500Wh MAX !
Access to energy is the same to every participant to the Road E-Bike Grand Prix. This is why we can finally talk about e-road sport racing !
The energy constraint and how it leads to the different strategic approaches that are allowed at the Road E-Bike Grand Prix and 1/2 Grand Prix.
All competitors are to follow the rules that have been designed specifically to e-road racing. Let’s go through the different battery types and how they can be handled to comply with the energy constraint.
E-bikes of 400Wh and 500Wh battery capacity such as Bosch or Yamaha are simply to be charged fully before the race and go ! No battery charging or replacement will be allowed. Batteries will be checked and sealed before the race and checked again at arrival.
What about the 200Wh and 250Wh system designed by Bafang, Fazua, Polini or Ebikemotion ? Those bikes fall in the 3 below categories:
- Additional batteries are available in the market and can be connected to the motor on top of the built-in battery capacity. The total battery capacity reaching 500Wh maximum.
- The built-in battery is easily exchanged with a spare battery of the same capacity.
- The battery is integrated into the bike frame and wold take too long to swap with another one.
In the first case, cyclists can carry on the extra battery pack with them from the start of the race (either in a backpack or attached to the bike). Then cyclists will be able to connect their extra battery at the technical stands or at the aid station*.
Advantage : Cyclists can manage their battery use as they wish.
Attention : Any operation of battery connection or battery swap needs to be done at a dedicated technical area for safety and transparency reasons.
In the second case, cyclists can also chose to leave their spare battery in advance at the technical pit stop of their choice*.
Advantage : Cyclists start the race at the lightest weight and will carry the additional battery capacity only when needed.
In the third case, the bike frame is assimilated to the battery which means that the entire bike can be swapped to a second one (of the same technical characteristics) at pit stops.
Advantage : Swaping the entire bike could result to the fastest swap as it only requires the cyclist to tranfert the timing chip to the new bike.
We look forward to seeing what you are to do on October 19th !
By then, don’t hesitate to send your technical, logistics or any other questions…
* Participants to the 1/2 Grand Prix can add or swap batteries or their bike at the aid station located at the top of the Relais du Mont du Chat. Please reach out to the organisators at least one week before the race in order to get this organised for you.