Photo Report Argus Bike Festival 2025

"For years, I stood down there and thought how cool it would be to be able to participate here someday. And now ..." Sarah Schieder is at a loss for words. But to know what she wants to say, one just needs to look at her face. No one could grin wider than the Styrian. Her beaming eyes tell stories of well-deserved pride, boundless fun, and bubbling euphoria.
Just moments ago, the Rose rider secured third place at the women’s premiere of the Dirt Battle Vienna at Vienna’s Rathausplatz with a flawless Superwoman Seatgrab. But more than the - somewhat surprising - placement and the prize money, what matters is the moment: For the first time at the undisputed highlight of the Argus Bike Festival, the so-called weaker sex got the chance to show what they’re capable of.

With this, the Dirt Contest in Vienna aligns itself with a series of renowned gravity events, most notably the Crankworx Slopestyle World Championships and Red Bull Rampage, which introduced their own Women’s Competitions at the highest level in 2024.
Mentioning the Dirt Battle Vienna in the same breath as these international heavyweights might seem exaggerated? In terms of sporting significance, undoubtedly. But what has always been true for the men in the Austrian capital also applies to the women: At hardly any other event do professionals perform in front of a more unassuming audience, not belonging to the innermost fan circle. Nowhere else is the astonished, applauding crowd as random and diverse as here. Accordingly, their enthusiasm is audible and palpable - especially since the stadium-like ambiance acts as an amplifier. And the chance is equally great that the dirt bikers, with their tricks and moves, their courage and confidence, their fabulous bike control and technique, will become role models for other women and girls."

But no reason to be downhearted. The six who followed his invitation are about to rock the town hall square even more soon.
Johanna’s initial respect is no longer visible after her first practice jumps, during which she developed the right feel for speed and timing. With impressive style, she and her Rose soar through the air. The same goes for the rest of the girls. They are jumping higher, landing more controlled, whipping more decisively, spinning faster, and increasingly reducing their contact points with the bike.
Paired with a gentleman of creation by random draw, they are finally ready for the Mixed Team competition after just one morning of practice.

What serves as welcomed extra training for the men is the first of two highlights for the women. And for the Viennese audience, it’s a great opportunity to understand what slopestyle riders mean when they perform according to their host's repeatedly stated mantra: "better safe than sorry."
Backflips are just as much part of the repertoire as Suicide No Handers or 360s, and depending on how the wind is blowing and shifting, barspins or feet-off tricks are added here and there until it’s clear: neither the athletes nor the audience have had enough of the originally planned three rounds.
With a startled "Close the door!" moderator Andi Brewi sends Sarah Schieder and her teammate Vilibald Vitek from the Czech Republic on an honorary lap after a failed Superman Seatgrab-Frontflip combo, and except for freerider Horvat, who unfortunately injured her thigh right at the start, everyone goes for another round.

You already know the images of high-fives, of falling into each other's arms, of cheering from previous years. You know from the men's competition how much those who leap from the tower and those waiting for their turn at the top push each other. You are familiar from the men's contest with the unexpected heights to which the trick level rises from run to run, as long as the audience is engaged. Because know this: Freestyle thrives on volume, and atmosphere is the fuel for the slopestyle pros.
The women approach all of these aspects in exactly the same way—especially when they step solo before the scrutinizing eyes of the jury during the Best Trick. But what clearly sets their contest apart from the ones previously held at Rathausplatz is the magic of the first time.
It is a palpable sensation to watch flowing long hair and flying locks in the airspace in front of the City Hall tower. It is tangible goosebumps to see pioneers and rookies of freeride sports standing together at the drop-in. It is pure joy to watch the young and not-so-young women grow, strengthen, and succeed.

And so it happens as it had to: the slightly short and awkwardly landed No Footer turns into a picture-perfect one, the initially somewhat shaky Backflip becomes a rock-solid signature trick, the 360 Barspin to everyone's delight—especially Johanna's—becomes a double Truckdriver, and Alma Wiggberg's Backflip Barspin to Can Can ... well:
Vilibald Vitek, as an (unjudged) forerunner by the jury, hints at it, and Andi Brewi immediately picks up the challenge. He asks the audience for special attention and DJ Daniel Hammerschmidt for the appropriate music. Then casually adds, "If she really lands the Frontflip now, I'll walk home barefoot today!"
That's all the reigning Slopestyle World Champion needed. Frontflip, perfectly straight, incredibly high, and landed with dreamlike confidence. And with that, victory at the first Dirt Battle Vienna for women!

What were the big sensations in the air during the Dirt Contest were, meanwhile, the small ones on the ground in the Bicycle PopUp Area.
This open space, positioned centrally in the entrance area, was also a premiere for the Argus Bike Festival. And one that could not have showcased more charmingly and sensitively what bicycles are and can do.

Speaking of Cycling Austria: The pedal-powered car race track at the stand of the Austrian Cycling Association proved to be one of the hits for children at the trade fair, alongside JobRad's oversized waterfall swing. And the association, which plans to focus more on recreational cycling in the future, also played a big role in the second major women's premiere on Sunday morning: They provided the namesake beverage for the Coffee Ride – Women Edition.
Nearly 50 participants, ranging from competitive athletes to casual cyclists, took a relaxed ride up to Manhartsbrunn during this event, organized in collaboration with the Female Cycling Base and Verge VICC Womens Racing. They took the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, or simply enjoy a few kilometers in good company. A more than visible sign of the growing female road cycling community in and around Vienna!

If anyone is missing the usual suspects in all of this: Yes, of course Michi Strasser once again organized a charity ride and demonstrated to Bosch testimonial Stefan Schlie what is possible nowadays with e-MTBs, given a bit of balance in the body, pedal management in the legs, and boost technology in the software. Among the 9,000 people who turned the federal capital into a car-free utopia during the cycling parade at midday on Sunday, there were certainly a few men. And naturally, this year, a few completely fearless guys participated in the dirt contest and delivered a show on Sunday that was second to none. But hey, the women – have you heard?

What do they take away from this Saturday of superlatives, where they were allowed to perform in front of the legendary Argus Bike Festival crowd for the first time?
That they were part of something truly special. That they are good and can become even better with the help of such contests. And that they want to come back. Especially Sarah Schieder – perhaps even as one of the favorites for the win next time. Because if the only participant from Austria learned anything today, beyond how much fun such a day with just girls can be, it’s this: “That no matter how small a trick might seem to me, I’ll stick with it and keep practicing it.”