The 2026 Canadian XCO Championships are set to be a thrilling spectacle, and I'm here to give you a front-row view. This year's event, taking place at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park in Langford, BC, promises an exciting blend of challenging courses and top-tier competition. The park itself is a marvel, boasting a pump track, dirt jump lines, multi-use trails, and a dense network of purpose-built single tracks. It's a rider's paradise, and the XCO course, a 5km loop with approximately 175m elevation gain and loss per lap, is no exception. The route, which mirrors the Canada Cup course from earlier this spring, is a strategic blend of climbs and descents, with sections like Initial Attack, Wildcat, and Slow Burn providing both technical challenges and opportunities for speed. The XCC events, which kicked off the racing on Thursday, showcased the depth of talent in the field, with Ella MacPhee and Carter Woods emerging as the elite winners. The masters championships on Friday added another layer of excitement, with Sue Haviland, Kelly Welbourn, Jimmy Giroux, Tom Skinner, and Bob Welbourn claiming their respective titles. The under-17 categories, including both men's and women's races, were equally captivating, with Joshua Tyers, Mathis Malois, Hannah Lehmann, Anna Christensen, and Nicole Haviland emerging victorious. The junior men's race, won by Ethan Wood, was a testament to the competitive spirit of the event, with Wood attacking and building an advantage on the course's steepest section. As the championships unfold, I can't help but reflect on the sheer diversity of disciplines and the talent on display. From the technical prowess of the under-17 riders to the strategic mastery of the masters competitors, every race has its own unique story. The Jordie Lunn Bike Park, with its versatile terrain, provides the perfect stage for these tales of speed, skill, and determination. So, if you're a fan of mountain biking, or simply someone who appreciates the thrill of competition, tune in to the live coverage on Instagram stories. You won't want to miss a single moment of this extraordinary event.
