When the 30th edition of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup arrived at Mont-Sainte-Anne this fall, the B1 had an opportunity unlike any before: to serve as the official emergency extraction vehicle on one of the toughest mountain courses in the world. The event didn’t just test capability; it became a real-time demonstration of what the B1 can do in situations where every second matters.
A New Challenge, Made Possible by the Community
The collaboration started earlier in September at the Mountain Bike Symposium in Beaupré, where the Beonyx team presented the B1 to key industry leaders. Among them was Serge Veuthey, owner of VéloSolutions, whose connections opened the door for the B1’s use during the World Cup.
As Beonyx co-founder Louis Déry explains, “Mr. Veuthey, through his contacts and vision, paved the way for a new Beonyx experience: rescue in challenging environments.”
A Machine Built for Situations Where Others Can’t Go
Once the event was underway, the B1 quickly demonstrated why it was chosen. Over the weekend, it completed more than 10 extractions and transported medical personnel between the summit and the base of the mountain, reaching areas inaccessible to traditional all-terrain vehicles. In several instances, it carried two injured riders at once while keeping medical staff securely positioned to provide care during transport.
Louis recalls the feeling of seeing the B1 perform real rescues: “A great sense of pride, having a safe, reliable, and powerful solution that saves lives in environments inaccessible to current vehicles.”
This performance is rooted in engineering. B1’s patented eight-wheel system maintains full ground contact, improving stability on uneven slopes. Combined with its articulated steering and ability to dedicate all power to traction, the vehicle can climb 40-degree inclines while carrying loads exceeding 2,000 lbs.
As Louis notes, the emergency response team and QTM CEO Jean Fortier described the B1 as “a game changer,” with comfort and climbing power repeatedly cited as key strengths.
Versatility That Opens New Markets
Beyond just extractions, the B1 also proved its worth by quickly transporting medics, support teams, and their equipment across the course. Its modular design allowed for seamless shifts between personnel transport and rescue missions, demonstrating how its usefulness extends well beyond mountain biking.
Operators in parks, ski patrols, hiking areas, and mountain safety teams can all benefit from a vehicle capable of providing medical support in places where elevation or terrain make traditional vehicles unreliable.
At the OXIO Village, visitors had the chance to see the B1 up close. These interactions gave our team clear insight into how people perceive its value. “We go beyond what the market currently offers, all with greater comfort and safety,” Louis says. “In addition to all these capabilities, we can be remotely controlled and even autonomous for certain needs.”
Real Feedback That Inspires Real Innovation
Working alongside rescue teams has also sparked new design ideas. One challenge was how to transport more people on the machine when no injured riders were onboard. After seeing responders use the stabilizing board as an impromptu backrest, Beonyx co-founder Michael Martel and the rescue team proposed developing a convertible plank-and-seat system that could switch between passenger seating and stretcher support in seconds.
As Michael says, “Feedback from people who use the vehicle is invaluable… they are best placed to work with us on improvements.”
With commercialization on the horizon, Beonyx is targeting sectors such as adventure tourism, ski patrol, mountain security, and remote environmental operations, where the B1 can help people reach places they otherwise couldn’t, whether for work, rescue, or exploration.
“Imagine all the landscapes inaccessible to people who lack the desire or ability to reach Quebec’s most beautiful viewpoints… B1 will be there to help them,” Louis highlights. The Mont-Sainte-Anne weekend didn’t just prove what the B1 can do. It showed what the future could look like.
