The EWS Announces an eMTB Race Series for 2020
The EWS is the latest organising body to try their hand at an ebike racing series. Working with the UCI, the EWS-E series will kick off next year with three rounds in France, Switzerland and Italy.
EWS-E races will be held on different courses to regular EWS races and they will feature timed uphill as well as downhill special stages with tighter liaisons to keep the races challenging. The first event will be a standalone in Vallberg in July, however the next two will run alongside the EWS finals in Zermatt and the Trophy of Nations in Finale Ligure, so don't expect many riders to double up between the two series.
It sounds like the EWS has been planning this move for a while and it even held an under-the-radar test event in Finale Ligure in October last year. A number of top EWS teams attended but the EWS decided to hold off on launching the series until now so they could fine-tune the format and find "a solution to the monitoring of motor assistance."
This means there are now three competing ebike race series, The FIM E-Bike Enduro World Cup, which we all had a good laugh at in August; the WES World E-Bike Series, which ran in 2019 and was won by Sofia Wiedenroth and Nicolas Quéré, and now the EWS-E.
Full details are yet to be revealed but everything we know so far is in the full release below:
PRESS RELEASE: EWS
The Enduro World Series (EWS) is excited to announce it is extending its partnership with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to include the management and development of e-bike enduro racing from 2020 onwards.
The Enduro World Series will develop the format and growth of e-bike enduro internationally alongside the UCI and will launch a new flagship international series in 2020, Enduro World Series-E (EWS-E). The series will feature three rounds across Europe in France, Switzerland and Italy - with the overall winners crowned the Enduro World Series.
The EWS first held an e-bike test event in Finale Ligure in Italy in 2018, but delayed launching a full series until both the format of racing could be fine tuned, and a solution to the monitoring of motor assistance could be answered. Two years later the EWS now believe it is time to bring this new format to the highest level, beginning in Europe.
This new format will retain the core values of existing Enduro World Series races but held on separate courses that will challenge riders on a vast variety of terrain and feature racing on a mix of uphill and downhill highly technical Special Stages. The addition of technical climbing will not be the only difference to traditional EWS enduro racing though, as EWS-E will also bring the Liaison Stages into the challenge with tighter times and more singletrack than ever before. This combination will push both the rider’s physical and bike handling limits to the max in a multi-loop and intense course, driving forwards the development of e-bike technology and e-bike trail management and design.
"Based on the experience and know-how of the Enduro World Series (EWS), this innovative format of competition will offer spectacular racing while ensuring the highest standard of sporting integrity." David Lappartient, UCI President
For the past two years the EWS has also been working behind the scenes to develop the technology that can monitor e-bike power output, to ensure EWS-E can offer truly fair competition. More information about this new system will be available in early 2020.
The first EWS-E race will take place as a stand alone event in Valberg, France over July 17-18 2020, followed by a race alongside the existing EWS finals in Zermatt, Switzerland (August 29 - 30), finishing in Finale Ligure, Italy alongside the Trophy of Nations on a big final weekend of racing for the season on September 25-26, 2020.
A statement from the Enduro World Series Board of Directors said: “We have always aimed to innovate within the EWS and so we are delighted to begin an exciting journey in the development of an e-bike enduro format that will push riders and technology and create a whole new form of exciting enduro-format racing”.
“We are motivated to help drive technological development, including the launch of electronic monitoring of E-bike motors for fair sport and work to make sure trail access and important developments for the future of this discipline are carefully managed. Starting in central Europe in 2020, we will work to expand the EWS-E to new countries when the time is right”
UCI President David Lappartient said: “The UCI is looking forward to the introduction of an electric-powered version of Enduro with the launch of the EWS-E from 2020. Based on the experience and know-how of the Enduro World Series (EWS), this innovative format of competition will offer spectacular racing while ensuring the highest standard of sporting integrity. This new series confirms the current status of E-MTB as a fast-moving cycling discipline.”
Specific rules and regulations for EWS-E will be released in early 2020.
The Enduro World Series (EWS) is excited to announce it is extending its partnership with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to include the management and development of e-bike enduro racing from 2020 onwards.
The Enduro World Series will develop the format and growth of e-bike enduro internationally alongside the UCI and will launch a new flagship international series in 2020, Enduro World Series-E (EWS-E). The series will feature three rounds across Europe in France, Switzerland and Italy - with the overall winners crowned the Enduro World Series.
The EWS first held an e-bike test event in Finale Ligure in Italy in 2018, but delayed launching a full series until both the format of racing could be fine tuned, and a solution to the monitoring of motor assistance could be answered. Two years later the EWS now believe it is time to bring this new format to the highest level, beginning in Europe.
This new format will retain the core values of existing Enduro World Series races but held on separate courses that will challenge riders on a vast variety of terrain and feature racing on a mix of uphill and downhill highly technical Special Stages. The addition of technical climbing will not be the only difference to traditional EWS enduro racing though, as EWS-E will also bring the Liaison Stages into the challenge with tighter times and more singletrack than ever before. This combination will push both the rider’s physical and bike handling limits to the max in a multi-loop and intense course, driving forwards the development of e-bike technology and e-bike trail management and design.
"Based on the experience and know-how of the Enduro World Series (EWS), this innovative format of competition will offer spectacular racing while ensuring the highest standard of sporting integrity." David Lappartient, UCI President
For the past two years the EWS has also been working behind the scenes to develop the technology that can monitor e-bike power output, to ensure EWS-E can offer truly fair competition. More information about this new system will be available in early 2020.
The first EWS-E race will take place as a stand alone event in Valberg, France over July 17-18 2020, followed by a race alongside the existing EWS finals in Zermatt, Switzerland (August 29 - 30), finishing in Finale Ligure, Italy alongside the Trophy of Nations on a big final weekend of racing for the season on September 25-26, 2020.
A statement from the Enduro World Series Board of Directors said: “We have always aimed to innovate within the EWS and so we are delighted to begin an exciting journey in the development of an e-bike enduro format that will push riders and technology and create a whole new form of exciting enduro-format racing”.
“We are motivated to help drive technological development, including the launch of electronic monitoring of E-bike motors for fair sport and work to make sure trail access and important developments for the future of this discipline are carefully managed. Starting in central Europe in 2020, we will work to expand the EWS-E to new countries when the time is right”
UCI President David Lappartient said: “The UCI is looking forward to the introduction of an electric-powered version of Enduro with the launch of the EWS-E from 2020. Based on the experience and know-how of the Enduro World Series (EWS), this innovative format of competition will offer spectacular racing while ensuring the highest standard of sporting integrity. This new series confirms the current status of E-MTB as a fast-moving cycling discipline.”
Specific rules and regulations for EWS-E will be released in early 2020.
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I get they will be part of the future of MTB, but in competition? Come on. At some point they are not cool bikes - they are lame motorcycles.
I seriously don't get e bikes. they are mopeds that everyone pretends are bikes.
There are already tons of resources online for folks wanting to "jailbrake" and replace the "assist" with a "throttle"
Man, just don't watch it. It's simple. E-bikes are getting more people in to riding, and for that - I'm thankful. This will enable more pros to get paid and a bigger market. How that can ever be seen as a negative is beyond me.
(No, I don't own an ebike)
Why is this good for me?
Hopefully a solar flare cause and EMP to hit the region when they’re half way up some mountain. Seeing these 50lb shit tanks being pushed up a mountain by a load of bell ends who weren’t fast enough for the mountain bike EWS would be hilarious.
BARBELL
BARBELL
BARBELL
BARBELL
I am so serene...
I don't get all the e-bike haters. Live and let live. Don't be a dick. General rules everyone should follow.
Non motorized bicycles?
Just because you find them lame just means you have a very narrow perspective.
The entire point of paying to sponsor athletes and have them ride your product is to sell more of that product.
E-MTB's are just another way of getting around and having fun outside. This is a showcase for these products to show how much they have come a long. Your disdain for them just shows that you are stuck in your ways unable to appreciate the many benefits e-MTB's provide, like not having to use a gas-powered vehicle, increased access to more remote areas, not to mention the benefits for those with a various abilities/disabilities.
Firstly, I didn't explicitly call you a dick. It was a general statement to everyone (e-bike riders and non alike) to "live and let live and not be a dick". Not specific to you.
Secondly, my statement doesn't show intolerance to "motorbike" riders at all. You completely missed my point that ebikes are portrayed as "motorbikes" to try and justify the (unjustified) vilification of those lazy and destructive e-bike riders.
Thirdly, your intolerance isn't towards me (I don't give a toss if you agree with me or not, but I don't appreciate being insulted so responded in kind). Your intolerance is towards people who ride e-bikes and the implication that ebikes are dangerous, destructive and people who ride them will run over people on the trail. Which I'm sure is no more true that normal riders.
Let's just agree to disagree and call it a day...
Why do we have to make everything easy for everyone?
riding is riding.
I have heard the argument from ebike riders that they handle better than real bikes on the downs, despite DH rigs always trying to reduce weight they will not have it, so they will tell you that the bikes are better on the ups and downs but insist it's all still down to the rider. I have no interest in watching ebike racing but that doesn't mean I can''t have an opinion on them.
You are entitled to your opinion, but the evidence is pretty much against you. Here are some articles you can read.
www.itdp.org/2015/11/12/a-global-high-shift-cycling-scenario
www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2018/10/08/bicycling-could-help-save-the-planet-says-ippc-climate-report/#391895552795
www.greenbiz.com/article/global-climate-action-meet-bike-industry-now-collaborate
Fight against climate change isn't a huge battle, its many small battles. Yes, transportation industry contributes less to global warming than other industries, but it still contributes. So it doesn't matter if someone wants to get an ebike for fun or principal - as long as they are not using a car, its better. And we are already seeing evidence of less car use with more bicycles.
a genuine and not facetious question.
"People who commute with ebikes are rarely those who commuted previously with a car."
Source?
All the studies I linked show that more people are choosing cycling. Those people had to get to work somehow before. And electric scooters still produce a net positive decrease in emissions compared to cars.
Sorry in swedish. It is coherent with the trend across the country that gave birth to Greta Thunberg
Nr of people going to work on foot increased much more than nr of cyclists.
So lets say that you had 100 people taking a car to work last year . Now, 30 of those people walk to work, and 10 ride ebikes.
That is still 40 less people taking a car, and ebikes contributed to that in part.
Im not saying that ebikes are the solution to global warming, im just saying that they are net positive change.
Also, please realize how silly you look getting triggered by a 16 year old girl.
Not you and your friends
Get out and try a Class 1 eMtb... you’ll love it. - Everyone assumes that those who don't like ebikes have never tried them. It's just not true. I've tried, didn't love it. Plenty of us have ridden them and still think they're not mountain bikes, bring their own issues, and have no place in UCI sanctioned events.
Unless you are talking about when the E-bike breaks down & said person has to ride the thing back to the truck dead.
For example, modern long slack enduro bikes with 180mm forks and 160mm rear travel make downhill easier, or encourage people to go faster on terrain above their skill level. Having lockout on your shocks shocks also decreases the fitness required to get up climbs.
The simple fact is, MTB will allways have a slew of people riding. Even without ebikes, on the lower end of the spectrum, we already have the a*shole endurobros that rail blind corners on bidirectional trails with their shitty rap blasting out of bluetooth speakers, the srava snobs that get mad at you for slowing them down, and the people that congregate in parking lots comparing their $8k Yetis while riding like they were on entry level hardtails. Ebikes won't change this distribution of people.
Same with calories burned, that comes from energy expended, how does having assistance mean you are somehow using more energy than not having assistance?
In my mind it's like me claiming I work harder and burn more energy by doing chin ups with resistance bands assisting me than I do without any assistance, am I missing something or is this just a claim that's banded about and not really true? I never get an answer when I ask this.
But I will be forever against them in principal for fit riders that don't need any help. I find those riders lazy pure & simple.
"180mm of travel and lockouts do not enable people to ride 3x the distance out into the back country, or to the top of a mountain, the same way an e-bike does."
....and what is the problem with that? Are you against shuttling then?
And yes, you still need fitness to ride a 180mm travel bike, but that is not YOUR argument. YOUR argument is that people without fitness can buy an ebike, climb to the top of a mountain and start doing a harder trail and then hurt themselves. This is no different than someone buying a modern enduro, seeing how much better it is than their old 26" hardtail, and attempting a black diamond because they think they can do it. Or someone buying a DH bike, getting shuttled to the top, and then hurting themselves on the way down.
I can also make the argument that there will be plenty of smart people that are going to buy an ebike, climb to the top, then have less fatigue for a safer descent down.
Your argument is some silly justification for your ego. "I got fit so everyone else should do the same". Please realize that this a personal issue, and not an issue with ebikes.
Sun isnt even up yet and on the road up we see a group of chubby bikers on a steep pitch cruising. Ive climbed this road and I know this is a granny gear section. Well I think you know the rest.. eMTB rentals.
insert biking is easy comment.
But yeah, they'll have to test for both biological and mechanical; because if you ain't "cheatin, you aint tryin!" lol
Wow, this is going to bring up so many points of monitoring, etc. that UCI wouldn't know where to begin. Perhaps they will design their own motors and everybody will have to purchase their specific motors. This just makes on dizzy trying to think about how these rules will be written and monitored.
Just let e-bikes be used for pleasure and adventure cycling and don't try to make competitions out of these now because all sorts of "leveling the playing field" restrictions will come into play.
Ron Burgundy: Brick, are you just looking at things on Pinkbike and saying you love them?
Brick Tamland: I love e-bikes.
Ron Burgundy: Do you really love the e-bikes or are you just saying it because you saw it?
Brick Tamland: I love e-bikes, I love bikes.
But from a marketing standpoint...
The closest thing I can think of is the trampoline event in gymnastics where a piece of equipment allows an athlete to do something they wouldn't otherwise be capable of. But that's not a race. That's more like wake boarders getting a tow.
I can't think of anywhere else we've said, "You know what would make this human-powered race better? If they had a motor."
We've decided that performance enhancing drugs aren't ok. We have decided that performance enhancing technology can be ok but has to be regulated. See the modern hour record vs. Merckx style record, or shark-skin swimsuits for olympic swimmers.
So I'm struggling with where this fits in or for some example or analogy that I can relate to why this is a valid and good thing that has some precedent rather than a new and strange thing that causes irrational discomfort. I think some of that will come as it evolves into it's own sport that rewards a different type of athlete or significantly different skill set than the existing disciplines. I had joked that if the UCI gives away stripes for E-bikes they should also give them away for every type of second tier race like singlespeeds and fat bikes. Then they announced stripes for pump-track racing and I guess they just figure if it has two wheels and pedals you can get stripes for it. Fair enough.
Anyway, does anyone have an example of other mechanical enhancement in human athletics that has become widely accepted?
And for everyone talking about the price. I bet most of us on here have bikes from $3000 to $6000 bikes right?
My Levo was $5800. Ebikes are no more than an analog bike.
We are taking about roughly $2500 in difference with the same spec as a lower level bike. But if you add in the $2500 were now back to the $6000-$7000 Yeti, Santa Cruz, Pivot I see on the trail with way more crap than will ever get used. I think a lot of people can save money buying the Comp version of there brand. But hey, to each there own.
@Geochemistry: I didn't comment on what you want or need on an ebike, or the relative merits of any groupset over another, alloy vs carbon, but you can't deny that these things cost more. An argument of 'this bike is just as good value as this mountain bike as they cost the same' doesn't hold up when one is XT or X11 with a more expensive fork and better wheels when the other comes with cheaper heavier wheels and components and inferior damping. It's not an apples to apples comparison.
How much cheaper is the SLX equipped mountain bike over the same spec eBike?
"Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" isn't a phrase that only applies to eBikes. It literally applies to the entire bike industry and beyond.
Good grief. Turn on your eBike filters instead of whining on every article. You're all so tiring.
it just makes it alittle easier to pedal and no i dont own one im 52 5'9 270lbs and still pedal my mondraker on 17-25 mile mountain bike rides
So what's the point then?
But I'd put money on the people you see on the podium of e-bike racing are the same ones you see on the podium of regular bike racing. The fitter and more skilled you are on a regular bike, the faster you'll be. The faster you are on a regular bike, the faster you'll be on an e-bike.
I mean, yeah, hammer throwing and 100m dash are still things. But it's not as if there exists some kind of electronically assisted hammer that people throw in a separate competition. And why? Because hammer throwing is still a thing. What would be the point of a separate, assisted competition when throwing the normal-ass hammer is sufficient in determining who is best at throwing a hammer?
Unless they were trying to sell some kind of new-fangled propeller hammers or anti-gravity hammers or something, I guess.
People would've have shit the proverbial brick if E-bikes were allowed in a "normal" MTB race, so good on them for keeping it separate. This opens the door for those that want to, but can't race a normal series/venue due to debilitating injury, chronic illnesses. or whatever. If it gets them outside, enjoying the nature, and MAYBE enjoying themselves, good on them.
Curious, how many of these nay-sayer "purists" utilize the chairlifts or do shuttle runs to get more runs/ laps/ miles in?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAdG-iTilWU
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Yes, get e-support for all people who cannot move by themselves, all others f*ck off. And stop justifying with this “yes, but I can do more milage” argument. Just do what you can, work and progress.
riders won't get help from drugs anymore....the motor will help at that point, the more "juicest" the faster
i do love e -bikes, mostly for older people who cannot ride long distance anymore and people with disabilities.
if anyone believes ebike is cheating, so what about, 160 mm fork travel or hydraulic brakes or lighter bikes or 29" or carbon materials....
this is not cheating, it is called help!!
Those advancements made mountain biking better, motors make it easier. Not the same thing by a long shot.
I would compare it to what the music industry faced going digital. You don't need to be as skilled a musician to be successful today. The pre-digital performers needed to hone their craft to a much finer degree because what they played was what you heard, while today the computer programs carry more of the load. Is that buying talent? Imo E-bikers are buying fitness and by-passing the fundamental aspects of the sport.
Ease disguised as progress is a slippery slope which our sport is now beginning to tumble down.
i still believe in those advancements, as they let you ride everything easier and safer..( which is not a bad thing )
try to ride today Goat s gully in whistler with a 26", v,brake and 120 mm fork.?? can you do that?no...because with innovation big things are easier. so why not big mountains cannot be easier for anyone?
it s maybe a privilege to enjoy the mountain?
today ebikers are not buying fitness...are buying time, time of having fun! dont you think?
UCI today: hold my crack pipe.