A local cyclist turned in an impressive performance at her first Mountain Bike World Championships in the French Alps.
Isabella Holmgren, 17, placed 10th in the junior women’s cross-country event during the championships, which took place Aug. 24 to 28 at the Les Gets Bike Park. She was the highest-ranked Canadian not only in her event, but across all of the cross-country events for men and women.
The conditions for the junior women’s race were challenging as cyclists battled a hot, dry and dusty environment that included two long climbs in each lap as well as roots and rocks, large jumps and berms.
Holmgren started her race in the mid-20s and made her way into the top 10 by the fourth and last lap. She finished in just over an hour.
Holmgren was a longtime member of the Orillia Channel Cats Swim Club, which she credits with her developing a strong cardiovascular capacity, as well as a passion for training and testing her limits.
After her race, Holmgren said, “I don’t think I could have gone any harder today. I think this just made me more excited for the next one and I’m just going to want to train harder and get better.”
The cross-country race wasn’t the only event Holmgren took part in. She also helped the Canadians to a seventh-place finish in the team relay the day before. The mixed relay featured six riders from each country — one from each cross-country category — with each rider completing one lap of the cross-country course.
It was an improvement for the Canadian team, which placed 10th the year before.
Ian Ackert, of Severn Township, was selected as the junior male for the event and had an impressive showing in the starting lap for the Canadians.
In the junior women’s event, Holmgren’s teammate, Marin Lowe, finished in 16th. Her twin sister, Ava Holmgren, placed 18th, which put the Canadian junior women second overall behind the Swiss team.
All three Canadian women have one more year in the junior ranks and will be gunning for the top spot next year.