RECORD MEDAL HAUL FOR CANADA AT THE 2024 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ottawa, ON (Sept. 6, 2024) – Canada won six medals, including a world title, at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, held from August 28 to September 1, 2024 in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, for both cross-country and downhill athletes.
On the first day of competition, August 28, the six athletes selected for the team relay, Ian Ackert (Men’s U23), Félix Antoine Leclair (Men’s Junior), Jennifer Jackson (Women’s Elite), Rafaëlle Carrier (Women’s Junior), Isabella Holmgren (Women’s u23) and Gunnar Holmgren (Men’s Elite) finished fourth, one minute 39 seconds behind first place, occupied by the United States. France and Italy completed the podium.
Olympian Isabella Holmgren, also 2023 Olympic cross-country junior world champion, was able to add two world titles to her collection after winning the short circuit (XCC) event in 20 minutes 31 seconds and the U23 Olympic cross-country (XCO), completing the course in 1:11:12h. She was joined on the XCC podium by her sister Ava (+26s) in bronze, while Great Britain’s Ella MacLean-Howell (+22s) took silver.
It was on the final day of competition that Isabella was able to win the XCO event, where she was joined on the podium by fellow Canadian Emilly Johston (+2:31m). Frenchwoman Olivia Onesti (+1:17m) completed the podium.
Photo Credit:UCI Cycling
“We had an incredible championship, with 10 athletes in the top 10 and five medals,” said Catharine Pendrel, Cycling Canada’s national team coach. Our athletes work so hard, it’s great to see it all come together. Canada leaves this event as the number one nation in the women’s juniors and U23s, as well as with strong performances in our other categories. It’s a really exciting boost for the future.”
16-year-old Beauport native Rafaëlle Carrier, in her first World Mountain Bike Championships, was able to secure a silver medal, 36 seconds behind the race leader Viktoria Chladonova (1:01:24h) of Slovakia. Slovenia’s Tereza Marusa Serkezi (+1:31m) took bronze.
In the downhill, Finn Iles managed to get his hands on the bronze medal in the elite men’s category in extremis, finishing 0.169 seconds behind the race leader, France’s Loris Vergier (2:38.661m). France also took silver thanks to the performance of Benoît Coulanges (+0.148s).
In the elite women’s category, Gracey Hemstreet just missed out on the podium, finishing fourth, 1.601s behind new world champion Valentina Höll of Austria (3:00.212m). France’s Myriam Nicole (+0.520s) and Great Britain’s Tahnee Seagrave (+1.212s) completed the podium.
“The course was fast, direct and you had to be committed,” said Cycling Canada national team coach Chad Hendren. “Gracey had an incredible race that gave him an excellent result among the best in the world. Finn was hungry for victory and a little push propelled him into a spectacular third place. We’re extremely proud of all our Canadians at this World Championship!”
Full results from the Mountain Bike World Championships are available here.
