FINAL CANADIAN CHAMPIONS OF 2023 CROWNED IN CYCLO-CROSS

Ottawa, ON (Nov. 26, 2023) – The 2023 Canadian Championship season ended on a high note on Nov. 25, with the 16 athletes establishing themselves as the nation’s best in cyclo-cross in Saanich, BC.
 
The Lazer Canadian Cyclo-cross Championships featured a full roster of categories, with athletes of all ages taking a shot at a title. The youngest riders challenged the U17 category, with Lydia Stack-Michasi and Ethan Wood claiming the women’s and men’s championships, respectively. Jayden Mcmullen was first to cross the finish line for the U19 men.
 
Canada’s medallists from the Missoula 2023 Pan American Cyclo-cross Championships, which was held earlier in November, all brought their recent experience to bear. Rafaëlle Carrier extended her exceptional season, adding the U19 Women’s Cyclo-cross title an impressive collection that includes U19/Junior Women’s Gravel, U17 Women’s Cross-country Short Track and U17 Women’s Cross-country Olympic Championships. After winning the 2022 Junior Cyclo-cross titles, reigning Junior Women’s Cyclo-cross and Cross-country Olympic World Champion Isabella Holmgren (Women) and Ian Ackert (Men) returned to establish their dominance in the U23 category.
 
The Holmgren name made another appearance in the Elite Women’s category, with sister Ava successfully holding onto the title she won in 2022. Evan Russell, who won the inaugural Elite Men’s Gravel Championship earlier this year, crossed the finish line first once again in the same category for cyclo-cross.
 
Masters athletes also showed up ready to race. Winners included Pepper Harlton (35-44 Women), Raphael Lalumiere (35-44 Men), Cristin Schlossberger (45-54 Women), Bob Welbourn (45-54 Men), Gail O’Reilly (55-64 Women), Lorenzo Caterini (55-64 M), Patricia Konantz (65+ Women) and Colin Funk (65+ Men).
 
Full results from the event can be found here and preliminary information regarding the 2024 Canadian Championship calendar is available on the Cycling Canada website.