April 15/25 11:47 am - Isabella Holmgren Leads Strong Canadian Results in Brazil

Posted by Editoress on 04/15/25
 

The 2025 Mountain Bike World Cup opened with two rounds of XCC and XCO racing in Araxa, Brazil, on the first two weekends of April. Canadians had strong performances in both the Under-23 and Elite categories, led by Under-23 women's world champion Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), who swept both the XCC and XCO events both weekends in her category, to take the leader's jersey for both disciplines.

Holmgren wasn't alone in strong performances for the U23 women. Ella MacPhee (Wilier-Victoria Factory) was second and third in the two XCOs, plus fourth in the first XCC, while Marin Lowe (Liv Factory) was fifth in both the second XCC and XCO. Both MacPhee and Lowe are top-10 ranked in both the XCC and XCO after two rounds. In Under-23 men, Owen Clark (Pivot Cycles-OTE) finished seventh and sixth in the two XCOs, to rank sixth overall. In the XCC, Clark was 11th and tenth, to rank seventh overall after two rounds.

Photos Orbea Factory Team

The Elite women saw Canadian champion Jenn Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory) have the strongest World Cup performances of her career, finishing sixth and fifth in the XCCs, and an even better fifth and fourth in the XCOs, Jackson completed her campaign ranked sixth overall in the XCC and fifth overall in the XCO - see our interview with Jenn: Jenn Jackson Starts the Season Strong 

Former XCC world champion Evie Richards (Trek Factory-Pirelli) won both XCCs, while Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford) became the first New Zealand woman to win an Elite XCO in Round 1, with 2016 Olympic champion Jenny Rissveds (Canyon Collective) taking the second round just ahead of Maxwell, who leads the overall standings. Canada's other entry, Emilly Johnston (Scott-SRAM) crashed out of the first round of the XCO, but was able to race Round 2, finishing 26th. 

In the Elite men, Carter Woods (Giant Factory) had the strongest Canadian performances in the XCC, finishing fourth in the second round, to rank seventh overall after two rounds. National champion Cole Punchard had the best XCO performance of 36th in Round 2. Overall, in the XCO, the duo rank 40th for Woods and 41st for Punchard. Team Specialized dominates the lead in both disciplines, with American Chris Blevins (Specialized Factory) taking both XCC wins and the second XCO (and second in the first XCO), with team mate Victor Koretzky finishing second to Blevins in both XCCs and winning the first XCO. Specialized Factory riders hold the top four spots in the XCO rankings after two rounds.

All Results

World Cup MTB XCC Brazil results

World Cup MTB XCO Brazil results

World Cup MTB #2 XCC Brazil results

World Cup MTB #2 XCO Brazil results