E-Bike World Tour highlights electric mobility boom

The electric bicycle revolution is in full swing, with a new global race series and accompanying festival further highlighting the demand for electric powered vehicles.

Organised by the same team as the popular Freeride World Tour, the new E-Bike World Tour is a series of international electric mountain bike events designed to promote e-bike technology.

The three-stop tour in 2021 will include competitive enduro-style events for professional riders, as well as festivals to showcase the latest e-bike models and the local regions to punters. With electric power, the E-Bike World Tour will allow enduro racing action in locations that would otherwise be inaccessible for pedal-powered machines.

Grand plans

The idea for a series was inspired by the existing E-Bike Tour du Mont Blanc, which starts and finishes in Verbier, Switzerland. That event will serve as the final stop of the 2021 tour. Other stops on the tour include Flachau, Austria and Tignes, France.

The team behind the event is FWT Management, which has been organising world-class sports events in mountain locations since 1996. It is responsible for the Freeride World Tour, which is the world’s premier freeride ski and snowboard competition. The infamous Bec des Rosses at Verbier serves as the grand final of the FWT, but it will be slightly less intimidating in summer during the E-Bike World Tour.

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Riders go e-crazy

E-bikes, or electric bicycles, differ from other electric vehicles, in that they still require the user to pedal. A small electric motor provides pedal assistance, allowing riders to cover more ground at faster speeds. More powerful e-bikes offer motorcycle-like functionality.

The mountain bike world in particular has adopted e-bike technology despite some resistance from purists who prefer human-power. But the ease-of-use, and higher speeds are encouraging more riders to enter the sport. It is evidence of the rapid infiltration of electric technology into the world of mobility.

Electric motorcycles are yet to receive widespread support, with opponents criticizing battery range, charging times and price as limiting factors. But the demand for e-bikes could be a hint of a future electric motorcycle boom.

FIM wants in

So strong is the electric bicycle pull, that the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) announced an international e-bike competition, despite strong opposition from the International Cycling Union (UCI). The UCI, which holds its own e-bike world championship, claimed jurisdiction over electric mountain bike events.

The FIM E-Bike Enduro World Cup has been postponed until 2021, and is open to 250W and 500W bicycles. UCI regulations state bikes cannot exceed 250W. The UCI has threatened disciplinary action for any of its riders who compete in the FIM event.

While the E-Bike World Tour will surely be a far more relaxed series, the competitive racing will still carry a degree of prestige. The races are invite-only with riders in teams of two. Each race is split into long timed sections over 2-3 days. Battery exchange is offered at specific ‘tech zones’, meaning battery management will play into each team’s strategy.