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Bafang and MTB Olympic champion Bart Brentjens have signed a development and sponsorship partnership to sponsor a "top-level" MTB team, founded in 2008 by Brentjens.
The e-bike drive system manufacturer based in Suzhou, China, has also agreed a development collaboration with Brentjens’ MTB brand American Eagle, with the aim of producing an e-MTB "capable of competing at the highest level".
The aim is for the bikes to race in the World Championships for the new ‘e-mountain bike’ class, which was recently announced by the UCI. The Championships will be contested in late August 2019 in Mont St. Anne, Canada.
Jack Brandsen, Europe general manager for Bafang Electric Motor Science Technology, said: “At Bafang we are delighted to have agreed both this intensive collaboration to develop highly-competitive e-mountain bikes and to be supporting one of the most successful elite MTB teams in the world as sponsors.
“For me this is a perfect example of a win-win situation – and one which we hope will pay off soon with race wins!”
Brentjens added: “I have always been someone who wants to develop new things and bring them to fruition. This is a tremendous step forwards which will bring fresh energy to our team and our sport.
“I have a really good feeling about both the upcoming UCI World Championship and the current popularity of e-bikes in general, this is going to be a hugely rewarding new challenge.”
