Olympic year national championship venues revealed by Cycling Canada
Here's where maple leaf jerseys will be won for mountain bike and BMX in 2020
Canadian mountian bikers are just rolling into national championship season for 2019, but Cycling Canada has already announced the host venues for 2020.
Of course, with the nations best gearing up for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the long lead-time is essential. Knowing where and when nationals are will help cross country and BMX Olypic hopefuls plan their seasons.
Classic venues, new events
The 2020 national championship calendar sees the return of several classic Canadian venues. Hardwood Ski & Bike, which is in getting ready to host 2019 XCO championships in just a few weeks time, will return for a second year in 2020. The Oro Station, Ont. venue is no stranger to big events. Nationals will be raced on a modified version of the course where Emily Batty won Pan American Games gold in 2015.
RELATED: Emily Batty previews 2019 Canadian XCO national championship course
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, in Golden, B.C. will host Canadian downhill championships in 2020. The venue is a staple on the Canada Cup calendar and for downhill racing in B.C.
St-Felicien is bringing cross country marathon national championships back to Quebec for 2020. The venue is also a consistent presence on the national and provincial cross country calendar.
2020 will be the second time Cycling Canada has officially sanctioned a national championship event in Enduro. This change comes following a merger of the fast-growing disciplines international organization, the Enduro World Series, with the UCI at the end of 2018. The Norco Canadian Enduro Series hosted the first Enduro national championships at Panorama Mountain Resort in B.C. in 2018. The first Cycling Canada sanctioned national championships return to Panorama this July. Enduro and Downhill national championships will take place there on the same weekend.
RELATED: Panorama crowns Canada’s first national enduro champions
BMX sprints towards the Olympics, extends freestyle championships
BMX Canadian championships will head to the Prairies, landing in Calgary, Alta. on August 22-23. After debuting in 2019 at Joyride 150 in Ontario, the BMX Freestyle Canadian Championships will return for a second year. Location and date are still to be confirmed.
If you’re planning on racing, or spectating any of Canada’s national championship events in 2020, here’s where you’ll need to be:
2020 Canadian National Championship calendar:
XCO Canadian Championships
Organizer: Pulse Racing
Oro Station, ON
July 11-12, 2020
Downhill Canadian Championships
Organizer: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Golden, BC
July 25-26, 2020
Enduro Canadian Championships
Organizer: Canadian Enduro Series
Location: TBC
Date: TBC
XCM Canadian Championships
Organizer: Compétition Vélo2Max
St-Félicien, QC
September 5, 2020
BMX Canadian Championships
Organizer: Calgary BMX
Calgary, AB
August 22-23, 2020
BMX Freestyle Canadian Championships
Organizer: TBC
Location: TBC
Date: TBC