OTTAWA, ON (September 9, 2025) – Canadian athletes delivered standout performances at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Zermatt, Switzerland, showing grit, speed, and world-class talent across multiple events. Isabella Holmgren captured gold in the U23 Women’s Cross-Country Short Track (XCC), while two other Canadians reached the podium with a bronze: Cole Punchard in the U23 Men’s XCC and Jennifer Jackson in the Elite Women’s XCC. Tackling Zermatt’s demanding alpine terrain, each athlete demonstrated the depth, resilience, and growing strength of Canada’s mountain biking program on the international stage.
Holmgren led the way with a confident ride in the U23 Women’s XCC, finishing 20 seconds ahead of Germany’s Carla Hahn. South Africa’s Tyler Jacobs placed third. This marks Holmgren’s second consecutive win in the U23 XCC, coming just weeks after her overall victory at the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes.
Jackson earned bronze in the Elite Women’s XCC, marking a career best result at the World Championships and contributing to Canada’s continued rise in elite cross-country short track.
Punchard also claimed bronze in the Men’s U23 XCC, continuing to highlight his strong momentum on the international calendar to date.
Cycling Canada also recognizes top 15 finishes from Ella MacPhee, Ava Holmgren, Marin Lowe, Ian Ackert, and Zorak Paillé who all contributed to a strong Canadian showing in Zermatt.
Congratulations to all the athletes racing in Zermatt! To view the full results, visit the UCI website.
