The Mackay-born ARA-Pro Racing Sunshine Coast rider Bogna lined alongside four other Australians vying for the chance to ride as a professional in Europe, and won his way through the final selection process, announced via a reality television-style Zwift Academy show over five episodes.
The arduous qualifying process saw 150,000 riders attempt the Academy process, with the final group of five men and five women whittled down from the crowd to compete in the finals in Mallorca, Spain.
There, team riders and staff of CANYON//SRAM and Alpecin-Fenix were present to put the contenders through their paces.
Australians Rachael Wales (Velofit), Sam Hill (Nero Continental), Cooper Sayers (Nero Continental), Imogen Alton (Women’s Racing Project) and Bogna competed against Bermudan Caitlin Conyers, South African Byron Munton, Dane Mads Rahbek, and Dutch riders Willemijn Prins and Maud Oudeman.
By the final episode, an Australian was guaranteed to go through in the men's, with Bogna, Sayers and Hill the final three contestants in the men's while Wales was still in with a chance against Conyers and Oudeman.
Bogna and Oudeman were the final challenge winners, a virtual mountainous race on Zwift, though that didn't guarantee selection, with performance over the Zwift Academy and other factors taken into account.
Oudeman continued her dominant performance throughout the process, winning the final challenge by over a minute and a half with Wales the closest challenger.
Bogna, Hill and Sayers had acquitted themselves well over the first few days, with Hill impressing with his massive power output, Sayers with his sprinting and versatility, while Bogna had emerged as the best climber. The 19-year-old was also the youngest rider left in the men's field and displayed his form and resilience to win the final challenge convincingly and the grand prize of the Alpecin-Fenix contract.
“Zwift Academy is just such a fantastic opportunity,” said Bogna. “When I found out I’d made it to the finals I was so happy. I wanted to have a great week of riding and really give myself a chance of winning the contract. Honestly, I’m in shock. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Bogna follows in the cleats of fellow Australians Jay Vine and Neve Bradbury, who won through to pro deals in the Zwift Academy last year, with both securing contract extensions after good neo-pro seasons. Both were on hand to watch their new teammates in action, alongside stars Mathieu van der Poel and Kasia Niewiadoma.
You can find interviews with Zwift Academy finalists Imogen Alton and Cooper Sayers below.
