The umbrella organization WES has not only decided to work closely with the World Cycling Union to develop e-bike racing and support the improvement and promotion of this mountain bike format. The UCI World Cup will also provide an ideal platform to drive product development forward.

CEO and founder of the World E-Bike Series, Francesco Di Biase, is delighted with this step: "We are delighted to present the first "UCI E-Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup". It is the result of the hard work done over the last few years in collaboration with the UCI. We hope that this prestigious title will encourage both well-known and young athletes to compete in this fascinating discipline."

UCI President David Lappartient agrees: "It gives me great pleasure to launch the first UCI E-Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup. I am also delighted that the UCI can draw on the expert knowledge of the World E-Bike Series for its organization. The discipline now has a World Cup that goes hand in hand with the UCI World Championships and I have every confidence in the development of e-mountain biking at elite level as well as among amateur and recreational athletes."

Maximum speed of 25 km/h, from Monaco to Switzerland

The WES regulations do not make the e-mountainbike any faster. The regulations remain in line with EU law. For example, the motors used in the races may have a maximum continuous rated power of 250 watts and may no longer provide assistance above 25 km/h.

This year's calendar for the "UCI E-Mountainbike Cross Country World Cup" follows the previously announced calendar for the World E-Bike Series. The season starts on March 6, 2020 in Monaco, moves on to Ascona in Switzerland on April 17 and the race weekend in Bologna (ITA) begins on June 5. The fourth race on September 11 and 12 is still to come, but not the final in Barcelona, where the first overall winners of the E-Mountainbike World Cup will be crowned.www.worldebikeseries.com