A revolution began when those first intrepid mountain bikers in California initially veered off roads in the 1970s and pointed their wheels into the woods. But Europeans were cycling through the countryside long before that. That version of the sport returns to the Island with the 2023 Canadian cyclo-cross championships announced for Layritz Park from Nov. 24-26. The Saanich park also hosted the 2022 national championships.
“It was incredible last year when we went from the nationals here in Victoria to race in front of 60,000 people at the UCI world championships in Hoogerheide [Netherlands],” said Isabella Holmgren, who won the 2023 women’s world junior championship in February at Hoogerheide, with her twin-sister Ava Holmgren taking the silver medal.
“It’s amazing how big the sport is in Europe.”
It was the first time that a Canadian has won a world championship in the cyclo-cross discipline dominated by European racers and turned a lot of heads.
Cyclo-cross consists of racing over various surfaces from pavement to grass to woodland trails, and across natural and man-made obstacles that require riders to dismount and carry their bikes over or across, before remounting. The sport is conducted in fall and winter with muddy conditions a big part of its ethic.
The Holmgren sisters completed a three-week training block this month on the Island. They know Layritz Park from last year’s nationals and touched base there along with training on the Hartland Trails, Mount Wark, Jordie Lunn Bike Park in Langford and around Duncan. The 17-year-old fraternal twins from Orillia, Ont., enveloped themselves in the Island off-road cycling community, which has produced Olympic Games mountain-bikers such as Alison Sydor, Max Plaxton, Roland Green, Catharine Pendrel, Geoff Kabush, Andreas Hestler and Kiara Bisaro. The Holmgrens also compete in mountain biking, in which they are national top-10 juniors, and also on the road.
“You can really feel that cycling-community vibe when training here,” said Ava Holmgren.
“It’s not like Europe and there obviously aren’t going to be 60,000 fans at Layriz Park but it was a great event at nationals last year and we are really looking forward to it again this year.”
The driven and talented Holmgren twins, in Grade 12 and mentored by their father and Team sa国际传媒 coach Rob Holmgren, said they want to keep riding their three disciplines to as far as each will take them. It has already taken them to a podium at cyclo-cross worlds.
“We push each other. There’s a sibling rivalry but a healthy one,” said Ava Holmgren.
CYCLE NOTES: Erin Attwell and Sarah Van Dam, both of Victoria, continue their quest for the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Tissot UCI Track Nations Cup in Milton, Ont., from Thursday to Sunday. “The Nations Cup is an opportunity to earn points for Olympic qualification,” said Dan Proulx of Victoria, head coach of Cycling sa国际传媒. “It’s a battle just to qualify for the Games. Many of the best nations will be in Milton to take advantage of the fast [velodrome] track. sa国际传媒 has a very talented and ambitious group.” … Oscar Wong and Kimberly Chen, 15-year-olds from Victoria, tore up the floorboards at the national track cycling championships this month in Bromont, Que. Wong won two gold medals, two silvers and two bronze in boys’ junior events and Chen two gold medals in girls’ junior races. Isla Rendle and Mel Pemble of Victoria also won golds.
