

Industry News
Virtual bike races as hard as Tour de France, says expert
- Virtual cycle races take place of cancelled road races
- Big names like Chris Froome have been taking part
- Cycling data expert says virtual races are proving to be just as hard as the real thing
Virtual cycle racing is proving to be just as hard as road races such as the Tour de France, according to professional riders and a leading sports data analyst.
Races on virtual platforms such as Zwift and ROUVY have filled the void left by the cancellation of professional road races over the past few weeks, with big-name riders like Chris Froome and Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet taking part in events such as the Digital Swiss 5, the Zwift Tour for All and the Team INEOS eRace on Zwift.
Together with a panel of cycling experts from bonusfinder.com, professional cycling coach and data scientist Philipp Diegner – who regularly analyses UCI WorldTour races – has assessed the publicly available performance data from more than 200 efforts made by pro riders in recent virtual races.
Although virtual races are up to six times shorter than road races, Diegner said they have proved to be just as difficult as road races and have caught some professionals off guard. ”The racing is short and particularly intense,” he explained. “It is 45-90 minutes of racing instead of 3-6 hours. The consequence for the riders is that there is no opportunity to save energy like they have in road races, so they have to make prolonged, all-out efforts that push them to their physical limit.
“Professionals are not necessarily used to this and it can be a shock to the system. Virtual racing is as hard as road racing; it is just that endurance is a more decisive factor in road racing, whereas virtual racing is one hour of pure, intense suffering.”
Pro rider Chris Hamilton, who rides for Team Sunweb, agreed with Diegner when he described one virtual race as “the hardest thing I have ever done”.
Diegner selected the following 10 performances as the most impressive he has seen in the professional virtual races to date.
Rider | Team | Race | Time | Speed (avg km/h) | Power (avg watts) | W/kg (avg) | Ride Info Source |
Chris Hamilton | Team Sunweb | Digital Swiss 5 Race 5 | 01:00:13 | 37.7 | 393 | 6.05 | Strava |
Filippo Ganna | Team INEOS | Digital Swiss 5 Race 2 | 00:55:17 | 48.7 | 463 | 5.51 | Strava |
James Piccoli | Israel Start-Up Nation | Zwift Tour for All Stage 3 | 01:41:56 | 42.7 | 335 | 5.2 | Zwift Companion |
Louis Meintjes | NTT Pro Cycling | Zwift Tour for All Stage 5 | 01:23:40 | 33.3 | 323 | 5.7 | Zwift Companion |
Stefan De Bod | NTT Pro Cycling | Zwift Tour for All Stage 5 | 01:23:49 | 33.3 | 357 | 5.4 | Zwift Companion |
Nicolas Roche | Team Sunweb | Digital Swiss 5 Race 3 | 01:12:11 | 27.9 | 391 | 5.51 | Strava |
Pello Bilbao | Bahrain – McLaren | Zwift Tour for All Stage 3 | 01:42:39 | 42.4 | 330 | 5.5 | Zwift Companion |
Rohan Dennis | Team INEOS | Team INEOS eRace on Zwift | 00:58:01 | 29.2 | 373 | 5.18 | Zwift Companion |
Tobias Ludvigsson | Groupama – FDJ | Digital Swiss 5 Race 4 | 00:48:00 | 46 | 428 | 5.63 | Strava |
Nicolas Roche | Team Sunweb | Digital Swiss 5 Race 3 | 00:54:17 | 29.4 | 397 | 5.59 | Strava
|
Watts per kilogram is widely recognised as the most accurate barometer of effort in pro cycling. It takes the average power a rider produces over a set period of time and divides it by their weight in kilograms. The hardest road races require the winner to produce about 4/wkg over five hours. In virtual races, the winners have been nudging 6w/kg for between one hour and 1hr 45min.
Diegner said: “Chris Hamilton only finished fourth in race five of the Digital Swiss 5 but riding for one hour at 6.05w/kg is world class. He rode the last 12 minutes at 6.58w/kg, which would win him most WorldTour mountain stages.
“James Piccoli’s win on stage three of the Zwift Tour for All was a similarly amazing effort. He rode for one and a half hours at over 5w/kg and then kicked again and rode the last six minutes 25 seconds at 6.46w/kg. That’s unimaginable for amateur riders on Zwift.”
One lesson that emerged from the analysis was that the riders who are most successful on the road, such as Froome and 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal, were not necessarily as effective in virtual races.
Diegner believes this was because successful road riders did not adjust to the nuances of virtual racing as well as others, but he expects them to start replicating their road success in virtual races with time and experience.
“Take Egan Bernal in the Team INEOS eRace on Zwift,” Diegner added. “He wasn’t competitive. That may be because he did not go all-out and was treating it as a training effort. But ultimately, once a rider with his capability gets used to the intensity, he will start winning like he does on the road.
“It is similar with sprints. Someone like [former three-time world champion] Peter Sagan might not get virtual racing right to begin with, but when he learns when and how to expend his power, he will start winning with the same regularity as on the road. Knowing when to start the sprint and how to reach max power in online races is a skill that has to be developed.”
Industry News
TaDa Compares the Market for Fishing-Shooting Games

TaDa Gaming continues to raise awareness of its unique fishing-shooting games through its recently launched Fi/Sh Experience Campaign.
Combining fishing, shooting and gaming, the new vertical offers strategic gameplay, with players targeting specific fish based on their multiplier value. With each shot fired placing a wager, it is the equivalent to a spin on a slot game, making fishing-shooting games recognisable, RNG, casino entertainment products.
However, fishing-shooting games offer a completely different player experience to spinning the reels and so TaDa began its 2025 global roadshows at ICE Barcelona with the aim of demystifying these exciting releases.
A key takeaway is in understanding the difference between slots and fishing-shooting games. With no reels or paylines, players target and shoot fish or creatures to win rewards from successful hits.
Unlike slots, this requires strategic decision making as to: target choice based on multiplier value or facility to trigger a bonus game; choice in weapons used; and an understanding of how to benefit from the many exciting bonus features including Power Ups, Immortal Bosses and Awakening Events.
The option to choose one of three “rooms” based on different volatility and wager levels in the same game gives players choices that do not usually exist with slots and makes every experience more personalised.
Graphics and animations are comparable to video gaming while real time shooting mechanics, alongside multiplayer capability, ensure fishing-shooting games are not an alternative to slots but a whole new experience.
In-built tutorials, demo play options and on-screen tips alongside a detailed paytable to provide a clear roadmap for successful play mean TaDa games deliver a straightforward and safe experience for all types of players to try these new titles.
Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Many players have gravitated to our fishing-shooting games looking for skill influenced gameplay, strategic choices, a more interactive and dynamic experience and multiplayer options.
“The flexibility in starting with a low volatility exposure and being able to change options within the same RNG game is very appealing. There is also the recognition that the wager process is similar to slots which makes players more comfortable.
“Furthermore, our releases including Bombing Fishing, Mega Fishing and Jackpot Fishing are localised for different markets and we have also optimised download times for superlight deployment making the games attractive across multiple demographics and jurisdictions.
“We are very excited about our fishing-shooting games and are delighted to be working to make them ever more accessible to players and operators.”
The post TaDa Compares the Market for Fishing-Shooting Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry News
ZEAL Network CEO Helmut Becker Will Not Extend His Contract Beyond January 2026

Dr. Helmut Becker, CEO of ZEAL Network, has informed the Supervisory Board of the company of his decision not to extend his contract, which runs until January 31, 2026. The 56-year-old has decided to pursue his own entrepreneurial activities in the future after many years as a top manager. Dr Becker will then leave the company after more than twelve years on the Executive Board of ZEAL Network SE, including more than ten as CEO. He will remain fully committed to ZEAL as CEO until the end of his contract term and will ensure a smooth transition of his duties to a successor.
“ZEAL is in an excellent position to continue to grow in the future. After almost ten years as CEO, I have decided that now is the right time to pursue my own entrepreneurial endeavours. This has been a difficult decision for me. I will especially miss our exceptionally strong team and the unique culture we have built together, characterised by innovation, customer focus and team spirit. I will continue to work hard until the end of my term to achieve the goals we have set together,” said Dr Becker.
Dr Becker informed the Supervisory Board of ZEAL Network SE about his decision at an early stage, and the Supervisory Board will immediately initiate a structured process for the succession of the CEO.
Peter Steiner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said: “The Supervisory Board of ZEAL Network SE has noted with great regret Helmut Becker’s decision not to seek a contract extension. Helmut Becker has played a decisive role in taking ZEAL’s business development to a new level. Under his leadership, ZEAL has established itself as a market leader in the online lottery market, significantly expanded its customer base and crucially broadened its offering through innovative product development. On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank him for his outstanding commitment and strategic vision. We wish him all the best for his personal life and professional career.”
Dr Becker has been CEO of ZEAL Network since September 1, 2015, after serving as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for over two years. Prior to joining the Executive Board, he was a member of the Supervisory Board of ZEAL for two years. Previously, he served as Chief Commercial Officer on the Management Board of XING AG and held various management positions at eBay Germany and as a management consultant at McKinsey. As CEO, Dr Becker was responsible for the acquisition of LOTTO24 AG, the return of ZEAL to Germany and the expansion of the portfolio to include freiheit+, Games and Traumhausverlosung.
The post ZEAL Network CEO Helmut Becker Will Not Extend His Contract Beyond January 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affiliate Industry
Gamblorium Enhances Casino Reviews with Updated Rating System

Gamblorium, a trusted online casino affiliate platform, announces its new and improved casino rating system. This updated system is designed to give players even more accurate and transparent rankings for online casinos. Since 2020, Gamblorium has been known for providing honest and expert-tested casino reviews. With this updated rating system, Gamblorium continues to ensure players can easily find the best gambling sites.
The new rating system combines three key components: Gamblorium Score, Player Score and Market Score. These scores are based on a 100-point scale, providing players with a clear and reliable way to choose casinos that meet their preferences.
Main features of Gamblorium’s new rating system:
• Gamblorium score: The Gamblorium Score evaluates casinos based on over 100 criteria, including payment methods, game options, security and user experience. Unlike other platforms, Gamblorium uses a relative and flexible approach, meaning casinos are ranked based on their strengths within their market. This score also incorporates Expert Scoring, ensuring that the most important factors are weighted appropriately.
• Player score: The Player Score is based on feedback from real users. Players can leave reviews only if they have registered or played at the casino, ensuring honest and up-to-date feedback. This makes the reviews highly reliable and reflective of the actual player experience.
• Market score: The Market Score helps balance the overall rating by considering the views of other trusted gambling platforms. This adds another layer of objectivity and ensures that Gamblorium’s reviews remain fair and unbiased.
The post Gamblorium Enhances Casino Reviews with Updated Rating System appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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