The 2023 Canadian Cross-Country Marathon Mountain Bike Championships, hosted by the Cycling Association of Yukon, took place in Whitehorse Sept. 3. With it, the race brought some notable firsts.

It was the first time the Canadian Championships marathon event was held in Canada since 2019.

It was the first Canadian Championships held in the Yukon, or any territory.

It was a first for Haley Smith and Andrew L’Esperance, who both won their first Elite national titles.

Finally, the race was the centrepiece of the first-ever week-long Yukon Bike Fest, which inspired over 1,500 people to get on a bicycle with different events and activities from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4.

Of these people, 82 mountain biker racers came to the Yukon from across Canada – B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia – and tackled a single track-heavy course between 20 km and 90 km in distance.

Praise for the race course design was high. Quite a few athletes called it a “true mountain bike course” that tested their limits, and many called it the hardest track they’d ever raced. Those visiting the Yukon enthusiastically vowed to return, saying they were impressed by the beautiful wilderness city of Whitehorse and the surrounding areas.

Over 200 spectators and volunteers made the 2023 Canadian XCM MTB Championships a sight to behold. From loud cheering sections deep in the forests of Mt. McIntyre, to expansive food stations and a festival atmosphere at the finish, this was an incredible celebration of people on bikes.

Here are the Canadian Championships event results:

Elite Women

Haley Smith matched her teammate’s results to earn the Elite women’s XCM national title. The Maxxis Factory Racing athlete put in a dominant showing, winning by over 30 minutes after 90 km of racing. Ruby West (Jukebox Cycling) and Hannah Simms (Ellevate Off-Road) were still riding together after the first lap of the long, 30 km loop. West started to pull away in the second half of the race, earning the silver medal.

Elite Men

Andrew L’Esperance rode away from the group early on, earning a two-minute advantage by the end of the first of three laps of the course. The Maxxis Factory Racing rider steadily extended that advantage each lap, finishing in 4:21:15.3, over seven minutes ahead of the next rider across the line. Cory Wallace (Kona Endurance) and Malcolm Barton (ZeroUno) remained close together for much of the four and a half hours, finishing 2 minutes apart after 90 km of racing. Barton took silver behind L’Esperance, with Wallace in third.

The full results from the 2023 Canadian XCM MTB Championships in Whitehorse are available at https://zone4.ca/race/2023-09-03/e890b1de/results

Thanks to our partners, sponsors and funders.

None of this would have been possible without hundreds of volunteers, the events crew and all of the athletes from across Canada, coaches, spectators, supporters and families who participated in Yukon Bike Fest and the Canadian XCM MTB Championships.

The Cycling Association of Yukon also wants to thank our partners, sponsors and funders. These are the people and organizations who believed in our vision and supported us to make it happen, many of whom began this journey with us two or more years ago.

Looking back, CAY is thankful, but also very proud. We’re beaming with pride for our community, those who took part and the privilege to live and ride bikes where we do.

For more information about cycling in the Yukon, as well as upcoming events, programs and news, go to https://yukoncycling.com.

– Submitted by Geof Harries