The Belgian venue to debut in the series on 3-4 September 2022
Monaco (P.ty), Wednesday 22 December 2021 – WES Management is glad to announce a brand-new hosting venue in the World E-Bike Series calendar: the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium.
The multiple-year agreement sees the Belgian Round to be held on 3-4 September in 2022.
The iconic track is one of the most legendary in motorsports, acclaimed by drivers and riders from all over the world, featuring the well-known Raidillon Turn, and it is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. A mix of tradition and innovation, not only in its sports and hospitality facilities, as the Belgian venue is open to new disciplines and technologies.
Spa-Francorchamps is located in the magnificent region of the Ardennes, in a natural, breathtaking, verdant setting. The Circuit woods are a distinguishing feature of the circuit, a mix of softwoods and hardwoods that make the perfect terrain for an E-Mountain Bike World Cup race track.
Francesco Di Biase, WES CEO and Founder: “We are delighted to announce a multiple-year agreement with a world-famous venue like the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. This partnership confirms WES format flexibility. We can design racetracks in many different venues, and these keep being challenging for the riders and entertaining for the public. To hold a WES event in such an iconic circuit will once again represent an opportunity for WES and the Local Promoter to spread the word of the electric transition with an innovative discipline that increases the circuit events offer. Furthermore, for the first time, we will take the UCI E-MTB World Cup to a country like Belgium, which boasts a great cycling tradition: this will bring E-MTB closer to a wide audience of bike enthusiasts and amateurs”.
Melchior Wathelet, Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps Chairman of the Board declared: "This is a new milestone in the diversification process the Circuit is currently going through. We have a great pleasure to announce the addition of a new series to our activities on track: the Spa-Francorchamps WES UCI E-MTB World Cup. While holding firmly to its DNA as the temple of motorsport, the Circuit is developing new events representing innovative projects. The Spa-Francorchamps WES UCI E-MTB World Cup perfectly fits into this process: a UCI electric cycling championship to take place at the heart of the forest. The Circuit also aims to make this event an opportunity for cycling fans, families and friends, to discover the venue by offering numerous sporting and recreational activities”.
Next 3-4 September, the race track designed by the WES Staff together with the Spa-Francorchamps Team will be raced clockwise in race 1, on the Saturday and anti-clockwise in race 2, on Sunday.
Based on WES race track requirements, the course layout and characteristics will be unveiled soon.
The Ride WES - the traditional WES amateur randonnée – will take place on the Sunday to gather E-bike riders and beginners with pros and guides, along with cycling stars whose names will be announced in the near future.
Registration to both the UCI World Cup races and the Ride WES will open in January.
https://www.worldebikeseries.com
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About WES WORLD E-BIKE SERIES – UCI E-MTB XC WORLD CUP
2019. WES World E-Bike Series was born in Monaco to organise and promote the first international electric-only bike competition.
2020. The Series steps up by being entitled as the first-ever UCI E-Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup. For the first time, E-races provide eligible points to access the UCI World Championships and fight for the coveted rainbow jersey.
2021. Five successful Rounds in Europe with a double-race format and thrilling race tracks for athletes joining WES from all over the world.
E-Cross-Country (E-XC) is WES core discipline, although WES Events may also feature E-Gravity races, City-Track competitions, as well as Amateur Rides with the pros.
WES aims to go beyond the sport, to offer the cycling industry an exciting new sustainable-mobility format. WES promotes E-MTB as a fun and challenging choice for athletes and amateurs, and mountain bike tourism as a driver for hosting venues visibility.
