Preparations for the XCO and XCC Canadian Mountain Bike Championships and the Canadian Masters Road Championships are well underway, as the two events, held respectively in Eastern Canada (Kentville, NS) and Western Canada (Victoria, BC), will crown a host of new champions from July 18 to 21.
Held in Nova Scotia for the second year running, the XCO and XCC mountain bike competitions promise to amaze and delight.
“We’re thrilled to return to Kentville for the XCO and XCC Canadian Championships in what has become a staple of the Canadian mountain bike calendar,” said Josh Peacock, Cycling Canada’s Director of Marketing and Events. “This event continues to showcase the exceptional work done in the Maritime Provinces over the past few years, as the region becomes the cornerstone for high-level cycling and competition.”
In the short track (XCC) competitions, to be held on Thursday, July 18, the elite women will see a new champion crowned, given the absence of defending champion Laurie Arseneault due to a knee injury. Carter Woods, who has just returned from a season-ending illness, will attempt to defend the titles he won in both events in 2023. On Sunday, Jenn Jackson will try to regain the title she won in the Women’s XCO race in 2021 and 2023.
All eyes will be on UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and World Championship medallists Ian Ackert (men’s U23), Marin Lowe (women’s U23) and Emilly Johnston (elite women’s), all competing in a new category and who will once again be aiming for a place on the podium, having taken the honours in 2023. Reigning U17 champions, now turned juniors, Rafaëlle Carrier and Nicholas Gauthier, who have already made their mark on the junior Canada Cup circuit, as well as 2023 winners Émilien Belzile and Cole Punchard, will have their sights set on the maple leaf jersey.
In Victoria, the Masters athletes will be pulling out all the stops to offer high-caliber competition in time trial, road race and criterium.
“This will be our third Canadian championship event, after hosting the Canadian Masters Road Cycling Championships in 2018 and 2019 and the Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships in 2022 and 2023,” said Jon Watkins, event director at Panache Cycling. “We are very excited to welcome the Masters back to Victoria and offer participants an exceptional weekend of racing. We want to build on the lessons learned from organizing this event over five years ago and make things even better.”
Title winners in one or other of the events, Bruce Bird, Maxime Forget, Nathalie Champagne, Nicolas Proulx and Dawn Heinemeyer will be back behind the starting line to add titles to their collection.
The full technical guide and important event information for both Championships can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.
About Cycling Canada
Cycling Canada is one of the oldest national sport organizations in Canada and has one simple purpose: to inspire Canadians to cycle. Cycling Canada administers programs to promote and grow cycling across the country, hosts national and international events and manages the National Team in all levels of international competition.
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