The Queen stage of the BC Bike Race landed early in 2026, throwing 33.8km of Cumberland’s more demanding singletrack at racers on Day 3. Mother Nature added to the test, dumping rain overnight and right up until the start time, turning roots and rock slabs treacherous after two days of dry, dusty racing.

Nino Schurter put the pressure on the men’s field early, but Peter Disera found a way to answer the legendary Swiss racer’s efforts. Ruth Holcomb continued her impressively consistent BC Bike Race debut, taking another win and adding to her lead in a close women’s race.

Nino Schurter airs out Blueprint ahead of Justin Peck. Photo: Max Berkowitz
Schurter tests, Disera answers

After two days of sprint finishes, Nino Schurter started Monday’s racing looking like he wanted a less complicated stage finish. The 10-time world champion made sure he started the day’s main climb on the front and continued pushing all the way to the stage’s high point. At that point, only Justin Peck had held the Swiss racer’s wheel. A flat for the Californian left Nino alone on the front dropping into Race Rocks.

“I wanted to test them a bit and went first into the climb. I was a bit surprised that I got caught on the downhill,” Nino admitted with a laugh. “But it was a super cool course. Really difficult trails.I was surprised that it’s so technical. Big respect to all the other riders going down there, especially in those conditions.”

The only rider that could catch Nino was Peter Disera. After being distanced on the climb, he worked with fellow Canadian Carter Nieuwesteeg to try close the gap to the leading pair.

“I got out of Blueprint and couldn’t see them. I told Carter we just have to keep riding like they’re right around the corner or we’re screwed.”

Another day, another sprint between Peter Disera and Nino Schurter. Is this the closest BCBR ever? Photo: Max Berkowitz

Disera dropped Nieuwesteeg on the first descent. Passed Peck when he was slowed by the flat tire and, half way down a sequence of descents and short punchy climbs, had Schurter in his sights.

“When he caught up, I thought, OK, looks like we have a sprint again,” Schurter said after. “This time I tried from the front. The first time I didn’t know the finish and I was too late sprinting from the back. But he definitely knows the finish.” 

With Schurter leading into the finish, Disera was able to time his sprint to perfection, taking a second stage win ahead of the Swiss rider at this year’s BC Bike Race.

Max McCulloch was flying on the open sections of Upper Race Rocks where most other riders were feeling cautious. Photo: Deniz Merdano.
Max McCulloch makes his move on home-ish trails

Of the top men, Victoria, B.C.’s Max McCulloch knew Cumberland’s trails the best, having spent several years living in the small, trail-crazed town. He used that knowledge to his advantage on Monday to take an impressive, and hard-earned third place on the stage. Like Disera, McCulloch hit the top of the climb with work to do. Six riders were in front of him on the trails at the top of the first descent.

“The first climb, I was just hanging on. The climb trail spread things out, then going up to Blueprint it spread out more. Tobin [Ortenblad]  went past me, I just didn’t have anything else to give. I recovered a bit on the downhill but I was kinda by myself at that point.” 

By the finish line, only Schurter and Disera remained up the road. With a third on the stage, McCulloch moves into fourth overall behind Nieuwesteeg. Despite that consistency, McCulloch was humble on the podium.

“It was a bit of luck. I think Tobin and Justin had flats, then I caught Ethan [Paulley] on one of the descents. Then I could see Carter and pushed to get into the last downhill before him. I know all the lines, and everything just worked out.” 

Holcomb looking comfortable and calm on wet B.C. woodwork. Photo: Sara Kempner
Holcomb wins, Rochette resurgent

On the women’s side, California’s Ruth Holcomb continued her dominant BC Bike Race debut. While the Santa Cruz rider moved slightly down the podium on Day 2’s sprint finish in Campbell River, she was clearly out in front and unphased by the wet conditions on Day 3. Holcomb took the win by 50 seconds, a relative eternity at this year’s BC Bike Race, over Quebec’s cyclocross veteran Maghalie Rochette.

Rochette finished second ahead of Katerina Nash, taking her first podium of this year’s BCBR.

Maghalie Rochette flows through Thirsty Beaver’s endless woodwork. Photo: Dave Silver

“I had a good one today! I loved it. I’ve been trying to push myself every day. Today I felt good on the climb and rode with Ruth for a while. She was descending better. Honestly, I was just loving it, it was so pretty out there and I enjoyed the slippery and the mud.”

After stopping to help a rider in Campbell River, the cyclocross World Cup podium finisher was making the most of having clear trail in front of her in Cumberland. Did the wet weather help the ‘cross racer? 

“There’s not as many roots in cyclocross, but it’s the same. Staying loose on the bike is the same on a mountain bike or a cyclocross bike, so maybe a little bit. I think it helped.”

Wet trails made for a scenic, if slightly sketchy day in Cumberland. Photo: Dave Silver
No stopping, it’s Hammerfest time

On Wednesday, BC Bike Race makes its debut visit to the iconic Hammerfest trails outside Parksville, B.C. The classic trail network has a three decade history of hosting cross country racing and, with 31.8km of racing and 1,107m of elevation gain and loss on the course map, will be sure to add an exciting new twist to the BCBR experience.