Look, we love when people challenge the format. That's kind of the whole point. So, when we approached Specialized about running a head-to-head e-bike and analog competition with a killer hill climb the timing couldn’t have been better. Are you kidding me? The Turbo Levo R against elite analog riders on the same course, same day, same pressure they said yes immediately. Is today's e-bike technology good enough to win Hard MTB League? We genuinely don't know. And that's exactly why we're doing it. 

Mitch Ropelato will be piloting the Levo R, and if anyone can make a case for the machine, it's him a U.S. national champion who's competed in downhill, enduro, dual slalom, and Red Bull Rampage. Joining him on the Specialized roster are Cody Kelley, a multi-discipline threat with victories across downhill, enduro, and dual slalom, and Bas van Steenbergen, back-to-back King of Crankworx. Specialized is in as an Official Race Sponsor for the full 2026 season, from the May qualifier through the October Finals. Whatever happens on course, this partnership is a statement: Hard MTB League is the place where the future of the sport gets figured out.