Bosch eBike Systems is heading to Northwest Arkansas next month as the title sponsor of a new addition to the Bentonville Bike Fest schedule: the Bosch Hill Climb Challenge. Taking place in the evening on Friday, June 12, 2026, the challenge will be a feature event of the grand opening of the OZ Trails Bike Park in Bella Vista, AR.
Bentonville Bike Fest is positioned as an international celebration of all styles of cycling. The event welcomes more than 6,000 daily visitors, 1,400 athletes, and 160 exhibitors, representing 13 countries and 47 US states.
Riders in the Bosch Hill Climb Challenge will get two chances to race up a steep, technical hill climb course on Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes, which are limited to 20 miles per hour. The event will test competitors against the terrain in a trial of skill as riders traverse the course from the base of the mountain up the lift line while navigating the route and specific features along the way.
The rider who travels the furthest up the climb, in the fastest time, without putting their foot down, wins. The event is free to the public, free to enter, and open to men and women, with a total prize purse of US$1,500.
Beyond the Hill Climb, Bosch eBike Systems will be present at the second annual e-Mobility Day, taking place on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in downtown Bentonville, CA. The day includes e-bike test rides, guided tours, and an afternoon panel discussion.
Members of the Bosch team will feature on a panel alongside leaders from PeopleForBikes and Arkansas Moves, discussing the impact of e-mobility and mountain biking on communities and the future of active transportation. The Bosch team will also moderate a commute panel with Mal Sebech, General Manager of the Walmart Bikeshare program, who will showcase its bike share system and servicing trike, which are both powered by Bosch.
A supplier to more than 100 of the world’s bicycle brands, Bosch will also be present at the Bike Fest Expo from June 12–14, 2026. Visitors can explore a range of urban and eMTB bikes at its booth near the main stage, or visit partner brands such as Trek, Orbea, Polygon, Pivot, Ari, and Santa Cruz to test ride bikes powered by Bosch eBike systems.
The brand will host athlete autograph sessions with elite athletes Hans Rey, Ryan Howard, Rachel Strait, and Kyle Strait. Attendees can also learn about the latest updates to the Bosch eBike Flow App, including new features such as Performance Upgrade 2.0 and Trick Check.
Throughout the weekend, Bosch and professional rider Hans Rey will offer a series of four guided eMTB rides taking place on June 11, 12, and 13, 2026. These will cover both the Slaughter Pen and Coler trail systems at intermediate and advanced levels.
Proceeds from the guided rides will go to Friends of Arkansas Singletrack (FAST), the official charity of the festival. The rides include stops along the way to cover riding techniques, e-bike setup, and Bosch software features.
Jocelyn Vande Velde, NA Marketing Director from Bosch eBike Systems, said “We are thrilled to bring Bosch eBike Systems to Bentonville Bike Fest this year. This is an incredible opportunity for riders and enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the world of eBikes – from exploring the latest innovations shaping the industry to getting hands-on time with our bikes on the trail. Whether you’re stopping by to chat with our team at the Expo, test riding our latest systems, or taking on the Bosch Hill Climb Challenge, we hope attendees leave with a deeper understanding of why Bosch is central to a wonderful eBike experience.”
As an independent division within the Bosch Group, Bosch eBike Systems aims to shape the future of e-bike mobility with drive systems, production-ready ABS for e-bikes, and digital connected biking solutions. It utilizes the parent technology and manufacturing expertise of the wider group, which employs roughly 412,000 associates internationally and generated sales of €91 billion in the 2025 business year.
Opening on June 12, 2026, OZ Trails Bike Park is Arkansas’s first chairlift-served mountain bike park. Purpose-built in Bella Vista, AR, to bring downhill riding to the region, the park features progression-based trails, a high-speed chairlift, rentals, instruction, and on-mountain amenities.
www.bosch-ebike.com
www.bentonvillebikefest.com
