Five things we learned from Canadian cyclocross championships

It was exciting to see the Canadian cyclocross national championships return over the weekend. After two years,   a lot has changed, but there are also some things that are still the same. Here are five takeaways from 2022 ‘cross champs.

A Generation shift is happening. Fast.

In the several hundred days between 2019 nationals in Peterborough and 2022 nationals in Layritz Park, the youth were busy growing up.

The 2022 elite men’s podium, for example, looked a lot like the under-23 men’s podium in Peterborough.  Tyler Clark, who ended Michael van den Ham’s run of three-straight national titles, was 3rd in 2019. Quinton Disera and Gunnar Holmgren, second and third behind Clark Saturday, were seventh and first, respectively, three years ago.

The women’s race was even more extreme. Ava Holmgren was sensational in racing up from junior to win the elite women’s title ahead of veteran Sandra Walter. Holly Henry, a recent graduate to the elite field herself, was third. On Sunday, Ava’s twin sister, Isabella, won the elite women’s Bear Crossing C2, with the Holmgren duo finishing 1-2. Cyclocross is alive and well in Canada and the next generation is ready to represent the maple leaf around the world.

Crossover athletes are good at ‘cross

Many of Saturday’s podium spots were filled by riders that primarily race on singletrack or pavement. Quinton Disera and Sandra Walter are mountain bikers who occasionally dabble in ‘cross. Both finished second in their elite races. Holly Henry races on the road for InstaFund, as does Toronto Hustles Luke Valenti (headed to Primier Tech U23 next year).

This makes sense. Cyclocross literally started as cross-training for road racers. While there’s been a rise in ‘cross specialists more recently, or generalists that got their start in cyclocross (Think Tom Pidcock, Mathieu Van der Poel, Wout van Aert or Blanka Kata Vas and Puck Pieterse), those using the sport as cross-training still have a place. Over the weekend, that place was on the podium.

This is a good thing, of course. It meant we got to see Jenn Jackson, Emilly Johnston and Gunnar Holmgren back on cross bikes, even if World Cup cross country…