The fiercely-contested Trial2 Woman class will conclude this coming weekend at the Andorran TrialGP where rising British star Alicia Robinson (Beta) will be aiming to carry the momentum from her performances last time out in Spain into the lofty Pyrenees principality.
The 18-year-old ran 2-1 at Pobladura de las Regueras – round two of the 2020 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – last weekend to pull herself up into third place in the standings after what she admits was a disappointing pair of performances at the French TrialGP.
Now just seven points behind Italy’s Andrea Rabino (Beta) and only three adrift of French rider Naomi Monnier (Beta), Alicia is a genuine title candidate in a truly stacked field.
“I started off the season with two fourths which I was a bit disappointed about,” she said. “There are some very good riders in the class who are all of equal ability – it’s very competitive so I was delighted to win in Spain. I just seemed to click with the sections and I kept my feet up!”
We caught up with Alicia as she travelled to Andorra where she was intending to get her bike – and body – ready for riding at altitude.
“I’ve never actually competed in Andorra but it’s big rocks and will be similar to where we’ve just been in Spain. Obviously, the bikes don’t run as good when you’re high up and it’s hard on the riders as well so that’s why altitude training beforehand is important. Hopefully, spending a day high up in the Pyrenees will help me prepare.”
Coming from a family with a long Trial heritage – her father Stuart minded at the highest level for British riders Sam Connor and Alexz Wigg – it was inevitable that Alicia would get involved in the sport and she has been riding since the age of four.
Being a female British rider, it’s also perhaps inevitable that her role model is six-time FIM TrialGP Women champion Emma Bristow.
“We’ve trained with her a lot and she’s always very supportive and encouraging. Our families get on well and we’ve been out to Spain with her a few times. It’s great to train with her.”
Consistency is key in any sport and after a hit-and-miss 2019 campaign that saw her run 6-9 in the opening two rounds before a sensational win at the final round in Spain, Alicia has been pushing for podiums all season.
“We’ve trained really hard over the winter and came out to Spain in February for just over a week. I’m third in the championship and I think, depending where the other girls are, if I can get two wins then I can still take the title.
“Hopefully this year I’ll at least get top-three in the championship which means I’ll be able to move up to the TrialGP Women class. It’s harder with bigger steps which I feel will suit me better.”
The 2020 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship resumes tomorrow with the opening day of the Andorran TrialGP. For regular updates and live results go to the new-look www.trialgp.com website or check out our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – just search for TrialGP.
