Husqvarna to Join EWS-E With Alex Fayolle as Rider

Mar 4, 2021 at 9:20
by James Smurthwaite  
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Husqvarna will be entering the EWS-E series next year with World Cup downhill winner Alex Fayolle as the sole rider.

Husqvarna is a Swedish power tools brand but will be most famous in the mountain bike world for its motorcycle division that was spun off in 1987 and now operates under KTM. 25-year-old Fayolle announced his retirement from World Cup downhill racing on October 17 2020 after racing as a privateer that year. Fayolle spent 10 years racing downhill and his career highlight came at Lourdes in 2017 when he came away with the win in a rain-affected event.

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2021 will be Alex's first time racing enduro and he will be tackling the four-round series on Husqvarna's Mountain Cross 7 bike that was released last year. The 150mm frame uses Shimano’s EP8 motor with a 630Wh integrated battery and rolls on mullet wheels. Additional team sponsors include Kenny Racing, Sunlight, Crankbrothers, Sixpack, Vee Tire Co, Galfer and Monkey’s Sauce.

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bigquotesI’m really excited to share the news that I’ll race the EWS-E with Husqvarna E-Bicycles. I’ve been bursting to tell everyone for a while now, so it’s cool to make it official. This move to enduro, on an eMTB, is just what I need. I’ve found something again that I’d lost with downhill, that’s having fun on my bike.

Now I just want to get out there to ride and race and enjoy it all. Everything about this move is new for me, but I’m ready to give my best. I actually owned a Husqvarna E-Bicycles last year as a training bike but jumping on the new Mountain Cross 7 is impressive. With the mullet wheel size it surprises me every time I ride - it’s fast for sure. For EWS-E, I feel like I’ve got a great team behind me. We’re a small, but tight, crew and in racing that’s what works best.

Of course, enduro is a new world for me - I know there will be a lot to learn - but I think enduro is more of what I’m looking for in my future. I can’t wait to get started with Husqvarna E-Bicycles Racing, we’re going to have a lot of fun.—Alexandre Fayolle


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52 Comments
  • 31 0
 Good luck Alex; nice looking bike.

But why do most eBs come specced inline shocks, or small piggybacks instead of straight up X2s, SDs, etc.?

I like my husqy chainsaw...
  • 6 0
 I have often wondered the same thing about the rear shock choices on many EBikes. I have blown out multiple IL shocks on my current gen Stumpy. I'd be going thru 1 a week on an EBike.
  • 3 0
 @cassonwd: the entire bike’s part spec seems weird. It has XT brakes but with a Deore drivetrain, it has rekon tires on an enduro bike.
  • 4 0
 @cassonwd: well they do have the dual crown dh version too.
  • 12 1
 What's the point of buying a husqy if it doesn't have a husqy motor?
  • 6 7
 Yawn
  • 2 0
 @cassonwd: I've blown them out as well... I really think e-bikes suspension kinematics are still an afterthought at many companies... Fortunately a few are now coming out with bikes specced with proper-sized shocks.
  • 4 1
 @cassonwd: truth. I had a 30 pound enduro bike with a DPX2 and it couldn't keep up.
  • 1 0
 @RonanM825: it all fairness it's only a 150mm ebike, so the parts spec matches the tires. Look at the other models in their lineup like the Hard Cross or Extreme Cross.. I didn't know there was a need for an E-DH bike!?
  • 2 0
 @cstishenko: well ya, E dh makes ton of sense. Many don't live near an uplift park. If your not going to be hans reying it, then I'd rather have a dual crown.
  • 22 0
 not buying one unless the motor has chainsaw mode
  • 6 0
 I want a eBike I can use has a chainsaw if I see a tree in the trails !
  • 2 0
 @QuebecPoulin: bahah, I've said this since I got mine - we need a trail builder edition with pull out electric saw, powered by the bike
  • 1 0
 Can i upgrade the chain to a Husqvarna Chainsaw chain?
  • 8 1
 So is this just a re-badged KTM ebike?
  • 34 8
 I think the mother company is called pexco and they label their frames for KTM, Husqvarna, Ducati and Raymon. Boomers love it when they have the same brand bike and chainsaw.
  • 2 0
 @KalkhoffKiller: aren't raymon basically repainted Mondrakers? I saw some small times insta influenza dude in my targeted ads and his bike just looked like a Superfoxy with a different paint job.
  • 5 0
 @KalkhoffKiller: what a mess:
www.electrive.com/2017/12/09/ktm-industries-launches-electric-bicycle-brand
I was referring to the Huskys being KTM motos with different plastic/paint.
  • 5 0
 @KalkhoffKiller: Ducati chainsaw? Sign me up!
  • 1 0
 If you take a look at the KTM and Husky ebike sites, they appear to be totally different models. It seems like the Husky brand is geared more towards gravity while the KTM models are more for xc / marathon.
  • 1 0
 @ebrown123: The KTM Macina Prowler is definitely a gravity focussed bike with 180mm of coiled travel and 38's on the front.
  • 1 1
 @ReformedRoadie - The Hsky looks nothing like any of the KTM bikes. issuu.com/ktm-bike-industries/docs/ktm_katalog_2021
  • 1 0
 @bigtim: I agree there is overlap. Husky makes a gravel e-bike and step through commuter too. I am saying that Husky's mountain e-bikes are solely gravity focused whereas KTM is covering more of the segments.
  • 1 0
 @KalkhoffKiller: Close, but not quite - Pexco have Husqvarna and Raymon, KTM are separate and Ducati are working with Thok these days, although they did work with Bianchi in the past. And none of the moto brands are directly attached to their parent company, they license their name (at least for now).

And @ReformedRoadie - the Gasgas launches soon... Wink
  • 1 0
 Holding off for the Gas Gas as I like red
  • 3 0
 @CantQuitCartel: I like irony.
  • 1 0
 @KalkhoffKiller: I think this is for all the urban millennials that dress like lumberjacks.
  • 6 0
 I'm sure husqy put a lot of money an rd in this bike and it's not a catalogue bike just to make money during the ebike hype.
  • 1 0
 “Ebike hype”
  • 1 0
 @WShepherd: yes, ebike hype. Like windsurf hype in the 80s, there is still windsurfers in 2020.
  • 1 0
 @fracasnoxteam: like the snowboarding hype and the 29er hype and ski lift hype. i get it now thanks for clearing that up
  • 7 0
 Holding out for the Stihl version
  • 1 1
 Nice one!!! lol
  • 3 0
 It's a no go for me. I checked the specs and there is no coaster brake!
www.husqvarna-bicycles.com/en-int/models/all-mountain/mountain-cross-72021.html
  • 1 0
 Even with no enduro experience, I would expect him to be one the favorites in ews e racing with his DH skills if he can manage the climbing stages ok. The competition level will be much higher this year, and it will be more interesting to watch.
  • 1 0
 Why does KTM even do this? They’re the same company and only really dif in paint. Even their Moto3 bikes are the same, just a different name. Just seems odd with KTM having such a good rep overall in the 2-wheel race world.
  • 3 0
 If husqy has a e bike, does Honda have one
  • 1 0
 I’d rather buy an old Honda. Say one from about the mid 90’s... Wink
  • 3 1
 The Husky eMTB look great, it will be interesting to see how the Husky stack-up against the other eMTB brands.
  • 5 4
 So it's like EWS with all the transfer stages are chair lifted. Not every endurance.
  • 3 1
 Umn... no?
  • 1 1
 @Chuckolicious: Bhaha...I love re reading comments posted from my phone
  • 4 0
 EWS-E actually has an uphill stage which is kind of cool.
  • 1 0
 that rear shock placement all I see is rocks and gravel getting caught there ...
  • 1 0
 Don't forget sand. I hate sand. It's rough, and course, and it gets everywhere...
  • 2 2
 EWS-E is it? Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Should be E-EWS......or just (Oooos) like what an infected sore does. Lol
  • 1 0
 I Hear the use rotary saw blade as their chain ring This way you can do some trail building along the way...
  • 1 0
 When they stop having those fat down tubes, how will I know which articles to just scroll past?
  • 1 1
 Looks like a KHS.
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