The women’s teams will be headed by last year’s winners Great Britain, who rely on the same team: Maria Conway (Beta), Rebekah Cook (Gas Gas) and Donna Fox (Sherco) to face off Spain, whose trio is Maddalen Aizpurua, Carla Calderer and Laia Sanz, the latter at present leading the World Championship, having won the first round in the Czech Republic in July.
Other teams will come from Germany, France, Norway, the United States, Italy, Canada, Portugal, Ireland and the Netherlands.
With the second round of the Women’s World Championship in Belgium cancelled, the competition will now be decided over just two rounds, the Czech Republic and the Isle of Man. Therefore, the title will be awarded at the Villa Marina in Douglas on the evening of Friday September 28th. Laia Sanz (Montesa) from Spain won round one, with Iris Kramer (Scorpa) from Germany second and Rebekah Cook (Gas Gas) from Great Britain third.
The late return of the popular Howstrake observed sections means that plans to use the steep grass banks at the Arches have been abandoned. But there will still be plenty of variety in the 12km course containing the 18 men’s sections and the women’s 15 sections, ridden twice in each of the three events.
Friday September 28 Women’s World Championship 10.30am
Saturday September 29 Women’s Trial des Nations 10.30am
Sunday September 30 Men’s Trial des Nations 08.00am