The FIM’s ongoing mission to nurture and support the next generation of female Trial talent took another step forward when the 2025 FIM Women’s Trial Academy (WTA) was staged over the weekend at Ölbronn in Germany.
Organised by Deutscher Motor Sport Bund e. V. (DMSB) in partnership with the School of Dirt and the FIM, thirty-six WTA members benefited from two days of tuition covering all aspects of Trial overseen by FIM Head Coach Iris Oelschlegel who was assisted over the weekend by six top-level DMSB coaches.
The WTA offers young female Trial riders an exclusive opportunity to benefit from coaching and increased exposure through structured, high-level training sessions conducted by professional coaches with emphasis on technical, physical and mental development.
To cater for such an encouraging turn-out of students, for the 2025 edition of the WTA riders were divided into six separate groups according to age and ability who benefitted from two three-hour sessions on the Saturday with two further two-and-a-half-hour sessions the following day.
On Saturday evening six-time UCI Bike Trial World Champion and highly-respected fitness coach Nina Reichenbach gave WTA members a talk on the importance of stretching along with a practical demonstration. She then took part in a Q and A session covering, among other subjects, correct nutrition and methods of maintaining mental focus during events. 2025 Women's Trial Academy © FIM As well as teaching essential skills to WTA members, Oelschlegel – a former FIM Women’s Trial World Champion, three-time FIM Women’s European Trial Champion and six-time National champion whose achievements have earned her FIM Legend status – took the opportunity to ‘train the trainers’ by passing on her knowledge and experience to the DMSB coaches.
To facilitate this, Oelschlegel observed the coaches in action before discussing training techniques with emphasis placed on section evaluation and the ‘before, during and after’ approach of walking the section, riding the section and then conducting a debrief. The importance of imparting safe practising protocols to riders and support staff to maintain high performance and minimise risk across all levels of the sport was also emphasised, as was working to a clear framework.
“We were happy to have so many riders and coaches or participants,” said Oelschlegel. “We purposefully kept the groups very small so riders could receive as much direct instruction as possible. It was an extremely constructive and productive weekend and I feel very encouraged that the FIM Women’s Trial Academy is having a really positive impact on the sport. It is my dream to teach girls and then one day welcome them as competitors at a TrialGP round.”
Thierry Michaud, Director of the FIM Trial Commission (CTR), said: “It is inspiring to see the growing number of girls and women who are getting involved in Trial which shows that the sport is becoming more inclusive and diverse than ever before. The FIM Women’s Trial Academy provides such well-rounded, wide-ranging and carefully-considered instruction and serves as a powerful reminder of the bright future that lies ahead for the sport and the benefits of empowering women within Trial.”