Are you interested in EMTB racing? If so then you might want to check out the first ever WES race this weekend.
The first ever Round of the WES e-Bike Series takes to the hills around Monaco this weekend in what promises to be a thrilling event comprising two races and a public Ride WES day.
The Monaco area has an enormous heritage in the sport of mountain biking and so it is only natural that this exciting new international e-MTB series should begin its story here. Round 1 of the WES e-Bike Series will be staged on the testing terrain of Peille, just outside Monaco, with the Cross-Country (XC) and Enduro races on Saturday and Ride WES on Sunday.
“This is the birthplace of mountain biking: the first ever UCI Downhill World Cup was held here in Cap d’Ail in 1993, the earliest enduro races too. There are really strong links in international mountain biking with the likes of Nicolas Vouilloz, Fabien Barel, Yoann Barelli and many more top pro riders beginning their careers here. Then the Monaco side of the event – the WES e-Village will be positioned on the harbour – is all about tech, the future and great infrastructure. These contemporary and heritage elements make Monaco the perfect place for this first WES event.” – Kieran Page, WES Sporting Manager
WES XC consists of fast-paced laps of a technical circuit 3-6km in length, totalling 20-30km and up to 1,100m of climbing. All competitors start simultaneously and the first rider (with separate Men’s and Women’s categories) to cross the finish line is the winner. In WES Enduro, riders must cover liaison stages in a set amount of time to make it to the start of three timed special stages, which are predominantly downhill and raced individually.
Occasionally, shorter (sub-two minutes) climbing stages are included in the race. The three stage times of each rider are added up and final results are taken from this cumulative time. Enduro races cover 20-35km with 1,100-1,300m climbing throughout the day. Both disciplines promise drama and spectacle as the world’s best riders battle it out for the first ever WES victories.
The field for Round 1 is diverse, with more than 50 competitors from 10 nations lining up to race in the XC and Enduro Men and Women’s categories. It is also highly decorated, with mountain biking stars such as Nicolas Vouilloz (10-time Downhill World Champion) and Marco Fontana (XC Olympic medallist) lining up in this first season for international e-bike racing.
As with all WES Rounds, the event isn’t just for competitors and spectating. An e-Village based in Monaco will showcase the latest technologies and team bikes, and Sunday’s Ride WES gives the public an opportunity to trial bikes and follow professional riders and guides around several ability-graded loops.