Mountain bikes with electric tailwind

Stuttgart/Reutlingen – Bosch eBike Systems is setting a new direction for the eMountain bike sport with its new racing format. The “Bosch eMTB Challenge” incorporates elements from enduro, trial and orientation racing, but has been specially designed for biking with electric assistance – its focus is on fun and adventure. Designed and fine-tuned to suit different performance levels, the new racing format targets the entire spectrum of mountain bike athletes. The starting shot for the “Bosch eMTB Challenge” will be fired at the end of April 2017 at the BIKE Festival in Riva del Garda.

Racing format for beginners and pros

“When you have fun eMountain biking, you will also want to improve and pit your skills against others in a competition. Our new racing format has been designed with exactly this in mind and, at the same time, is an important building block towards making what is essentially a young sport better known and establishing it sustainably as a sport,” Claus Fleischer, CEO at Bosch eBike Systems, said. “With our new design we have managed to bring together eMountain bikers with different performance levels and different abilities at one event. The ‘Bosch eMTB Challenge’ is a format that appeals to trained pro athletes as well as hobby bikers who are interested in racing or outdoor fans who occasionally get on a bike.” Stamina and motor power are not the only essential factors to succeed at this racing format, of greater importance are cycling technique and orientation skills. Over various stages – a diverse mix of uphill, downhill and orientation segments – the biking skills of the athletes are tested at various levels and it is the most versatile eMTB biker who wins.

In flow on the trail

To ensure that all bikers can enjoy an optimal flow experience, the trails have been designed for different levels of difficulty: while beginners can slowly work their way up to the more challenging segments and fast corners, more advanced bikers kann show their skills on shorter, but technically trickier, sections of the course. Participants have no way of gaining any insight into the stages beforehand, they start “blind” into the challenge – decisive are the ability to anticipate and to react spontaneously on the trails. Times are only recorded for the individual stages, the individual runs are added together to an overall time at the end. The transfer stages between the racing stages are biked by map and not for time. What is most important here is enjoying the camaradie of biking.

Experiencing the fascination of eMountain biking

In total, the bikers have to travel more than 30 kilometres and climb approx. 1,000 metres in elevation. The different events ensure variety and a maximum of biking fun. “What makes the ‘Bosch eMTB Challenge’ so special is its focus on the racing experience and adventure. It is about experiencing eMountain biking with all of its facets, overcoming personal limits and sharing one’s passion for the sport with friends or family,” Fleischer explained.

“Bosch eMTB Challenge” on tour

The new racing design will be celebrating its premiere on 30 April 2017 at the BIKE Festival in Riva del Garda, the traditional kick-off of the MTB season. A multifaceted race with brisk climbs and fast descents, all against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Garda, awaits eMountain bikers. The second stop of this year’s “Bosch eMTB Challenge” is the BIKE Festival in Willingen.

For more information and to register for the “Bosch eMTB Challenge”:

http://riva.bike-festival.de

http://willingen.bike-festival.de

Bosch eBike Systems promotes the sport of eMountain biking

To get more and more people excited about eMountain biking, Bosch eBike Systems does far more than just help with the organisation of various bicycle racing events. Performance Line CX, a drive system that has been specially designed to meet the needs of eMountain bikers, enables powerful all-terrain cycling. This system makes it easy to overcome even the steepest ascents. This Uphill Flow can soon be tested at the MTB Zone Bikepark Geisskopf in Bischofsmais. The first eMTB trail in the world, which was developed with the support of Bosch eBike Systems, will be opening here in the summer of 2017. Next to an enjoyment of biking, what is decisive for eMountain biking is cycling technique and safety. This is why Bosch eBike Systems is cooperating with Swiss Cycling, the Swiss national governing body for the sport of cycling, to develop the first nationwide training programme for eMTB guides in Switzerland. Everything also revolves around the electric “kick” on the website www.bosch-ebike.de/uphillflow, which is available to eMountain bikers as the central platform for everything about this new trend sport.