From July 18th to 21st, Kentville, Nova Scotia, hosted the 2024 Canadian National Mountain Bike Cross-country Olympic (XCO) and Short Track (XCC) Championships.
The weekend kicked off with the thrilling and fast-paced action of the XCC race on Thursday, July 18th where riders battled it out in the pouring rain on a shortened course over a 15-20 minute race. Jenn Jackson (Liv Factory Racing) claimed the women’s national title in the combined Elite/U23 category while Ontario’s Cole Punchard won the Men’s race.
2024 XCC Canadian National Champions
U17 Men – Emilien Belzile (Quebec)
U17 Women – Elly Moore (Ontario)
Junior Men – Jacob Roy (Quebec)
Junior Women – Rafaelle Carrier (Quebec)
Elite Men – Cole Punchard (Ontario)
Elite Women – Jennifer Jackson (BC)
Two days later, after a day of practice on the XCO course, the excitement continued with the XCO National Championships on Saturday, July 20th..
Some of British Columbia’s youngest competitors displayed impressive skill and competitiveness, with several top-10 results, including a 2nd place finish by Pemberton’s Ethan Wood (Charge BCXC Racing) in the U17 Men’s XCO race. Marin Lowe (Pittstop Racing) and Ella Macphee (Pivot Cycle OTE) finished 2nd and 3rd in the women’s U23 category, while W. Kelowna’s Rhett Bates (Charge BCXC Racing) secured 5th place in the Junior Men’s category. Additionally, there were strong performances from Cam MacCallum (Charge BCXC Racing) who finished 5th and Cody Scott (Comp Edge Racing) who finished 8th in the Men’s U23 race, and Lacey Dennis (Charge BCXC Racing) who claimed 10th place in the U17 Women’s category. These young riders display great potential for what British Columbia has in store for mountain biking in the upcoming years.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Jackson relentlessly pursued her second win of the weekend and repeated as the Elite women’s XCO National Champion. Jackson was joined on the Elite women’s podium by fellow BC riders Emilly Johnston (Trek Future Racing) and Sandra Walter (GAPP System – Kolofix MTB Racing Team). On the Elite men’s side, Leandre Bouchard (Foreseco Holding-Profo-RL Pro Team) also defended his national title, followed by BC rider Carter Woods (Giant Factory Off Road Team) and Logan Sadesky (Broad Street Offroad) of Alberta.
2024 XCO Canadian National Champions
U17 Men – Emilien Belzile (Quebec)
U17 Women – Éliane Blais (Quebec)
Junior Men – Jacob Roy (Quebec)
Junior Women – Rafaelle Carrier (Quebec)
U23 Men – Cole Punchard (Ontario)
U23 Women – Ava Holmgren (Ontario)
Elite Men – Leandre Bouchard (Quebec)
Elite Women – Jennifer Jackson (BC)
Masters athletes were also in action in Nova Scotia, where Peter Glassford (Trek Barrie Aurora – men 35-44), Aroussen Laflamme (Ponsse MTB Racing – men 45-54) and Sue Haviland (Durham Shredders – women 45-54) were once again crowned champions. They were joined by John Westdal (Ontario Bicycle Club – men 55+), Alessandro Polloni (Stimulus Next Wave – men 19-34), Meghan Todd (Crazy Creek Cycling Club 35-44) and Penny Hart (AVMBA – women 55+).
The team relay, presented on Sunday, July 21, saw Cole Punchard and Rafaëlle Carrier, teamed for Pivot-OTE with Zorak Paillé and Simon Ruelland, add a third champion’s jersey to their already impressive collection.
Congratulations to all who participated in this year’s Canadian National Mountain Bike XCO and XCC races in Kentville, NS.