SHIMANO and IMBA Europe Announce New Mountain Biking Partnership

Joint Venture aims to Enhance Sustainable Trail Management, and Further Development through Advocacy and Education

SHIMANO and the International Mountain Bike Association Europe (IMBA Europe), a collective that aims to grow mountain biking by promoting the sport as accessible, inclusive and environmentally sustainable, today announced a new three-year partnership to support and facilitate trail projects and advocacy programs.

As one of the world’s leading bicycle component manufacturers, Shimano is uniquely placed to work alongside IMBA Europe on a variety of initiatives that will encourage riders to experience the joys of heading off-road, riding through their local loam, and considering what a contribution (at a local level) to actively enhance the sport’s environmental sustainability might look like.

Arjen Vinke, Managing Director, Bike at Shimano Europe said, “We are excited to formalise our partnership with IMBA Europe. Shimano wants to ensure that sustainable trail design and construction techniques will limit the environmental impact. It’s important that every effort is made to protect and expand trails for all users – including mountain bike riders of all skill levels. Through our new Trail Born Fund, Shimano is showing its dedication to the mountain bike community and environmental responsibility.”

SHIMANO Trail Born Fund
The Trail Born Fund aims to effect change across the mountain bike riding world that will one-day open new riding areas across Europe (with select projects already taking place in North America and Oceania) and improve existing trail networks. As a trusted partner, IMBA Europe’s involvement will help connect European countries together through collaboration and knowledge sharing. 

And that means more places for all of us to ride—and more opportunities for new riders, like kids, to discover and take part in maintaining this amazing sport for future generations.

Shimano will leverage its Trail Born Fund to provide in-kind support towards some of IMBA Europe’s own trail development initiatives across the continent, after a thorough review of the proposed projects. In turn, IMBA Europe will also work closely with Shimano to identify priority projects within its own network that can benefit from this funding.

Shimano Europe members, Takeshi Yoshiyama (left), Ties van Dijk and Arjen Vinke (far right), agree to a new partnership with IMBA Europe General Manager, Mark Torsius (center right) at Shimano Europe’s Head Office in Eindhoven, NL.

DIRTT
One key pillar of this partnership will be the continued support of selected DIRTT (Developing Intereuropean Resources for Trail builder) projects, involving six countries that have a growing domestic MTB participation rate. Trail builders are an important link in sharing information and competencies towards local trail groups and land managers. This new funding from Shimano will ensure that the DIRTT program will be recognized as a European-wide, certified trail builder program, as soon as 2026.

Mark Torsius, General Manager, IMBA Europe said, “We are very pleased with Shimano’s commitment to trail advocacy and trail development in its broadest sense. By supporting not only trail building projects but also by investing in training and education, we’re sure the impact of the Trail Born Fund will have a multiplier effect with more projects on the ground being initiated.”

Shimano and IMBA Europe officially launched their partnership through the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this month. This partnership will lead to the announcement of the first European Trail Born Fund projects in March 2025.

For more information, please visit bike.shimano.com.