Women in Mountain Biking

International Women’s Day is more than a date on the calendar.It represents visibility, equality and the courage to follow your own path – on and off the bike.

For a long time, mountain biking was seen as a male-dominated sport. Today, that image is changing. More and more women are discovering mountain biking – riding with confidence, ambition or simply for the joy of exploring nature.

One rider who has experienced and helped shape this shift is Liesl Lanz.

Why more women are starting mountain biking

Mountain biking combines elements that few other sports bring together in the same way: connection with nature, physical challenge, technical progression and mental strength. For many women, the sport is becoming increasingly attractive because:

• visibility of women in cycling is growing
• more mountain bike events are designed specifically for women
• beginner-friendly skills courses are widely available
• community and mutual support are becoming stronger

“There’s much more visibility, more events just for women and generally more support among riders” says Liesl Lanz. “But there’s still more potential.”

This development is not a short-term trend – it’s part of a broader shift in the sport.

Female empowerment in mountain biking: having the courage to try

Female empowerment in mountain biking isn’t about being better than others. It’s about being willing to try something new. Riding technical sections. Climbing more vertical meters. Signing up for an enduro race. And above all: not constantly comparing yourself to others. “What inspires me most are women who try new things with courage and motivate each other instead of comparing.”

Mountain biking can be technically demanding, and doubts often appear along the way. But that’s exactly where progress begins. “When someone underestimates me, it fuels my motivation.” At the same time, strength also means knowing your limits – listening to your instincts and not measuring progress only by speed or rankings.

Community: the key to more women in mountain biking

Mountain biking may be an individual sport – but it’s rarely a lonely one. Community plays a crucial role, especially for women entering the sport. Shared rides create confidence. Exchange builds trust. Shared experiences create lasting motivation.

For many beginners, group rides or women-focused training formats are the moment when barriers disappear.

Liesl puts it simply: “Just go for it. A little courage, a little confidence – and ideally, ride together.” That “together” is not a side note. It’s the real driver of progress.

CILO and the support of women in mountain biking

At CILO, we believe bikes are more than sports equipment. They are tools for freedom, confidence and personal growth.

For us, female empowerment in mountain biking means:

• creating spaces where women naturally take their place
• actively supporting community
• enabling encounters and shared riding experiences
• seeing performance and accessibility as complementary, not contradictory

Moving forward together is not just a claim for us – it’s a mindset. Progress happens when people support each other: on the trail, in races and in everyday life.

International Women’s Day in cycling: a moment, not the finish line

International Women’s Day reminds us that equality in sport does not happen automatically. But it also shows how much has already changed.

We celebrate everyone who rides. Those who dare. Those who inspire others. Those who try something new.

And those who show: The trail belongs to all of us.