Canyon-SRAM name 2019 Zwift Academy winner

The Canyon-SRAM women's UCI team has announced the winner o f the 2019 Zwift Academy, with Kiwi Ella Harris taking the prize and earning a contract to race with the team next year.

Canyon-SRAM started the Zwift Academy two years ago, allowing amateur riders chance to train with the team and try to prove themselves worthy of racing at the top level. Tanja Erath, the 2018 winner, raced with the team this year and recently signed an extension contract for 2019.

After a challenging week of finals at the team's first training camp in Málaga, Spain, Harris emerged with the victory.

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“What another fantastic year it’s been for the Canyon-SRAM Zwift Academy,” said Kate Veronneau, the academy leader at Zwift. “While the champions of the Zwift Academy receive the headline, and rightly so, it’s important to highlight the thousands of women who took part in the Academy - many with very different objectives to the winner. It’s fantastic to be a part of such a community and championing women’s cycling.”

The third year of the innovative talent identification program saw participation numbers double, with 5,000 women taking part.

"Each year the Canyon-SRAM Zwift Academy provides women the opportunity to challenge their fitness, join an inspiring community of women who ride, and the chance for some to achieve their dream of a professional contract with Canyon/SRAM Racing," the team said in a statement released with today's announcement.

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