The following FAQs aim to briefly answer your questions. However, for further information and a deeper understanding of the overall WES racing regulations, we recommend referring to the WES Regulations, download the PDF here.

WES World E-Bike Series takes the mother Mountain Bike discipline of traditional Cross-Country to an even higher level.

The world’s best athletes get on track in a double-race format taking strength and technique to the ultimate challenge.

WES was born in Monaco IN 2019 to organise and promote the first international electric-only mountain bike competition.

The Series stepped up in 2020 by being entitled as the first-ever UCI E-Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup (E-XC). E-races now provide eligible points to access the UCI World Championships and fight for the coveted rainbow jersey.

WES aims to go beyond the sport, to offer the cycling industry an exciting and competitive platform. WES promotes E-MTB as a fun and challenging choice for athletes and amateurs, and mountain bike tourism as a catalyst driving the visibility of hosting venues worldwide.

WES IS WHAT ELECTRIC IS ALL ABOUT. 

Double E-XC race format on thrilling racetracks, for athletes from all over the world.

The double XC race represents a double chance for riders to get eligible points for the UCI World Championships qualifying.

A one-hour race where to give it all on impossible climbs, jumps, rock gardens, mud and dust, and breathtaking descents.

• Offroad, electric mountain bike racing on a 2-4 km circuit
• One loop, multiple laps depending on the loop length.
• 15 to 30 km total distance
• 1000 to 1400 m of total climbing

E-Cross-Country (E-XC) is WES core discipline, although WES Events also feature Amateur Rides with the pros and Amateur races, to spread the word of E-MTB.

• UCI Senior licence holders, year of 19th Birthday onwards, Men & Women
• EN15194 homologated bikes

• Women & Men Riders:
  UCI E-MTB XC World Cup Winner Title
  • WES Pole Position: the fastest rider in the qualification race
  • WES Holeshot: the fastest rider at the start passing the first turn in first position
  • WES Power Lap: the fastest rider on a full race lap• WES Teams: by summing all team members’ points in all WES races
  • Bike Manufacturers
  • Motor Manufacturers

Each of the races has a limit of 50 riders Men plus 50 riders Women. The number of registrations is limited, as WES goal is to organise a premium experience for riders and select the best in the world.

The Application form is available online for single riders, teams and wildcards at worldebikeseries.com / Register, every new starting season.

To participate in WES events the competitors’ bikes must be certified EN15194 (25kph) and provide a motor diagnostic of less than three months (presentation obligatory at sign-in).

Additional check on wheel size corresponding with certification & diagnostic.
WES shall have commissaries on track side to check mid race, and the top five finishers shall all be submitted to a full bike check.
Any bike that is found to be not conforming to the manufacturer’s certificate or has an erroneous motor diagnostic shall be considered a mechanical doping offense. Fine listed in the UCI regulations.

There is no limit on battery size. In 2024, the circuits are currently designed around a 750Wh battery quantity of energy.

One battery per rider, per official race, for E-XC races. Riders can either use one or different batteries over a competition day or weekend but cannot change batteries during the official race. If riders choose to use more than one battery, all of these shall be shown to the commissaires in the morning bike checks who shall affix a seal on every one.

As long as WES events are European based, the anticipation is that riders and teams would mainly travel by road. As the series grows, WES is planning overseas rounds and working from an organisational and logistical point of view to face the needs of this evolution. The International Air Transport Association currently insists on airline approval for 101wh-160wh batteries. Those over 300wh are classified as dangerous goods and therefore banned on passenger flights. This may be an issue at the moment, but WES is partnering with an experienced supplier to sort this out.

As long as WES events are mainly European based, the bike checks are based on the EN15194. Any bike not conforming to this standard isn’t accepted on the start line of a WES event.

As long as the bikes and motors conform to the European Norm EN15194, then this competition can only help improve E-Bikes as a whole. The torque of a motor on paper is not guaranteed to transfer to a higher performing bike on the ground. With higher torque comes a more complicated electronic management system to stop the motor from spinning out the rear wheel and higher battery consumption. These issues can be addressed by the constructors, which results in better bikes for the end user. As long as the competition results in better bikes for e-Bikers, WES should not penalise a certain manufacturer.

Qualifying race open to permanent WES riders and Wildcards (UCI licence holders): the top-50 classified Men and top-50 Women will take part in the UCI E-MTB XC WORLD CUP race. In the case of a WES Event featuring a double XC race, each race is preceded by a Qualirace. Each Qualirace provide the best qualified rider (W&M) with the Pole Position Award (both race and season awards presentation).

Every year a WES race Calendar is public: it shows what races and side events each WES Round features, along a season that normally starts in May and finishes in October. It is available on WES website and the UCI website.

The social ride (Amateur Randonnée) organised by WES to allow riders of different levels to ride on and around the UCI E-MTB XC World Cup trails along with the pros, during the WES Events. It is open to anyone aged 18 or over. The Ride WES is a side event included in the WES UCI E-MTB XC World Cup Events and it aims to take every kind of rider closer to the E-Bike world, offering a high-level ride experience.

• Men & Women: WES Gravity Champion Title
• WES Teams: by summing all team members’ points in all WES races (XC + Gravity)
• Bike Manufacturers (XC + Gravity)
• Motor Manufacturers (XC + Gravity)

Every year a WES race Calendar is public: it shows what disciplines and side events each WES Round’s features. It is available on WES website.
When a WES Round features a double XC race, then the WES Gravity race will not be held. The Rounds including the WES Gravity race will see one XC race only.
The double XC race represents a double chance for riders to get eligible points for the UCI World Championships qualifying.

WES is a series open to all brands and not a single-brand competition. Therefore, WES is happy to welcome the world’s top factories, as well as new brands. As for the E-Bike manufacturers, WES is open to collaborating with all the brands in the electric industry, involved in satellite activities, that aim to be protagonists of this great evolution phase of the sport.