The Canadian season flew by, didn\u2019t it? Seems like it was yesterday we were watching riders compete for maple leaf jerseys and medals in the dead of winter on the track.<\/p>\n
And now we\u2019ve got one last big weekend for \u2018cross riders: the national champs on Saturday. It\u2019s being held in Holmgren Country, at the long-running MTB, ski (and \u2018cross and fatbike) venue, Hardwood Ski and Bike. It\u2019s also a double whammy\u2014Sunday will be the Ontario provincials. (Although neither Ava, Bella or Gunnar Holmgren wil be racing. But still. It\u2019s their hood.)<\/p>\n
The 2026 Canadian \u2018cross champs<\/p>\n
Elite men\u2019s champion Tyler Clark returns to defend his title, while Canadian cyclocross veteran Sidney McGill is the big favourite for the elite women\u2019s race. Clark just had a solid race at Christie \u2018cross, where he took the dub in front of big crowds. McGill was stateside, also having a good race\u2014finishing second at the Major Taylor CX in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n
The racing will cover U17, junior, elite and masters categories.<\/p>\n
One person who won\u2019t be there to defend her crown is four-time national champion (and current champion, until Saturday!) Maghalie Rochette. The Sainte-Ad\u00e8le, Que., road, MTB and \u2018cross star is expecting a baby with her partner, David Gagnon, so she\u2019ll be sitting it out. She\u2019s still riding as much as she can, though. You can follow her journey on her Substack<\/a>\u2014it\u2019s a good read. (So, too, is her book, Fever: Stories and Learnings from a Career in Cyclocross<\/a>.)<\/p>\n If you can, you should head on over and cheer on all the athletes. From Toronto, Hardwood Ski and Bike<\/a> is around an hour-and-a-half drive.<\/p>\n Canadian Cycling Magazine will be on the scene, so be sure to say hi! And, as always, check back on our site and Instagram for full results and reports afterward.<\/p>\n