OTTAWA, ON (September 4, 2026) – Canada’s top endurance mountain bike athletes will head to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, this weekend for the 2026 Canadian MTB XCM Championships, taking place tomorrow, September 5th, at the Hiawatha Highlands trail network. The Championships will crown Canada’s national champions in Cross-Country Marathon (XCM) across Elite, Junior, U17 and Masters categories.
“Sault Ste. Marie has made a long-term commitment to building exceptional trail infrastructure and creating one of Eastern Canada’s premier mountain biking destinations,” says Robyn Skinner, Cycling Canada Director of Community Growth and Events. “Hosting a national championship in communities like this is incredibly important because it recognizes that investment, showcases the strength of local cycling organizations and volunteers, and inspires the next generation of riders. We’re excited to bring Canada’s top endurance athletes to a venue that has done so much to elevate mountain biking in this country.”
Hosted by the Sault Cycling Club and Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, the event will showcase some of Canada’s strongest mountain bike endurance athletes as they race over demanding 60 km and 90 km championship courses featuring flowing trails, rugged forest terrain and exhilarating descents. Riders will compete for Canadian championship titles and the coveted maple leaf jersey, with racing getting underway at 11:00 a.m. ET on Saturday. The event will also feature competitive racing across challenge categories, with national champions crowned following racing before the weekend continues with an Ontario Cup (OCup) Mountain Bike Race Series event on September 6.
Defending 2025 champion Haley Smith and top contender Andrew L’Esperance will be among the athletes to watch in Sault Ste. Marie, who both return with their sights set on the national title and the coveted maple leaf jersey. Also lining up are returning champions Kyle Fry, winner of the 2025 Masters Men 35-44 title, and Callum MacIsaac, the 2025 U17 men’s champion, who will move up to the Junior category for this year’s Championships.
With deep fields across all championship categories, the stage is set for an exciting day of racing as Canada’s top endurance mountain bikers compete for national titles. Cycling Canada extends its appreciation to the Sault Cycling Club and Tourism Sault Ste. Marie for their help in organizing the event. For more event information, please visit the Cycling Canada website.
