The bikes of the pros: The KTM Macina Prowler Exonic by Emanuel Pombo
Emanuel Pombo comes from the flower island of Madeira, but lives and trains in Lousã on the Portuguese mainland. Pombo is a biking icon in his country, having won a total of nine championship titles in various disciplines to date. He has also finished at the top of the podium at the legendary enduro events Trans Madeira, a tough stage race in his home country, and at the Megavalanche in Alpe D'Huez (e-bike class).
Who is Emanuel Pombo?
- Age: 36 years
- Nationality: Portugal
- Main sponsor: Miranda
- Greatest successes: multiple Portuguese champion
Pombo also started his career in downhill, where he was active in the World Cup for many years. He came to e-MTB racing via enduro racing. The Miranda Factory Team is one of the first racing teams in e-racing. Pombo has been competing in E-Enduro races for a correspondingly long time. In 2020 and 2021, he finished third overall in the EWS-E - the predecessor of today's E-Enduro World Cup EDR-E. "What I love about the E-Enduro format is the intensity and variety. We discover the mountains on varied trails and the transfers take us through a magnificent mountain world. It's a big mountain feeling paired with a sporting challenge uphill and downhill."
Emanuel's bike: KTM Macina Prowler
Miranda is a Portuguese component manufacturer, and KTM is one of Miranda's biggest customers. The Miranda Factory Team was formed from this cooperation. As Miranda specialises in e-MTB components, Emanuel Pombo's KTM Macina Prowler Exonic features many e-specific Miranda details. An e-enduro race bike, says Pombo, has to be reliable above all else. "Because the race days are long and the tracks are tough." For example, the Portuguese rider opts for the "small" Shimano XT 12-speed cassette with 10-45 teeth and the rear derailleur with a short cage to minimise bumping and withstand the extreme stresses of racing more reliably. The cranks are also short: 155 millimetres are enough for Pombo to transmit power and provide more ground clearance, especially on the technical and winding power stages.
The tyres also have to be robust. Because a puncture can ruin the entire race. Pombo relies on Maxxis tyres with a stable DH carcass on the front and rear wheels. There is also a robust Cushcore tyre insert in the rear. This means that even if he gets a flat tyre, he can still finish the race quickly. His DHR II tyre (27.5 x 2.4") on the rear wheel is inflated to 1.65 bar, while the Assegai (29 x 2.5") on the front is inflated to 1.5 bar.
The racing team as a development aid organisation
The Portuguese manufacturer Miranda is the team's main sponsor and a major component manufacturer. The Portuguese brand has been around for over 70 years. Cranks are their main business and their products can be found on many European bikes. Spiders and chainrings for various e-bike drives, above all Bosch, are a major area of business. But the brand also produces chainring mounts for Shimano, Brose, Fazua and Yamaha. The team is already testing many different components in prototype status. For example, the special stem that allows a particularly high torque at the clamp. This is intended to prevent the cockpit from twisting. This is an important criterion for Pombo, as particularly high forces occur when racing with the heavy e-bike.
The bike:
- Model: KTM Macina Prowler Exonic
- Suspension travel: 180/170 mm
- Wheel size: 29/27.5 inch
- Battery: Bosch Powertube, 750 Wh
- Motor: Bosch Performance CX Race
- Frame: Carbon main frame, aluminium rear triangle
- Special features: small cassette with 10 - 45 teeth, short 155 mm cranks
- Weight: 25.6 kg (race ready!)
