Sören Ronge elected unanimously at the IMBA EU Summit in Spain, retiring President Thomas Larsen Schmidt given lifetime achievement recognition.
At a special meeting during Europe’s leading MTB advocacy conference, members of the International Mountain-Biking Association Europe (IMBA EU) elected Sören Ronge as new President to succeed Thomas Larsen Schmidt, who has reached the end of his second mandate after 8 years in the role.
Professionally Sören brings over a decade of leadership experience in international NGOs, the UN, advocacy, and strategic development. He first came into contact with IMBA as Executive Director of Protect Our Winters, (POW) Europe, where he successfully developed the organisation through opportunities and initiatives that have parallels to the current development of IMBA EU. Today, he works as a humanitarian programme coordinator in the international NGO sector in Freiburg, Germany.
On election Sören said ” Mountain biking has been a core part of my life since 2012. It has taken me from the trails of my home in Austria to rides with local communities in Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Nepal, and across Europe. Looking ahead, I see great opportunities for IMBA Europe to strengthen its strategic direction, deepen partnerships, and amplify its voice in policy discussions that affect trail access and sustainable recreation. I believe our strength lies in collaboration between national associations, local clubs, industry partners, and individual riders. As President, I will work to ensure that IMBA Europe remains a trusted advocate and a unifying force for our community.’
IMBA EU is a non-profit federation representing national mountain biking associations at the European level, running influential projects and advocacy campaigns to defend access to the countryside across Europe and strengthen the impact and professionalisation of the sector. The annual IMBA EU Summit has become a global gathering point for stakeholders who are working to improve investment and access which will enable more people to take up mountain biking. In 2025 an audience from over 20 countries has gathered in Boltaña SpaIn, under the theme “Connected by trails”.
In recognition of his contribution to the association the board and members of IMBA EU awarded Thomas the lifetime position of Honorary Board Member.
Thomas responded by saying ” I am excited by the opportunity to welcome Sören and help him begin his Presidency. I look forward to seeing his contribution to an even more impactful IMBA community going forward. Being President of IMBA Europe has been one of the most rewarding periods of my career and I will always remain committed to the cause of mountain biking. I want to thank the Board and members for the award of Honorary Board Member, the recognition means a lot to me.“