A city becomes a parkour course
Four months of planning, four days of set-up: what course designer Desmond Tessemaker and his team created on 25 July on Groningen’s Grote Markt resembled a massive skatepark. A 15.5-metre-high rooftop drop, wall rides, whale tails, technical park lines and a dual section where riders chose their own route. Three districts, one goal: to show what’s possible on two wheels, right in the heart of a historic city centre.
Bringer wins thanks to consistency
In the men’s event, it wasn’t a single ‘wow’ moment that decided the race, but rather relentless consistency across all three districts. Tim Bringer (FRA) combined his scores in Dual, Park and Big Air to achieve an overall total of 284.72 points – leaving Dawid Godziek (POL), on 278.50, a good six points behind. Lucas Huppert (SUI) completed the podium with 274.71. Bringer scored the day’s highest mark in Big Air, but also delivered consistently in Park and Dual. Rarely has anyone dominated a slopestyle final so effortlessly.
Wiggberg’s backflip barspin for the history books
The fact that the Red Bull District Ride 2026 featured an official women’s competition for the first time was a milestone in itself. What Alma Wiggberg (SWE) made of it was even more impressive: with 277.00 points, she won the first women’s title in the event’s history – and the decisive moment was a backflip barspin in the Big Air District, which earned her the day’s highest score in that category. Johanna Nussbaumer (GER) followed in second place with 229.00 points, whilst Natalia Niedzwiedz (POL) took third place with 211.99 points.
A moment of shock: the Flying Dutchman
Local rider Pim Scheers went for broke. The former BMX rider attempted a bike flip. That means he wanted to spin his bike once around its transverse axis in front of him. But Pim missed his grip on the handlebars. This produced some spectacular footage. You can see it in the replay at 2:19. The silver lining: despite the spectacular crash, the Dutchman emerged unscathed.
Results at a glance
Men: 1. Tim Bringer (FRA) 284.72 – 2. Dawid Godziek (POL) 278.50 – 3. Lucas Huppert (SUI) 274.71 – 4. Jack Feick (CAN) 267.07 – 5. Erik Fedko (GER) 266.49 – 6. Griffin Paulson (CAN) 253.82
Women: 1. Alma Wiggberg (SWE) 277.00 – 2. Johanna Nussbaumer (GER) 229.00 – 3. Natalia Niedzwiedz (POL) 211.99 – 4. Shealen Reno (USA) 193.99 – 5. Harriet Burbidge-Smith (AUS) 148.32 – 6. Robin Goomes (NZL) 67.00
More than just any old slopestyle
As an FMB World Tour Diamond Event and part of the Slopestyle Super League, Groningen was not just another stop on the season’s circuit, but a pivotal moment in the 2026 title race. For Wiggberg, the victory marks the next step in a run of dominant results. For the District Ride itself, it means the format is expanding – into new cities, new categories and new dimensions. The action is moving further into the city. Groningen was just the beginning. German fans are, of course, hoping for a return to Nuremberg with its iconic Kaiserburg.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
