OTTAWA, ON (August 15, 2026) – Cycling Canada is thrilled to unveil the roster of cross-country mountain bike athletes who will represent Canada at the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, taking place from August 26-30th in Val Di sole, Italy in the XCR (Cross-Country Relay), XCC (Cross-Country Short Track), and XCO (Cross-Country Olympic) categories.
The 2026 Canadian squad brings one of its strongest rosters, highlighted by Isabella Holmgren, last year’s double U23 World Champion in XCC and XCO, who returns to competition fresh off a top‑ten finish at the Tour de France and an exciting move into the Elite category. She’s joined by Cole Punchard, the 2025 silver U23 XCO medalist, and a deep lineup of proven performers and national champions, including Emilly Johnston, Carter Woods, Ella MacPhee, Rafaëlle Carrier, Ian Ackert, Mika Comaniuk, Eliane Blais, Émilien Belzile, and Ethan Wood. Recent World Cup results highlight the team’s momentum: Carter Woods placed 13th in Andorra, Ella MacPhee took 2nd in Andorra, Rafaëlle Carrier earned back‑to‑back XCC World Cup bronzes, Ethan Wood, 2025 7th place worlds finisher took 4th in the Nove Mesto Junior Series, Ian Ackert claimed 4th in Lenzerheide, Émilien Belzile secured 6th at Nove Mesto, and Eliane Blais 9th. With a stacked team, we are thrilled to watch their performances on the world stage. Racing opens Wednesday with the Team Relay (XCR), followed by XCC and Junior XCO on Thursday, U23 XCO on Saturday, and Elite XCO closing the week on Sunday. Canadian mountain bike legend and 2025 XCC medalist Jennifer Jackson will be missed as she continues to recover from injury, but she is already targeting a return for the upcoming North American World Cups.
“We have a really strong group of athletes from Junior to U23 to Elite, each capable of great rides,” says National Team Coach, Catharine Pendrel. “It’s really exciting to support such a strong and committed group of athletes as they prepare to give their best at the World Championships. As we are in year one of the Olympic quota qualification period, it is also an exciting time to come together as a team and do our best to earn the points needed to send the full quota of two men and two women to the LA2028 Games.”
2026 MOUNTAIN BIKE CROSS-COUNTRY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NATIONAL TEAM
Elite Women
- Emilly Johnston (Comox, BC)
- Isabella Holmgren (Orillia, ON)
Elite Men
- Cole Punchard (Novar, ON)
- Carter Woods (Cumberland, BC)
- Gunnar Holmgren (Orillia, ON)
- Logan Sadesky (Duncan, BC)
- Tyler Orschel (Uxbridge, ON)
U23 Women
- Alexia Harel (Racine, QC)
- Ava Holmgren (Orillia, ON)
- Ella MacPhee (Squamish, BC)
- Marin Lowe (Squamish, BC)
- Nico Knoll (Calgary, AB)
- Rafaëlle Carrier (Québec City, QC)
U23 Men
- Ian Ackert (Severn, ON)
- Maxime St. Onge (Trois-Rivières, QC)
- Mika Comaniuk (Lachine, QC)
- Soren Weselake (Portage, Manitoba)
Junior Women
- Alexa Haviland (Whitby, ON)
- Alexanne Arpin, (Mercier, QC)
- Eliane Blais (Sainte-Adèle, QC)
- Lacey Dennis, (Squamish, BC)
Junior Men
- Émilien Belzile (Sherbrooke, QC)
- Ethan Wood (Pemberton, BC)
- Evan Moore (Collingwood, ON)
- William McFarland (Collingwood, ON)
Cycling Canada congratulates all athletes competing and celebrates their dedication to representing Canada with pride. For more information on the venue and event details, please visit the UCI website.
