![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/BCBR_2026_Dy_3_Mx_Berkowitz-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Nino Schurter airs out Blueprint ahead of Justin Peck. Photo: Max Berkowitz\nSchurter tests, Disera answers<\/p>\n
After two days of sprint finishes, Nino Schurter started Monday\u2019s racing looking like he wanted a less complicated stage finish. The 10-time world champion made sure he started the day\u2019s main climb on the front and continued pushing all the way to the stage\u2019s high point. At that point, only Justin Peck had held the Swiss racer\u2019s wheel. A flat for the Californian left Nino alone on the front dropping into Race Rocks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to test them a bit and went first into the climb. I was a bit surprised that I got caught on the downhill,\u201d Nino admitted with a laugh. \u201cBut it was a super cool course. Really difficult trails.I was surprised that it\u2019s so technical. Big respect to all the other riders going down there, especially in those conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got out of Blueprint and couldn\u2019t see them. I told Carter we just have to keep riding like they\u2019re right around the corner or we\u2019re screwed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he caught up, I thought, OK, looks like we have a sprint again,\u201d Schurter said after. \u201cThis time I tried from the front. The first time I didn\u2019t know the finish and I was too late sprinting from the back. But he definitely knows the finish.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s BC Bike Race.<\/p>\n Of the top men, Victoria, B.C.\u2019s Max McCulloch knew Cumberland\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first climb, I was just hanging on. The climb trail spread things out, then going up to Blueprint it spread out more. Tobin [Ortenblad]\u00a0 went past me, I just didn\u2019t have anything else to give. I recovered a bit on the downhill but I was kinda by myself at that point.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n On the women\u2019s side, California\u2019s Ruth Holcomb continued her dominant BC Bike Race debut. While the Santa Cruz rider moved slightly down the podium on Day 2\u2019s 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\u2019s BC Bike Race, over Quebec\u2019s cyclocross veteran Maghalie Rochette.<\/p>\n Rochette finished second ahead of Katerina Nash, taking her first podium of this year\u2019s BCBR.<\/p>\n<\/a>Another day, another sprint between Peter Disera and Nino Schurter. Is this the closest BCBR ever? Photo: Max Berkowitz<\/p>\n<\/a>Max McCulloch was flying on the open sections of Upper Race Rocks where most other riders were feeling cautious. Photo: Deniz Merdano.
\nMax McCulloch makes his move on home-ish trails<\/p>\n<\/a>Holcomb looking comfortable and calm on wet B.C. woodwork. Photo: Sara Kempner
\nHolcomb wins, Rochette resurgent<\/p>\n