Here’s the latest news out of the Pho3nix Sub7 and Sub8 Project: the Phoenix Foundation and Mana Global have announced Zwift coming onboard as presenting partner.
Now known as the Pho3nix Sub7 and Sub8 Project Powered by Zwift, the audacious attempt to break seven hours for men and eight hours for women over the full distance of triathlon will most likely see similar engagement on the world’s leading cycling and running virtual platform as we have seen with other sporting properties that have partnered with Zwift, like the Tour de France and the PTO Collins Cup.
Mana CEO Chris McCormack notes how Zwift’s star has risen among endurance athletes. He says: “In the past year especially we’ve seen how training on Zwift is so valuable not just for amateurs but also professionals to train consistently, safely, and still with that social aspect that is integral to making sport enjoyable. The Pho3nix Sub7 and Sub8 Project Powered by Zwift is an extraordinary attempt that requires everything to go right for our athletes. Getting the training right is key, and our partnership with Zwift makes that possible.”
Zwift CEO and co-founder Eric Min says: “We’re immensely proud that so many of the world’s professional triathletes choose to train on Zwift. In this event every second will count towards breaking the ambitious targets. We are confident that Zwift will play a significant part in helping the four athletes to achieve their goals whilst having some fun along the way.”
Here’s what the Sub7 and Sub8 athletes have to say about riding on Zwift.
Alistair Brownlee: “It’s no secret that I much prefer riding outside when I possibly can, but I think that Zwift has changed it from something that I really don’t like doing to something that I find quite fun because there’s a competitive element of racing other people all around the world. For some reason it gets the most out of me in that competitive situation. Whether it’s me as a professional athlete and it encourages, inspires, and motivates me to do physical activity, or someone who gets inspired to do the hour of cycling before work or that hour on a weekday evening — I think Zwift does that, so I think that is genuinely awesome.”
Lucy Charles-Barclay: “I’ve been an avid user of Zwift since very early on into my triathlon training. I do live in a very busy area near London, so a lot of my training is done indoors. I can ride with other athletes, I can make group rides, so if I want to ride with my friends during the lockdown, we all ride on there together. I love that Zwift is coming on board.”
Kristian Blummenfelt: “You can get so much more out of your threshold session by being on Zwift and also kind of the community they have there. Even though you’re riding by yourself in your basement, you can still feel like you’re riding with your mates from Spain and France and all around the world. You feel that you’re a part of something more than just riding for yourself.”
The Pho3nix Sub7 and Sub8 Project Powered by Zwift represents the marriage and control of every conceivable variable to deliver the fastest time humanly possible. This is not just a race. This is the chance for a place among the pantheon of sporting greats. A chance to become a household name. A chance to be the fastest.
