Spain start hot favourites for a 32nd Trial des Nations title this weekend in Arteixo — but the electric interest is in the French team, where Benoit Bincaz lines up on an Electric Motion.

The 2026 FIM Trial des Nations runs this weekend at Arteixo, in Spain’s Galicia region — and while the fight for the trophy itself looks like a formality, there’s a genuine electric storyline in the French team.

Benoit Bincaz leads France’s men’s entry on an Electric Motion, backed by Alex Ferrer — a late call-up for the injured Hugo Dufrese — and 17-year-old Pablo Echene (Sherco), making his TdN debut. It’s the only electric bike on a national men’s team at this year’s event; Miquel Gelabert, who finished fifth in this year’s TrialGP series on Honda’s RTL Electric, wasn’t selected for Spain’s three-rider squad of Toni Bou, Jaime Busto and Gabriel Marcelli.

Bincaz missed the opening round of this year’s TrialGP season but still finished fifth in Trial2, with six podiums including two wins — form that makes him more than a token entry.

Spain, fielding Bou, Busto and Marcelli, are chasing a 32nd Trial des Nations title and a 22nd in a row on home soil; the Spanish men have never lost a TdN on their own turf, and the last time the series visited Arteixo — round one of 2023 — Spanish riders filled the top five on both days. Great Britain (the Hemingway brothers and Harry Turner) and Italy (Matteo Grattarola, Francesco Titli, Gianluca Tournour) are expected to fight for the minor placings.

There’s a women’s contest too — Italy defending against Spain — plus second-tier Trophy and Challenge categories with the USA, Japan, Germany and Norway all in the mix.

Practice runs from 12:30pm local on Saturday, with the competition itself from 8:30am on Sunday — late Sunday afternoon AEST.

Sources: FIM/TrialGP media release (23 September); trialgp.com.