The first ever FIM E-Bike Enduro World Cup was held over 1 / 2 June 2019 as part of Trophee de France E-VTT Enduro at Privas, France in collaboration with the FFM. The competitors included female and junior representatives alongside their male counterparts who made up the majority of the entry at this innovative competition that proved a real success.
All the riders competed in the Enduro2 (E2) class. This is for E-Bikes equipped with a motor with a maximum continuous rated power of 250W and whose assistance does not exceed 25 km/h. The minimum age of riders for this class is fourteen years old.
The two-day event saw the riders pass through administrative and technical control before contesting the Urban prologue in the centre of the city on Saturday. Whilst Sunday brought the main race in the surrounding hills. All of the competitors enjoyed the course which was a mix of mountain routes and rocky forest trails.
Keen to ensure fair play in a discipline where the electronic technology is core to the overall performance, the FIM with the assistance of the FFM ran a series of random power checks out on the course and throughout the competition. Whilst the overall majority of riders fully respected the rules and were pleased to see the checks taking place, one competitor was disqualified for having modified the electronics to gain an unfair advantage.
The podium included some familiar faces, with FFM motorcycle enduro riders Thibault Passet and Antoine Basset occupying the lower two steps, leaving the top spot for winner Raphaël Lacroze, who is a regular at mountain bike races.
Since the launch of the Trophee de France E-VTT Enduro, the FFM has seen a rise in entries with the first round of the series boasting just short of fifty riders to reinforce the almost forty strong field in Privas.
With the support of the FIM, the FMB will also organise, in collaboration with various partners, the first event for electric bicycles in Belgium next Sunday 9 June. This ground breaking event will take place as part of the Bikersland exhibition on and around the Circuit Jules Tacheny in Mettet. This will be followed by the FIM E-XBike World Cup, which will be held in Imola, Italy on 17-18 August.
Commenting post event FIM Sports Director, Jean-Paul Gombeaud said: "The FIM is pleased with this first edition, the riders were delighted with the demanding terrain and also appreciated the professional organisation and random power checks out on the course.”
“The FIM is currently creating a working group to develop E-bike competitions. 2019 is very much a year of testing and 2020 will be an important moment for the international development of the various E-Bike disciplines."
FIM Communications