For a second straight year, the Canmore Nordic Centre delivered racing as spectacular as the views at the Canadian XCO national championships. Emily Batty and Peter Disera defended their 2017 victories at the Rocky Mountain venue, repeating as Canada’s cross country national champions. Racing was tight across categories, showing Canadian cross country has a bright future.
Elite Men and Women – 2018 Canmore XCO National Championships
Emily Batty was impressive on her way to her fourth Canadian National Championship
Haley Smith went hard to stay with Batty, eventually finishing third
Emily Batty sending the Organ Donor chute
Sandra Walter had a great race, riding her own pace at the start, then passing Haley Smith to take second
Raphaël Gagné and Peter Disera on the finish straight at the 1988 Calgary Olympic XC Ski venue
Andrew L'Esperance exiting the flow trail
Evan Guthrie was looking fast through Tragically Hip trail
Peter Disera fast through the flow trail
Léandre Bouchard had a rough day in Canmore, racing much of the Elite Men's race bloody and dusty from a crash
Jenn Jackson finished fifth in her first Elite national championships race
Elyse Nieuwold pushing hard through the berms
Emily Batty was absolutely flying through this high speed section
The Canmore venue was not short on views. Everywhere you looked there was impressive mountains
Catharine Fleury hrough the woods
Emily Batty getting a little air time in the mountains
U23 Men and Women – 2018 Canmore XCO National Championships
Sean Fincham rode solo to the U23 Men's victory
Laurie Arsenault was the U23 Women's winner
McKenzie Myatt with a fast start
Laurie Arsenault through the woods
Emily Unterburger riding past Myatt on her way to second in U23 Women
A train of riders flyiing through the "Eyedropper" feature
Brody Sanderson, like many riders on course, showed signs of a crash
Gunnar Holmgren in the U23 Men's race
Quinton Disera and Gunnar Holmgren leading off the start
Sean Fincham alone and in front repeating as U23 Men's national champion
RELATED: Emily Batty and Peter Disera repeat in the Rockies
Junior and Under-17 races – 2018 Canmore XCO National Championships
This loose corner at the bottom of Lower Laundry Chutes claimed many riders on Saturday. This Ontario rider got up and finished his race
Emilly Johnston in the lead early in the Junior Women's race
Xavier Roy on his way to winning the U17 Men's championship
Carter Woods corners under Hai Ling peak
Holden Jones chasing Carter Woods in the Junior Men's race
Emilly Johnston in the Junior Women's race with Vermette close behind
Mireille Larose-Gingras climbs to 3rd in Junor Women
Juliette Larose-Gingras riding to second in U17 Women
Holden Jones at the bottom of Organ Donor
Ryan Maclean racing Junior Men at home in Alberta
Kieran Nielson racing Junior Men
Roxane Vermette winning the Junior Women's race
Carter Woods wins the Junior Men's race, in the midst of several U17 finishers
Podiums – 2018 Canmore XCO National Championships
Elite Men: 2nd Raphaël Gagné, 1st Peter Disera, 3rd Léandre Bouchard
Elite Women: 2nd Sandra Walter, 1st Emily Batty, 3rd Haley Smith
Elite Women celebrate 2018 XCO national championships with champagne
U23 Women: 2nd Emily Unterberger, 1st Laurie Arsenault, 3rd Sophianne Samson
U23 Men: 2nd Marc-Andre Fortier, 1st Sean Fincham, 3rd Raphael Auclair
Sean Fincham won the U23 race, but the Pivot-OTE duo definitely won at champagne
Junior Women: 2nd Emilly Johnston, 1st Roxane Vermette, 3rd Mireille Larose-Gingras
Junior Men: 2nd Holden Jones, 1st Carter Woods, 3rd Colton Woods
U17 Women: 2nd Juliette Larose-Gingras, 1st Julianne Sarrazin, 3rd Julia Hill
U17 Men Podium: 2nd, Owen Clark, 1st Xavier Roy, 3rd Darwin Orsler
Your 2018 Canadian XCO National Champions.