OTTAWA, ON (September 6, 2026) – Canada’s top endurance mountain bike athletes put on a thrilling show at the Hiawatha Highlands trail network yesterday, competing for national titles at the 2026 Canadian MTB Cross-Country Marathon (XCM) Championships. Hosted by the Sault Cycling Club and Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, the event showcased challenging terrain, fast racing and outstanding performances across championship and challenge categories.
Challenge categories kicked off the day, followed by championship runs, tackling the demanding 60- or 90-kilometer courses. Beyond the racing, the Championships highlighted the strong community support behind mountain biking in northern Ontario, where ongoing investment in trail networks, events and local programming continues to strengthen the sport and create opportunities for riders of all ages.
Andrew L’Esperance and Haley Smith entered the Championships as two of the most accomplished athletes in the field, both bringing extensive experience to Sault Ste. Marie. Claiming the Elite Men’s and Elite Women’s titles respectively, their victories reinforced their status as leaders of Canada’s endurance mountain bike scene.
The next generation of Canadian mountain biking was on full display in the Junior categories, where Callum Irwin rode to victory in the Junior (U19) Men’s race and Sylvia Chabot claimed the national title in the Junior (U19) Women’s field. In the U17 category, Sofie Gillis secured the women’s title, and Henry Weigel the men’s, after strong performances against a talented field.
Competitive racing continued across the Masters categories, with Peter Glassford earning top spot in Masters Men 35-44, Dan Souter capturing the Masters Men 45-54 national title and Gregory Stevenson claiming victory in Masters Men 55+. In the women’s Masters races, Meredith Davies won the maple leaf jersey the Masters Women 35-44 category, while Marie-Josee Le Jour and April Gobert were crowned champions in the Masters Women 45-54 and Masters Women 55+ categories, respectively.
Cycling Canada extends it’s appreciation to the Sault Cycling Club, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, volunteers, officials and partners whose hard work made the 2026 Canadian MTB XCM Championships possible. For full results, please click here.
