b'You can only do so much by yourself. We all have roles within the team and being able to play your role and get the best out of each other is absolutely crucial.the encouragement to pushMuch of what Thrall saysthe avatar. on is key to success. flies in the face of so manyIn many ways what Thrall Teamwork is not just criticalsporting stereotypes.is achieving in esports is for racing either, he adds. Whether its the notion ofhugely symbolic for a world Even before you get totunnel vision individualism orof remote working and virtual the race a strong team isthe dominance of assertive Alpha males, he is quick toteams. Many have argued really what motivates you indebunk myths and show thethat its making sports more training, he explains. Youdifferent qualities required foraccessible by allowing those can only do so much byan elite cyclist. to compete who normally yourself. We all have roleswouldnt have the time to within the team and beingYou can be a very reserved able to play your role and getand quiet individual, hetravel to races or give up the best out of each other isexplains. What it takes iswhole weekends.absolutely crucial. those natural instincts ofThrall smiles when this is put not wanting anyone to beatto him and says hes actually When asked what his roleyou and pushing yourself in the team is, he says thatas deep as you need to go.never met some of his sprinting is his strength. MyYou dont need to be thatteam mates. role is to be unnoticed forassertive type A personalityWe have riders in New as long as possible until iteither. Theres nothing wrongZealand, Japan and across really matters and I makewith the quiet leader thatEurope, he grins. Weve only that attack, he says. But atyou almost wouldnt expectconnected virtually but its different times Ive had to playto win. But theyre strategicamazing the bond we have different roles. Sometimes itin their thinking. You can bebetween riders. You feel like is to be a domestique and justa great athlete but terribleyou know these people really work for somebody else oron the bike. Its thinkingwell. We chat pretty much sacrificing yourself by makingunder pressure that makes attacks so people chase yousomeone great.non-stop throughout the day.and then somebody else canTeamwork, performanceThat bond comes across all win the race. But at the end ofand a collective will to pushtoo clearly, as his passion the day Im happy to do whatyourselves further are notfor the team is self-evident. the team needs. Sometimesthe only values guiding thisIts shared by countless its not what you want, butteam, though. So too is aother riders too and, as their you always do whats best forcommitment to transparencyavatars move through digitally the team. to uphold sporting values ofrendered cities every week One of the most excitingfairness and respect. in virtual leagues, theyre aspects about developing aWe openly share our data,pushing more than physical winning team, Thrall explains,he says, and what thisboundaries. From bedrooms is learning about differentmeans is our power files orto garages and basements peoples strengths and howthe equipment youre usingall over the world, the Zwift you work together. Thereand openly posting yourriders are not just growing a are people we race againstheight and weight verification who on paper look a lot moredata. We also stream ournew and exciting sport, but skilled, he says, but they justperformances because itredefining teamwork.make bad choices as a teammakes it more relatable whenVisit www.nextesport.gg to in the race. you can see a rider behindlearn more about the team.7'