ISABELLA HOLMGREN BECOMES CANADA’S FIRST JUNIOR CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPION
Ottawa, ON (Feb. 5, 2023) – Isabella and Ava Holmgren of Orillia, ON, won Canada’s first-ever medals at the 2023 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Hoogerheide, NED, with Isabella becoming Junior World Champion and Ava winning silver in the same category.
Following a successful season filled with World Cup podiums and national titles, both sisters were top contenders for the women’s junior world title. In wet and muddy conditions, the Holmgrens rode a strong and controlled race in the lead group only to attack in the third lap, with Isabella ultimately placing herself ahead of her sister to cross the finish line.
“I came here to get Canada’s first-ever [World Championship] medal,” Ava Holmgren told the UCI in an interview. “What happened was something even better. My sister won and I celebrated for her, for our country and for our family across the whole finish line.”
A team of fourteen athletes represented Canada over the weekend, with six athletes placing seventh in the Team Relay on Feb. 3 and four athletes making their way to the top-15 in their individual races. Maghalie Rochette was Canada’s top finisher in the Elite field, finishing in ninthplace, while Junior Canadian Champion Ian Ackert obtained the best junior men result, placing 11th.
For full results from the 2023 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, click here.
