A beginner’s guide to eMTB racing

AMFLOW

03/04/2025

Whether you're a seasoned mountain biker looking for something new or a beginner intimidated by traditional racing, eMTB racing offers an exciting and accessible entry point. Since its debut at the 2019 UCI Electric Mountain Bike Championship, the sport has grown rapidly, fueled by its welcoming atmosphere and the continuous advancement of eMTB technology.

Global and local events are increasing yearly, with races often feeling more like a party than a competition. The community is inclusive, making it perfect for newcomers and experienced riders alike.

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explore what eMTB racing is, its disciplines, essential gear, and how to prepare for your first race.

In This Article

Understanding eMTB racing

So, what is eMTB racing? eMTB racing mirrors MTB racing in rules, courses, and gear, with the main difference being the use of electric mountain bikes. Riders must adhere to the EU EN15194 standard, which limits eMTBs to a max speed of 25kph, a motor size of ≤250w, and prohibits throttle-powered bikes. Battery size isn’t standardized, but e-Enduro races typically allow two batteries, while e-cross country permits one. Always check specific race rules for details.

As eMTB racing gains popularity, more disciplines and local events are emerging. Like traditional MTB racing, it offers various categories for riders to explore. With its growing mainstream appeal, expect more races and opportunities to participate in this evolving sport.

Enduro

Easily the most popular of the eMTB racing categories, E-Enduro (or EDR-E), follows a similar format to regular enduro racing, with a few small changes to showcase the power of the eMTBs.

Enduro racing is a series of several timed descents, also known as race stages, with untimed liaisons in between each stage. The liaisons often involve a climb to your next stage and while they are untimed, there is a time cut-off.

EDR-E races follow the same format, though some larger events will also include an uphill ‘power stage’ for racers to show off their climbing and technical abilities, as well as test the limits of their motors. They also have a scheduled battery change, as you are allowed to have two batteries to last you the duration of the course.

If EDR-E sounds like fun to you, you may be in luck! As it is a popular EMTB racing format, many local events are incorporating an e-bike category into their enduro events. These often follow the same course as the main enduro events.

Cross-country

Though not as prominent at a local level as EDR-E, E-cross country (or E-XC) was the first eMTB discipline to be raced at a world level, with the first event taking place at Sea Otter in 2016 and the first UCI electric mountain bike championship taking place in 2019.

Cross-country races take place on a taped circuit over varied terrain, often including uphills, downhills, singletrack and some jumps and drops. The courses tend to be from one and a half to three kilometres, though the number of laps will vary.

E-XC follows the same format as regular cross-country though some courses may be longer or more technical to pose more of a challenge to e-bikes.

Essential gear for eMTB racing

What is the essential gear that you need for eMTB racing? It goes beyond the bike! What you’ll need to start your eMTB racing journey will vary depending on which discipline you’ll be racing in, but here’s our list of the essential items that you’ll want to have before your first EMTB race.

How to pick the right eMTB for you

When shopping for an eMTB, consider the discipline you’re most interested in, as each requires slightly different features. Not ready to commit? An all-mountain bike, like the Amflow PL, is a versatile option. For enduro racing, prioritize a large battery, ample torque for climbs, and robust suspension for rough trails. Enduro bikes focus on descents, letting the e-system handle the uphill work.

For cross-country (E-XC), opt for a lighter bike with less suspension to tackle technical climbs. While hardtails are common, a full-suspension bike offers more comfort and confidence. A lightweight e-system is ideal, as E-XC relies more on rider power than gravity.

Downhill eMTBs prioritize suspension over weight to handle big jumps and rough landings. For smaller courses, an enduro or all-mountain bike may suffice, but larger races demand a downhill-specific model. For a detailed guide, check out our resource on selecting the perfect eMTB.

What upgrades can you do to make your bike race worthy?

There are a few upgrades that you can make to your eMTB to give you the upper hand on race day. Unlike many other racing disciplines, these upgrades aren’t focused on reducing the weight of your bike but rather increasing its efficiency.

The first and likely easiest upgrade that you can make are your tyres. For eMTB racing, you’ll be looking for sturdy tyres that are grippy and have good puncture protection. For added puncture protection, consider a set of inserts (so that if you do go flat, you won’t be riding directly on your rim) or switching to tubeless.

Another upgrade that you can make are your wheels. A sturdy set of mountain bike specific carbon rims will help to give you better control over your line in the corners and durable enough to take the hits.

What gear do you need?

Before your first eMTB race, ensure you have the right gear. Start with a mountain bike-specific helmet for better head coverage; full-face helmets are ideal for enduro and downhill for added protection. Consider additional safety gear like gloves, elbow pads, and knee pads, especially for technical disciplines.

A reliable set of flat pedals with a wide platform and sturdy pins, paired with stiff-soled mountain biking shoes, will boost confidence and control. Padded riding shorts and a breathable jersey enhance comfort during long rides.

Lastly, carry race essentials, water, and a repair kit. Some eMTBs have internal storage, but if not, a hip pack or backpack with a hydration bladder is essential for longer races.

Basic eMTB racing skills and techniques

Now that you have all of your gear ready to go, how can you hone your riding technique in preparation for your first race? We’ll walk you through some of the essential mountain biking skills, some eMTB specific techniques that you can master and a few helpful tips and tricks.

Fundamental eMTB skills

Most eMTB races will have a relatively technical course, so getting comfortable with handling routes, rocks, tight corners and other obstacles is key to feeling prepared when you’re faced with your racecourse. Watch other riders, whether in-person or online, and, most importantly, get out there and ride new trails.

Many races and events will give you the opportunity to ride the course before the race itself. Do that! Get out there and try a few different lines so that you’ll know what’s coming when you’re actually racing. Remember, this is just for reconnaissance, so ride to learn, not to win.

If you’re coming from a mountain biking background, an important thing to remember is that your motor won’t work when you aren’t pedalling, so practice pedalling through corners in order to maintain your speed.

Mastering your bike’s e-system

A skill that is specific to eMTB racing that you’ll want to learn is how to use your bike’s e-system and how to use it in a way that is as efficient as possible. For most disciplines, you’ll have one battery to last you the whole course (in EDR-E you’ll have two), so conserving as much battery power as you can is crucial.

The trick is to only use the e-system when you really need it, like on tough climbs or to maintain speed over difficult terrain. As most motors will top out at 25kph, you can easily use your own power on descents and faster sections of the course. All eMTB races require that you ride a pedal-assist eMTB, so use your pedalling whenever you can.

Tips and tricks

Lastly, racing is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Being prepared, knowing the course and going out with an aim to have fun are the best things that you can do to ensure that your race day goes smoothly. Have a plan for the race but be prepared to be flexible. Things never go according to plan, and that’s okay! Remember, eMTB racing is supposed to be fun.

Preparing for your first race

So, how do you prepare for your first eMTB race?

First, choose what discipline appeals to you most and start training. While it can be tempting to get out there and sign up for an event right away, you’ll want to get a good few months of training in before your first race, and knowing which discipline you’ll be riding in will help you to practice the right skills.

Getting out on the trails and practicing your technical skills should be a priority, but be sure to also work on your endurance and your high intensity training. Endurance training takes plenty of time on the bike at a lower intensity, you should be able to hold a conversation while you ride and you can do this on an eMTB or on a traditional mountain bike, road bike or gravel bike. High intensity training will get you ready for race day speed and takes the form of short high intensity efforts followed by a short rest.

Once you’ve started training, find a local event that interest you and sign up! This can usually be done online. Be prepared that you may have to pay a registration fee and buy race insurance, if you don’t have it already.

After all of your months of training, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Race day can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. First, gather everything you’ll need the night before: nutrition, water, flat repair kit, pump, multitool, a jacket for unexpected rain, zip ties and your cycling computer or trail map.

Be sure to charge everything the night before as well. This includes your cycling computer, phone and, of course, your e-bike’s batteries. The last thing that you want is to show up on race day with a dead bike.

Review the rules ahead of time as well. Check to ensure that your bike and gear comply with the regulations specified and be sure to ask the organisers if you have any questions that aren’t answered on the event’s website.

On the day itself be sure to eat a good breakfast before you ride. It’s always a good idea to show up early to get the lie of the land, pick up your race number and do any test rides. Race day nerves are normal and showing up early will help you to feel more prepared, so that you aren’t rushing to get to the start line when your race starts.

Finally, remember to get out there and have fun!

The eMTB racing community

The best part of eMTB racing is the community that surrounds it. Though it is a relatively new area of the sport, a fun and welcoming community have already grown around eMTB racing and they’re always happy to welcome new racers. It’s a great way to find new friends and make new connections,

If you aren’t sure about how to start your eMTB racing journey, reach out to your local club! You can also go online to find groups near you or online forums to give you helpful tips and answer any remaining questions that you might have.

If you’re looking for some inspiration to give you the jumpstart that you need to get going, there are many stories of riders trying out eMTB racing for the first time and falling in love with the sport.

EMTB racing is a fun and rapidly growing sport that gives both new and experienced riders the opportunity to do what we all love, get out there and ride. The eMTB aspect doesn’t take away the challenge but rather adds something new and exciting that everyone should try out at least once. So, now that you know all of the basics, it’s time to get out there and ride your first race!

Amflow PL

The Amflow PL electric mountain bike offers 850 watts of power in an ultra-light sub-20kg build. With an unrivaled combination of power, range, and weight, it delivers the ultimate ride.

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