July 18/25 10:59 am - Jackson & Woods Take XCC Titles

Posted by Editoress on 07/18/25
 

The first day of competition at the 2025 Canadian Mountain Bike Nationals saw XCC titles awarded across six categories for women and men - Under-17, Junior and the combined Under-23/Elite. Jenn Jackson (Orbea Fox) successfully defended the women's Elite title, while Carter Woods (Giant) took back the men's Elite title he lost last year to Cole Punchard (Cannondale Factory).

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The short circuit of less than a kilometre proved to be punishing, with hot conditions and a fast, loose surface that produced clouds of dust. The course had two climbs - a longer steady one and a short, steep ascent into the finishing straight. The Elite races were 20 minutes, with all others 15 minutes.

All the races proved to be ones of attrition, with the lead groups steadily shrinking until one rider managed to drop the one or two remaining challengers. In both Elite races, the eventual winners went to the front and set the pace on the first lap. Jackson dropped everyone but Ella MacPhee (Wilier-Vittoria) and Marin Lowe (Liv Factory) within two laps, then Lowe was gapped with two laps to go, and Jackson attacked on the steep climb before the start of the final lap to solo away for the win.

The men's race slimmed down more slowly, until there were four left with three laps to go:  Carter, Punchard, Ian Ackert (Trek Future) and Gunnar Holmgren (Trek Factory). Holmgren was the first to get dropped, then Ackert with two to go, and Woods managed to gap Punchard on the final climb to take the title.

National MTB Championships: XCC results