The 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships are complete, and Sea to Sky athletes provided plenty of thrills in Pal Arinsal, Andorra.
Finn Iles was no doubt gunning for gold. He didn't end up reaching the promised land, but did lock up bronze in what turned out to be the second-closest World Champs downhill race in history.
When the dust settled, Loris Vergier (2:38.661) took his inaugural elite victory a decade after winning the junior category. Another Frenchman, Benoit Coulanges (2:38.809), snuck into silver medal position with only 0.169 seconds differentiating the podium finishers.
"Always proud to represent Canada," Iles wrote on his Instagram account. "We’ll be back for the dub next year. Always a huge thanks to the whole team [Specialized Gravity] for an amazing week, love you guys."
Remarked Canadian coach and 2011 world bronze medallist Claire Buchar: "Finn showed that his pace is there and that it's 100 per cent possible for him to win a World Championship or any round of the World Cup for that matter. It's such a fine line on that track [in Pal Arinsal]. He could have afforded zero mistakes. I know Finn's not happy, so that shows me he's not satisfied with third."
Sechelt native Gracey Hemstreet was tantalizingly close to hardware of her own, but fell just short in fourth (3:01.813). Instead, mountain bike fans got to watch Valentina Höll triumph at Worlds for a third consecutive year.
The Austrian phenom (3:00.212) needed every bit of speed and skill to edge out runner-up Nicole Myriam (3:00.732), while Tahnee Seagrave rode to third for Great Britain (3:01.424).
"Gracey was injured for a big chunk of this season, and her first race back was at Nationals [in Sun Peaks]," Buchar said. "She really shines on the really tough tracks, and it showed and she stepped up. I didn't get a chance to talk to her afterwards, but I feel like she would be pretty happy with her result. Maybe it's opened her eyes to realizing that she can be at the very top, and hopefully this has given her some confidence."
Rising to the occasion
As a 12-time Canadian national teamer, Buchar is always proud of all the riders under her tutelage. Each comes from a different place in life, with differing talents and career experiences. Yet when asked to name someone who really stood out, the Whistlerite named Geza Rodgers who ended up 12th among junior females.
New Zealand's Erice van Leuven (2:59.891) became the first junior woman to defend a world downhill title since 2018/19, when Höll pulled it off. Ella Svegby of Sweden grabbed second (3:06.248) and Sacha Earnest finished third (3:12.071).
Rodgers, though, garnered respect in how well she performed on downhill's grandest stage despite being an enduro-focused athlete.
"Geza was just in a really good mindset," recalled Buchar. "Here you are on this world track, bigger than any other track you've ever raced on in terms of features and speed, and I think she really rose to the occasion. She was consistent and solid across practice, qualifying and race day, so I was really impressed by her.
"I recommended that if Geza has the chance, she should go to another big event like [the Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup] in October and give it another shot."
Meanwhile, Jack Macleod led all Canadian junior males in 13th.
The Squamolian wound up approximately 6.74 seconds back of winner Asa Vermette (2:39.185). French rider Max Alran did enough for silver (2:40.701) and Bode Burke joined his fellow American Vermette on the podium with bronze (2:41.699).
"What an amazing experience!" Macleod wrote on social media. "So grateful to have the opportunity to compete at world champs in Andorra: one of my favourite tracks ever! I’m really happy with how I’ve been riding all week and ended up sliding into 13th in finals!"
'My heart is really in it'
Buchar's final World Championship experience as a contender transpired in 2014 in Andorra. She's now in her fourth year coaching the Maple Leaf and never takes the position for granted.
"It's really emotional. My heart is really in it," she said. "I feel super privileged and grateful to still work within the sport that I love, handing down my knowledge and experience and being part of somebody else's success. As an athlete, you have to be pretty self-centered…and so at one point in my career I knew I needed to transition [into coaching]."
Nowadays, there's plenty for Buchar and all Canadian mountain bike fans to get excited for. Young talent abounds, and a fresh wave of girls are rising up to such an extent that it's not uncommon to see U15s and U17s clock faster than pros around B.C.'s regional circuits.
"There's always fast guys coming through and that is 100 per cent super exciting too, but to see the amount of girls who are showing impressive times at such a young age is super awesome," Buchar noted. "I really hope that they stay with it, and a few of them could go really far. So many of our athletes came from B.C. or right around the Sea to Sky area.
"The way they train is unreal here. They've been doing it since they were little kids. They've had coaching, proper resources and proper equipment. Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton are a pretty special part of the world and they do produce amazing athletes."
