2024 mountain bike world championships are right around the corner and, today, Cycling Canada officially released the long list of 47 riders headed overseas to rep the maple leaf next week in Andorra.
The list includes World Cup regulars, Olympians, newly minted national champions and more than a few podium contenders as well as some newer names to the scene.
On the cross country side, Olypic brother-sister duo Isabella Holmgren and Gunnar Holmgren will be taking on the under-23 women’s and elite men’s cross country races, respectively. Ava Holmgren will join her sister in Andorra as will Marin Lowe, who stood on the junior women’s podium beside Isabella at the 2023 world championships in Scotland. National champions from racing in Kentville, N.S. include Jenn Jackson, Léandre Bouchard, Cole Punchard, Emilly Johnston, Jacob Roy and Rafaëlle Carrier. Carter Woods will also be returning ot international racing after an illness.
On the downhill side, Finn Iles and new elite men’s champ Jakob Jewett lead the charge for the men. Bodhi Kuhn, Mark Wallace and new enduro cross-over racer Johnathan Helley are among the elite men. New elite women’s national champion Emmy Lan will line up alongside Gracey Hemstreet, recently returned from injury.
Missing will be Hemstreet’s Norco teammate Lucas Cruz as well as Jackson Goldstone, both still sidelined by injuries. On the cross country side, national team regular Laurie Arseneault is still on the recovery road after a crash.
As Lowe, Holmgren and Kuhn proved last year, world championships are always a venue for younger talent to prove their speed. A huge list of junior cross country, downhill and under-23 cross country racers join the fray in Andorra next week seeking their own chance at glory. That list includes riders like Johnston, Carrier, Mozell, Griffith and the younger Jewett who are already regularly challenging for World Cup and international podiums.
2024 mountain bike world championships run from Aug 26 to September 1 in Pal Arinsal, Andorra.
Team Canada // Équipe Canada
Cross Country
Juniors
Rafaëlle Carrier – Lac-Beauport, Que.
Julien Desjardins – Gatineau,…
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