. The jersey will feature the iconic rainbow band, but with a pixel design to symbolize the new digital discipline of racing.

Both men and women will compete on a 50km course held on Zwift's Watopia Figure 8 Reverse course, finishing at the top of the Hilly Q/KOM. At 483m elevation, this course is suitable for riders of all-round ability.

Riders will compete remotely from their homes or training bases, similar to a virtual Tour de France. The data and performance of the athletes will also be provided by Zwift. Athlete data and performance will also be verified by Zwift.

Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab) noted that although de Gendt represented Belgium in individual time trials in 2011, 2012, and 2013, he has never been selected for a world championship road race as an elite athlete.

De Gendt finished fourth in the Virtual Tour of Flanders in April, but famously retired after running at over 500 watts in the Zwift race.

"Virtual racing with amateurs is fun, but competing against the best in the world is very tough. It was really tough," he replied at the time. It was the hardest thing I've ever done on a bike."

Cyclingnews will provide full coverage of the Esports World Championships.