Canada’s under-23 cross country squad kicked off the Nove Mesto World Cup with serious speed on Friday, earning top 10 results in the men’s and women’s U23 short track (XCC).
Canadians in Czechia
On the women’s side, Ella Macphee (Wilier Vittoria) led the Canadian effort in ninth. Macphee won the short track overall in 2025 with consistency all year. A solid top-10 start should help her effort to repeat that in 2026.
Not far behind Macphee, Rafaelle Carrier (Trininty Racing) earned an impressive 15th in the U23 women’s XCC. In her first year of racing the new category after moving up from juniors, Carrier already has a 10th, from South Korea, and now a 15th in the more competitive European field.
Kellerman and Schehl open Nove Mesto weekend with wins
On the podium, though, it was the U.S.A.’s Makena Kellerman and Lexware’s Paul Schehl taking the wins.
Kellerman won the women’s race ahead of Lisa Kristine Jorde of Norway and Valentina Corvi of Italy.
Germany’s Schehl takes the U23 men’s XCC win ahead of a pair of French riders. Nael Rouffiac and Alix Andre Gallis take second and third, respectively.
Racing in Nove Mesto continues with the elite men’s and women’s XCC, then XCO events. Here’s how to watch.
2026 Under-23 Men’s XCC World Cup: Nove Mesto
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
2026 Under-23 Women’s XCC World Cup: Nove Mesto
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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