CANMORE – Pop a wheelie for this: a new high-level international mountain bike format is coming to Canmore in summer 2025 as part of its inaugural season of racing.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world’s governing body for sports cycling, picked Canmore to host one of its two Canadian stops for its Continental Series between June 11-15.
The new race circuit is a feeder system to the World Cup, in which racers can earn starting spots on the top circuit this season with top-five finishes and also by gaining enough points through results. As part of growing the sport, the top-five riders in the overall standings at the end of the season will be eligible to compete in the entire duration of the World Cup next season.
“There are a lot of points to be had,” said Ron Sadesky, local organizer of the Continental Series and president of the Alberta Mountain Bike Race Association.
“There are going to be a lot of international riders that are seeking points, so this is a great series of races for them to do [and] I think that it is going to be very enticing for a lot of Canadian, up-and-coming riders.”
The Cross Country Olympic (XCO) format, the style used in the Olympics, and will have top riders from South and North America present, such as Logan Sadesky, the No. 2 ranked XCO men’s cyclist in Canada.
A Canmore-raised rider, Logan said the Continental Series is “amazing for a racer like myself” because it bridges the gap between the Canada Cup and World Cup circuits.
“There are people who are racing Canada Cups who are kind of like working their way up, which is great,” said Sadesky.
“But there's been this gap for the people who, and I felt like I was in that gap for a couple years, where maybe … not challenged quite enough by a consistent Canada Cup circuit.
“This just makes it a more motivating thing for people as they try to work their way to the World Cup.”
This past season, the UCI changed its rules so only the top 100 ranked riders can compete at World Cups.
Currently, Logan’s world ranking is 102, barely outside of World Cup qualification. Although, strong racing on the UCI could catapult the Canmore-raised athlete back on the top circuit.
For the Alberta Mountain Bike Race Association, the mid-December news was a “Christmas came early” moment. Ron Sadesky has been in pursuit of getting more top-tier international mountain bike races in Canmore, but has had the brakes pumped a few times in the past few years.
The last time the UCI held a World Cup in Canmore was in 1999, which Sadesky hopes to change that.
“We want to make an impression. We want the UCI to go ... "Hey, this is a great place to bring the World Cup in the future,’” said Sadesky.
“We’re showing Cycling Canada and UCI that we’re really eager and we want to get these higher level events here. I really want to see a World Cup here at some point and I think this is that stepping stone to show them that we can do this.
“We really need to have the community to be involved in this one and to help out.”
Volunteers are being sought for the UCI event. Those interested in more information can click here.
The June event is in the early planning stages; however, Sadesky is hoping to have “something for everybody” to come and check out the UCI Continental Series and the Canmore Nordic Centre including an expo, vendors, beer garden and “spectator-friendly” view of the course.
Sadesky said he has been brainstorming about some minor enhancements to the course in the stadium area that will woo the audience and punish the racers’ legs and lungs (in a good way).
“Canmore is known for having a technical course,” he said.
The Continental Series will also make a stop at SilverStar Mountain, B.C., for the Canada Cup downhill on Aug. 2-3.
