The Enduro World Series (EWS) is extending its partnership with the UCI and will include the management and development of eMTB enduro racing starting in 2020.
The EWS will develop and grow the sport of eMTB enduro internationally with the UCI and will create a new flagship international series in 2020, dubbed the EWS-E.
The series will hold three rounds across Europe in France, Switzerland, and Italy, with overall winners crowned the EWS-E Champions.
The EWS tested the eMTB format in Finale Ligure, IT in 2018, but waited to launch a series until there were more answers about how to monitor motor assistance. The EWS now believes they can safely monitor motor output, and say they are excited to start the new series.
They have been working on technology development for the past two years to monitor eMTB power and will make the information about their testing process available in early 2020.
The format retains the existing EWS values of racing, but will be held on separate courses that will bring a different mix of terrain, with highly technical uphill and downhill 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,” says the EWS in a press release.
The first EWS-E race will happen in Valberg, FR July 17-18, 2020, followed by a race along the existing EWS finals in Zermatt, SUI on Aug 29-30, finishing in Finale Ligure with the Trophy of Nations on a final weekend of EWS racing Sept. 25-26.
“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,” says a statement from the EWS Board of Directors.
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“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”
