An eMTB challenge series for all abilities, The Bosch eMTB Challenge supported by Trek, returns to Scotland for the second year.
TweedLove Bike Festival in Peebles will once again host the Challenge on September 27 as part of Electric TweedLove ePowered by Bosch.
The challenge includes:
- Challenging trails, now with even more flow factor
- Gender and category team rankings for the first time
- New series rankings over all five events.
New season Bosch eMTB Challenge
In 2020, the successful eBike racing series, organised by Bosch eBike Systems and the bicycle manufacturer Trek, is touring through five European countries.
Following the success of Bosch’s debut year at the TweedLove Transcend Bike Festival in Peebles, Scotland, in 2019, the Challenge will return this May.
This year, the festival promises to introduce a new programme of eBike activities as part of Electric TweedLove ePowered by Bosch.
Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems, said: “The Bosch eMTB Challenge promises maximum fun for riders from all age and ability categories.
“This season, the stages – a mix of uphill and downhill sections – are longer, so that the riders can enjoy even more flow on the selected challenge trails.”
Two race categories
From this season, eMountain bikers will start in two competition categories: “Amateur” and “Advanced”.
All eMountain bikers can look forward to varied trails against an impressive scenic backdrop of the Tweed Valley.
On average, the riders will have to cover some 35 kilometres and ascend 1,000 metres.
Riding technique will count just as much as orientation, fitness and battery management skills.
In the race, the stages are ridden against the clock without prior training runs. In the transfer stages, the emphasis is then on good orientation rather than speed. The route has to be found with the help of a map, as well as fixed, defined orientation points.
Any rider that misses an orientation point will receive a 10-second time penalty. The same applies to those who put a foot on the ground in a ‘No Feet Zone’.
The rider who completes all the stages of a race in the fastest overall time is the winner.
In addition to the individual rankings, there will be series rankings with a point system covering all five events from this season onwards.
In each category, the rider who obtains the most points will be declared the series winner.
Furthermore, there will be a team ranking element. A team can comprise of three to six members from the “Amateur” and “Advanced” categories.
The three fastest stage times for each team will then count in the overall rankings.
A further special feature will be the Eddie Current Stage, sponsored by Schwalbe, where riders complete optional tasks within a stage in order to win a prize.
E-MTB Challenge Race series
The series kicks off at the start of May at the BIKE Festival in Riva del Garda (IT). This will be followed by events in Willingen (D), Peebles (UK), Salzkammergut (AUT) and Verbier (CH).
For more information on the UK leg of the Bosch eMTB Challenge and entries, visit: Tweed Love.
Pic credit: Bosch eBike Systems.