RESULTS - First-ever UCI e-MTB World Championships 13

It's official. Electric power-assist bike racing is an actual UCI Mountain Bike World Championships event and now has first-time gold medal winners. When the UCI first announced the event, plenty of Vital viewers had opinions. Vital member yzedf comically said competitors should ride up the DH course and down the fire roads. That didn't happen.

As the World Champs week kicked off, the UCI said the format of e-MTB racing is "bringing together so many disciplines," which, when we look at the competitor list, is technically true. Racers from XC to enduro to 4x to downhill threw their hats into the ring, whether for glory and fame or novelty. The pointy end of the results sheet was predictably XC racers like Julien Absalon, Miguel Martinez, Sauser, Kulhavy and Marco Fontana, but Loic Bruni's dad, who's an experienced e-bike racer and won a Masters World Champs DH jersey last week, entered, Anneke Beerten hit the women's class, and even Wyn Masters was on the start list (it has to be good vlog material). Diversity achieved with the inaugural event. Exciting racing future ahead? TBD. Regardless, today's e-bike World Championships was an improvement over that FIM joke.

Bike power was maxed out at 250 watts and motors stopped assisting racers at 25mph. Competitors hit the 6km course for four laps and about a power hour of racing. Battery changes or charges were not permitted. Results below. Does the format have merit? Are we tired of worrying about e-bikes? Are you riding one?

Audio Interview with Women's Race Winner, Nathalie Schneitter

Audio Interview with Wyn Masters Before the Race

Elite Men's e-MTB World Championships Results

Elite Women's e-MTB World Championships Results