World championships are approaching fast, and with a bit more frenzy than most years. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has decided to bring all corners of the cycling world, at least the corners that fall under its regulatory purview, together for 10 frenetic days of world championship racing.
Looking at the full roster of Canadians from across disciplines, from BMX to indoor, track, para and mountain bike events, can be daunting. The mountain bike program, though, is always a highlight for Canada at world championship events. This year, there is an incredible roster of new talent, podium favourites and new talented podium favourites.
Canadians across disciplines
Among the Canadians poised for potential podiums are cross country and downhill racers of all ages.
On the cross country Isabella and Ava Holmgren, one already a world champion in cyclocross, are taking on the junior women’s cross country race, while their older brother Gunnar goes toe-to-toe with the elites. World Cup winner, and now elite national champion Carter Woods will look to keep his sensational season going in the under-23 men’s XCO, while World Cup podium finisher Emilly Johnston leads the Canucks in the under-23 women’s XCO. In the elites, Olympians Peter Disera and Leandré Bouchard lead the men’s squad while national champion Jenn Jackson takes on the women’s.
The downhill team continues to enjoy a spectacular surge in talent. Finn Iles and wunderkind Jackson Goldstone currently lead the elite men’s World Cup standings as they head into world championships. Likewise in the junior men’s racing, Bodhi Kuhn rolls into Scotland fresh off of a World Cup win in Val di Sole. On the elite women’s side, Gracey Hemstreet is inching closer and closer to the podium in her first season since graduating from the junior ranks. She’ll be joined by current u21 enduro World Cup leader Emmy Lan in Fort William.
Depth and growth
We caught up with Gravity program coach Chad Hendren at the Panorama Canada Cup last week, to dig deeper into the roster for the downhill team. The Vancouver Island-based coach sees promise in all corners of this year’s squad.
“We have some established World Cup racers that this will be their first world champs. Some missed their call…
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