Thunder Bay gears up for the 2025 Canadian XCM (Cross-Country Marathon) Championships this weekend, as some of the country\u2019s top mountain bikers take on the city\u2019s trails at Trowbridge Falls and Centennial Park. Visitors should note that trail access will be limited during the races, and some areas, including Centennial Park\u2019s Muskeg Express train, will be closed temporarily.<\/p>\n
THUNDER BAY \u2014 Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club is set to host the 2025 Canadian XCM (Cross-Country Marathon) Championships this weekend at Trowbridge Falls and Centennial Park, bringing some of Canada\u2019s top riders to Thunder Bay\u2019s trail network.<\/p>\n
This marks the second year in a row the championships will be held in the city, running August 22\u201323.<\/p>\n
\u201cCross-country marathon is what it\u2019s referred to, so its long-distance mountain bike riding,\u201d said David Valente, president and event director of\u00a0Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club. \u201cOur event runs multiple lengths of courses, but the marathon refers to essentially the 60 and 90 kilometres worth of riding on mountain bike trails, two to three laps of 30 kilometres.\u201d<\/p>\n
While much of the course winds through the forest, organizers say spectators will have plenty of opportunities to catch the action.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a spectator-friendly event,\u201d Valente said. \u201cThe easiest spot is Centennial because they’re riding up the sliding hill. That’s probably the easiest and closest for everybody to watch and cheer them on, and you’ll probably get one of the longer times of watching them ride by.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Thunder Bay has advised visitors that the Muskeg Express train ride at Centennial Park will not operate during the event, as the racecourse crosses the tracks in several locations. Trail users at both Centennial Park and Trowbridge Falls are asked to avoid the paths while races are underway. Campground patrons at Trowbridge Falls will still have access but may experience brief delays entering or leaving the site depending on the race schedule.<\/p>\n