A solid field of international riders lined up for the race, including Marco A.Fontana (ITA), Jérôme Gilloux (FRA), Kenny Muller (FRA), and even Nathalie Schneitter (SUI) and Léa Deslandes (FRA). Having left Verbier (Switzerland) under blue skies Wednesday, August 11 at 8am, the 18 teams headed for Courmayeur (Italy), then Les Houches (France) the following day. The links between the three towns took racers through mythical areas such as the Grand Col Ferret, the Col de Seigne, the Cormet de Roselend, and even the Col de Mille. Stakes were high, and the pressure increased as the kilometers went by. The goal was winning the race and, for some, also the first-ever E-Bike World Tour. After a race that lasted a total 08h19min08sec the duo of Gilloux and Muller, E-team Moustache came out on top and won the E-Tour du Mont-Blanc 2021. In the women’s, it was the two Frenchwomen Deslandes and Sapin for Haibike-Fullattack who were victorious in 10h11min24sec.
“It was long, tough, but truly amazing. There you go, my summary of the E-Tour du Mont-Blanc in one sentence. I am so happy to win, especially with Kenny, who I’m used to riding with and who knew the route a bit as he’s raced it two years in a row” – Jérôme Gilloux, Winner of the E-Tour du Mont-Blanc 2021
“We gave it everything. I didn’t sleep well last night, we set off as the leaders this morning, so we had it all to lose, and the Swiss team was really strong – they don’t have any weak points! It was basically a race against the clock to beat them.” – Kenny Muller, Winner of the E-Tour du Mont-Blanc 2021
“It was epic, full of twists and turns, a tough first day with a technical problem, a wonderful second day…the best day of my life on a bike, I think. With Nadine, we ride together once a year, and it really works!” – Léa Deslandes, Winner E-Tour du Mont-Blanc 2021
“Amazing! The route had changed, the weather was on our side, we had a great time!” – Nadine Sapin, Winner E-Tour du Mont-Blanc 2021
At the end of this final of the E-Bike World Tour, it is Jérôme Gilloux (FRA) in the men’s and Léa Deslandes (FRA) in the women’s who win the series, thanks to their wins in the E-Tour de Haute Tarentaise and the E-Tour du Mont-Blanc.
“Happy to win the first E-Bike World Tour, I hope there will be more in the years to come! Added to winning the E-Tour du Mont-Blanc in a team with Kenny it’s really cool!” – Jérôme Gilloux, Winner E-Bike World Tour 2021
“A nice surprise! I like firsts – I was the first French ice climbing champion, now I’m the first winner in the history of the E-Bike World Tour, I’m happy with that! I hope to do more races like this one next summer.” – Léa Deslandes, Winner E-Bike World Tour 2021
These first winners make history as they bring home the very first edition of this promising futuristic series. Dates for the second edition are already set: the E-Bike World Tour 2022 will have stops in Flachau, Austria, June 24-25, 2022, for the opening round, followed by the E-Tour de Haute Tarentaise July 29-30, 2022, and the finals in Verbier, Switzerland, with the fourth edition of the E-Tour du Mont-Blanc August 10-12, 2022.
“It is with emotion and great pride that we celebrate the first winners of the E-Bike World Tour – the ultimate format for many e-bike riders. The development of the Verbier E-Bike Festival is exceptional, confirming Verbier Val de Bagnes as the Mecca of e-biking!” – Nicolas Hale-Woods, CEO, E-Bike World Tour
In the meantime, the sun is shining on the third edition of the Verbier E-Bike Festival, which opened its doors yesterday and continues until Sunday in Verbier, Nendaz, and the Pays du Saint-Bernard. Five hundred e-bikes from the industry’s biggest brands are available to test (Haibike, Lapierre, Ghost, Commencal, Specialized, Trek, Moustache, Flyer, etc.), with online registration on www.verbierebikefestival.com or on-site.
Text and photo: quattro media GmbH
