“The bicycle can serve as a tool for development and as a means not just of transportation but also of access to education and healthcare. The potential of the bicycle to contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda,” states the UN’s 2018 resolution.

Why celebrate the bicycle?
Regular physical activity of moderate intensity – such as walking, cycling, or doing sports – has significant benefits for health. At all ages, the benefits of being physically active outweigh potential harm, for example through accidents. Some physical activity is better than none. By becoming more active throughout the day in relatively simple ways, people can quite easily achieve the recommended activity levels.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), safe infrastructure for walking and cycling is also a pathway for achieving greater health equity. For the poorest urban sector, who often cannot afford private vehicles, walking and cycling can provide a form of transport while reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, diabetes, and even death. Accordingly, improved active transport is not only healthy; it is also equitable and cost-effective.

Meeting the needs of people who walk and cycle continues to be a critical part of the mobility solution for helping cities de-couple population growth from increased emissions, and to improve air quality and road safety. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led many cities to rethink their transport systems.

Cycling and sustainable development
World Bicycle Day draws attention to the benefits of using the bicycle — a simple, affordable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation. The bicycle contributes to cleaner air and less congestion and makes education, health care and other social services more accessible to the most vulnerable populations. A sustainable transport system that promotes economic growth, reduces inequalities while bolstering the fight against climate change is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

On 15 March 2022, the General Assembly adopted the resolution on integration of mainstream bicycling into public transportation systems for sustainable development. It emphasized that the bicycle is an instrument of sustainable transportation and conveys a positive message to foster sustainable consumption and production, and has a positive impact on climate.

Background
Acknowledging the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health, the General Assembly decided to declare 3 June World Bicycle Day.

It encouraged stakeholders to emphasize and advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace.

The Assembly welcomed initiatives to organize bicycle rides at the national and local levels as a means of strengthening physical and mental health and well-being and developing a culture of cycling in society.

Read more here.

On the men’s side, Nino Schurter was already the greatest of all time, with more records to his name than most could keep track of. This week, he added another one. The Scott-SRAM racer is the first European to win the BC Bike Race in its 20 year history.

Ruth Holcomb similarly impressed on the women’s side, fending off attacks from a strong field to take the BCBR title in her first appearance.

Nino Schurter lands at the BC Bike Race
Anticipation for the 2026 BC Bike Race started building last year, when it was announced this was not just the 20th anniversary but also the final seven day experience. The hype ramped into overdrive when Nino Schurter decided to make his BCBR debut.

“I always heard good stories from this race and during my career I always enjoyed the technical riding, so I thought this is a race always on my bucket list. It’s my first year of retirement from World Cup racing so I took the opportunity and it was a blast!”

Did the Ultimate Singletrack Experience live up to expectations?

“It absolutely did. Definitely some of the best trails I have ever raced on. It’s really cool to win this race”

Schurter is the first European to win the BC Bike Race. While many have tried, he’s the first to succeed in bringing the title across the Atlantic. That meant taking the title from some rather defensive and fast locals.

“It was difficult, actually. Some of these trails have lines where, if you don’t know the trail, you don’t know where the fastest line is. It was a challenge going up against the locals that know the trails when I don’t, but it was a good challenge. “It’s different racing, it’s so much more technical riding. That’s what I’m looking for now, to do stuff like this that’s really cool. The best riding in the world!”

Holcomb hauls all the way to the finish line in Cowichan
On the women’s side, Ruth Holcomb proved she’s a serious threat on two wheels of any kind. Taking a little side trip from her training with the U.S. team pursuit squad on the track and normal gravel racing with Santa Cruz, Holcomb was thriving back on mountain bikes.

“I haven’t got to do a proper mountain bike race in long time, so it was really nice to be back.”

Holcomb won several stages, but was pushed to two sprint finishes. And conceded stage wins to Sandra Walter and Katerina Nash, while fending off challenges from Hannah Simms. The Californian loved the challenge of the BCBR experience.

“It was awesome. I didn’t really know what to expect. Every day was just amazing trails, amazing riding. I feel like the race played out differently every day, which was sick. I won, which is also awesome, but it’s just such a fun week. I had such a good time.”

What stage stood out?

“I loved Stage three, that was my favourite day in the rain. I surprised myself on the climb and just had the best time on the trails. “

Canadians push the G.O.A.T. on home turf
While Schurter won, he didn’t walk away with the title. A trio of Canadians (and some Californians) pushed the Scott-SRAM rider to five sprint finishes in seven days, one of the closest and most exciting BC Bike Race’s yet.

Peter Disera led that effort, even stealing a trio of wins from Schurter. The multi-time Canadian national champion and Olympian was looking forward to one more chance to try upset the G.O.A.T., only to be taken out by an unexpected crash on the climb up Maple Mountain.

“I was stoked to have another battle day. I felt like I was getting my legs back underneath me. When we hit Maple, we were on this little out and back I’d never done before and something stabbed me in the wrist and threw me to the inside of a corner. I hit a root ball and came to a complete stop.”

With the sudden impact to his thigh, Disera was left struggling to pedal, let alone put power down.

“That’s the part that actually hurts. I was excited to have a good go at it. Bringing back 45 seconds on Schurter’s just not going to happen, but I was excited to try.”

Still, second behind Schurter is not a bad result. Even Disera has to admit that.

“I have no business doing what I did for the first four days. It was pretty cool to have half of the week be competitive.”

Hannah Simms surges into second
Another young rider pushing the women’s field was Hannah Simms. After a steady start to the week, the Ontario-born rider worked her way up the standings, day by day. With big rides on Day 5 and 6, where she pushed Holcomb to a sprint finish, Simms rolled across the line with the group in Cowichan. While the finish was cordial, Day 7 was still very much a race.

“Katerina and Ruth got into the descent first, and I just knew I had to close it down,” Simms said after the race.

It was one last test of the week, and Simms passed. Now located in B.C., the Kona racer found flow in the gnar to catch Holcomb and Nash on the way down Maple Syrup. That kind of measured effort all week is what got Simms into second overall.

“I’ve done a bunch of stage racing, and I’ve done this race twice before. I know anything can happen and everyone’s going to have good days and bad days. I just tried to be as consistent as possible.”

B.C. locals battle for the podium
While Peter Disera finished closest to Schurter, the battle for podium positions pitted two B.C. locals against a pair of California racers for the remaining podium positions. Carter Nieuwesteeg from Fernie, B.C. has raced multiple BCBR’s in the past and came away with third overall. Friday saw Carter chasing Schurter solo after Disera’s crash.

“The first couple BCBR’s here, I just got shattered on Maple. I’ve ridden it so much, just to figure out pacing. Today, though, I just rode as hard as I could to hold onto Nino.”

Nieuwesteeg held close to the Swiss rider on the climb and finished second on the stage, and in the overall, his best BCBR finish to date.

“It was the best one yet. I’m definitely sad that it’s the last 7-day,” said Nieuwesteeg. Carter’s not just a racer. He also organises his own series of events back at home in Fernie. “Even just seeing the organisers today, they’re definitely teary eyed. The production, the organisation, the volunteers, it’s a crazy production. They’re all so into it. Huge respect.”

The King of Fox DH
Another Vancouver Island local thriving on home trails was Max McCulloch. The Victoria native, and formerly Cumberland resident rolled into the final day fighting for podiums and a win. McCulloch couldn’t quite catch Nieuwesteeg to move into third, but he did fend off Tobin Ortenblad and moved back past Justin Peck after a rough day in Nanaimo.

“Yesterday was really rough. I didn’t feel good last night, but the legs came around and I was able to hang on on the bigger climbs. Then I was kind of in no man’s land. I went full-gas over the top, and seemed like everything was raked or brushed on the descent. Honestly, the day went about as perfect as it could have gone.

As you might have picked up from that, McCulloch made liberal use of his descending skills to reign in the other top pros. That earned the Victoria rider the crown in the Fox Timed DH standings as well as a very impressive fourth overall in the pro men’s race.

“I wasn’t really sure going into it where I’d stack up. I think it ended quite a bit better than I thought.”

The Queen of BCBR lands another podium (and another crown)
If there’s one woman that has defined the last decade of BC Bike Race, it’s Katerina Nash. After a rough day in Nanaimo, Nash was right back on form and in the flow on Maple Syrup.

“Today was fun, so I knew what was coming up. I gathered that last bit of energy and tried to control the pace up the hill. I thought maybe I could move up the GC, but Hannah rode really, really well.”

While Nash has numerous stage and overall wins over her decade of racing BCBR, she was quick to credit Holcomb

“Most of us in the group threw everything we had at Ruth and every single day she came through. She is the deserving winner. Hannah stepped it up from two years ago, which is also really fun to see.”

While Nash has spent the last couple of years hinting that the competition is less than half her age, often, at this point, she wasn’t going to miss the 20th year, and final year in its original format. And she’s not done yet. Will she be back next year?

“I have no idea, ha ha. I love it and I’d love to be part of it in some capacity. But I’ve been thinking, racing as a team would be fun, or volunteering. So I’ll be back, but I just don’t know what that looks like yet.”

Team’s find the flow on Maple Syrup
BC Bike Race isn’t just a solo affair. In the team of two categories, riders tested legs and friendships out on course for seven days.

Dave Vunic and Cody Canning teamed up after several years of racing BCBR solo. That formula doesn’t always work, but the Rocky Mountain team thrived.

“I actually really enjoyed the team experience. I’m a team guy and I like working with a team. Cody’s a good teammate. We helped each other through when we weren’t feeling so strong, so it was good support.”

That said, Vunic arrived at the top of Maple Mountain well ahead of Canning. Apparently, there was a bit of miscommunication on Day 7 and Vunic was seen on Nino Schurter’s wheel leaving the start area.

“We both had yellow jerseys, we’re both really fast, so it’s an easy mistake to make,” Canning said with a laugh after.

“Cody’s so good on the road, he just pops into a group so easily, so I thought I’d better stick with the front guys,” Vunic explained.

“He missed the section where I said, ‘I’m sitting up on the grass, Dave!’” Cody added with a laugh.

Communication is key, folks. Still, the Rocky duo survived to win their team of two category.

“Dave’s a team guy, he’s a perfect teammate,” Cody added. “He’s always looking out for us as a group, not just what’s best for him.”

Swiss twins drop in on first BC Bike Race, and first XC experience
While racing with friends can test the strength of a partnership, racing with family is a whole different experience. BCBR’s seen several different versions of family duo’s over the years, but enduro twins might be a new one. Anita and Caroline Gehrig are former enduro pros that thrived in their first cross country experience, winning their team of two category.

“It was so fun to push beyond our limits, go with the flow and pedal hard. There’s really enjoyable trails over here, so all the ascending was so worth it. We always got treated to really nice single track, nice people around,” Anita Gehrig said of the week on the pedals.

Has BCBR fully converted them to cross country was

“Ha ha ha, let me recover first, and we’ll figure it out later.

Carolin is less convinced.

“I’m so excited to ride some chairlifts this summer!”

Surprisingly, considering the twin’s past, both picked Campbell River as their favourite stage of the week.

“That was super special to us, super green forest and endless singletrack. Wherever you looked there was another trail and there were no people around. Just magical forest full of sick trails,” Anita said.

From East to West for the Ultimate Singletrack Experience
In the 40+ women’s category, Jenna Salters travelled all the way from Atlanta, Georgia to take on the BC Bike Race. Her crew included her husband, two young children and her parents.

“They’ve been doing some really cool adventures while I’ve been riding!” Salter’s said.

After a mechanical on Day 2, Salter had to dig out of a 20 minute deficit to claim the yellow jersey on the penultimate day. On Maple, Salter cruised over roots and rocks, to hold on to the win.

“It’s very different. We have the Appalachian mountains, with lots of rocks and lots of roots for sure,” Salter said. “But I loved this. I’ve just always wanted to ride here, it’s been really cool to finally get to do it.”

Her favourite day so far? 

“Good question. I really liked Mount Tzouhalem, that left me with a big smile on my face.”

Friendships forged on singletrack
While only a few people win BC Bike Race, everyone out there is competing in one way or another. Whether you’re at the back or very close to the front, that rivalry has a way of forging friendships over seven days of racing. Rhys Nolan of Sydney, Australia and Bradley Wright from just down the road in Langford, Vancouver Island, spent the week battling for the top 10. By the end of the week, they’d spent so much time riding together they were being mistaken for teammates.

“After the first couple days you end up in a group that’s going back and forth depending on what suits who, it ends up being a fun battle and you get to know people. At the end of the day, you all had a sick day,” Wright said.

“Yeah, they’re like your buddies now, even if you’re racing against each other and want to break their legs, you’re also like helping each other, trying to catch the guys in front. That’s what mountain biking’s all about, it’s so much fun,” Rhys added.

It’s a long journey from Australia. What brought Nolan all the way to B.C.?

“I’ve always wanted to do this race. It’s been on my radar for years and I thought, now’s the year. I’m so glad I did it. The trails were breathtakingly beautiful and challenging at the same time. We just don’t get stuff like that at home. It’s an awesome event. I would do it again next week!”

The last year, before BCBR starts again
As we’ve mentioned, 2026 was the final year of the original 7 day BC Bike Race. But it’s not the end. After two decades, BCBR is going in a new direction in 2027, and tomorrow. While BC Bike Race wrapped up on Friday, BC Bike Fest was gearing up. Cross country, enduro, Mega Volt’s eMTB festival and even a downhill race are all happening this weekend at the Cowichan Exhibition grounds.

In 2027, BC Bike Race returns in a new 5-day format.

“Seven days is getting pretty hard,” multi-time BCBR champ Geoff Kabush said. “I’m kind of excited to hear we’re going back to Squamish. A little more technical trails there. And five days sounds a little more manageable for this old guy.”

Kabush is being modest. Even if he admits he “doesn’t have as many bullets to fight with the kids anymore,” the veteran racer finished 7th overall this week.

Change is always hard, we know. But if even BCBR veteran Geoff Kabush is excited, we can all get on board, right?

“There’s always something new at BC Bike Race. Even in Cumberland where I grew up, there’s always fresh trails. B.C. is kinda endless, so much to explore. This year, it was really cool to go back to Hammerfest and see the work Arrowsmith did to clean it up for us. I remember racing Andrew Shandro there back in the late 90s when he was cross training for DH. I don’t think those trails are still around, but it was fun to go back. And in Cumberland? None of those trails existed when I was a kid. It was all on the other side of the lake. It’s incredible to see how these communities have evolved and built up around those trail networks.

Here at BC Bike Race, we’re honoured to be a small part of that legacy. Honoured that these towns have welcomed our race family with open arms. And so very stoked to keep the party going in 2027. And yeah, registration is already open for the first five-day BC Bike Race.

2026 BC Bike Race Results: Day 7 – Maple Mountain

Open Women1st. Katerina Nash 1:49:00.7
2nd. Ruth Holcomb 1:49:01.7 (+1.0)
3rd. Hannah Simms 1:49:03.5 (+2.8)
4th. Sandra Walter 1:51:01.8 (+2:01.1)
5th. Maghalie Rochette 1:53:16.8 (+4:16.1)

Open Men1st.  Nino Schurter 1:24:30.2
2nd. Carter Nieuwesteeg 1:24:45.4 (+15.2)
3rd. Max McCulloch 1:25:14.9 (+44.7)
4th. Tobin Ortenblad 1:28:24.6 (+3:54.4)
5th. Justin Peck 1:29:08.6 (+4:38.4)

2026 BC Bike Race – Overall results 

Open Men 1st. Nino Schurter 11:18:37.46
2nd. Peter Disera 11:27:01.83
3rd. Carter Nieuwesteeg 11:31:27.68
4th. Max McCulloch 11:41:22.66
5th. Justin Peck 11:43:54.46

Open Women1st. Ruth Holcomb 14:14:44.21
2nd. Hannah Simms 14:24:18.55
3rd. Katerina Nash 14:25:22.88
4th. Sandra Walter 14:36:29.22
5th. Maghalie Rochette 14:51:21.23

Fox Timed DH – Overall Results   

Men 1st. Max McCulloch 19:29.2
2nd. Peter Disera 19:51.1
3rd. Geoff Kabush 19:52.5
4th. Nino Schurter 20:05.3
5th. Carter Nieuwesteeg 20:31.9

Women1st. Katerina Nash  21:53.0
2nd. Carolin Gehrig 22:10.3
3rd. Anita Gehrig 22:10.4
4th. Ruth Holcomb 22:18.5
5th. Maghalie Rochette 22:41.7

Full Results

Every rider needs that beautiful beater of a bike to sleuth down to the local bar, then be ready to get weird with your pals on that swerve-y bike path home.

That’s why we brought back the Humu—our no-nonsense bike with that iconic double top tube attitude. Sliding dropouts make single-speed setups a breeze, and standardization like Boost spacing and IS brake mounts means your MTB take-offs never go into a stagnant bin.

We’ve updated this hot rod with brand-new geometry borrowed from our best-selling commuters—bringing forward the comfort and stability we know feels great. Custom Kona Cruiser handlebars offer a tall, comfortable rider position with the width to provide ultimate stability during those inevitable playful lines. The name is hard to pronounce, but the bike is easy in every way.

Tech Highlights
• Kona Cromoly frame and fork with twin top tubes
• MTB standardization including 12 x 148mm and 15 x 110mm hubs and thru-axle
• Sliding dropouts for adjustable CSL
• Heavy duty FSA direct mount crank / chainwheel
• WTB Comfort saddle
• 32T x 18T single-speed drivetrain or standard HG cassette body for easy multisided conversion
• Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
• New Kona Cruiser handlebars at 820mm width with crossbar
• New WTB GROOV-E 29 x 2.25″ tires on WTB ST i30 rims

Artist’s Edition
Los Angeles–based artist with an MFA from UCLA, Alex’s work has been exhibited internationally—from Los Angeles and Dallas to Paris, Düsseldorf, and Moscow—and recognized with prestigious awards including the Pollock-Krasner Grant and the Helen Frankenthaler Scholarship. Known for her bold use of repeating patterns that blur the line between hand-made craft and digital code, her work plays with grids, flowers, and glitches in ways that feel both timeless and futuristic, exploring themes of femininity, labor, and technology. 

To say Alex is part of the Kona family is an understatement: daughter of Jake Heilbron, co-founder of the brand, she has a deep connection to its legacy. Her unique ties to Kona, combined with a bold, playful style that transforms familiar forms into striking, thought-provoking works, made her the perfect collaborator for our limited-edition Humu cruiser. The Kona design team is proud to collaborate with such a creative force in our latest Artist Series for a timeless classic like the Humu.

Read more here.

As the old saying goes, sometimes you’re the hammer, sometimes you’re the nail. With nearly as much elevation as yesterday’s Cumberland queen stage crammed into fewer kilometres on course, Hammerfest hit some racers hard, just as the cumulative fatigue of three days of battling B.C.’s best singletrack did. As lush lower forests gave way to exposed, alpine-esque trails and arbutus bluffs, tire choice and smooth lines became crucial decisions. For others, the combination of sustained climbing and punchy elevation gains, were a knock-out blow. 

Nino Schurter drops the hammer 
In the men’s race it was, again, Nino Schurter going on the offensive. While Tobin Ortenblad was able to get position and restrain the G.O.A.T. for part of the lower climbs, once Schurter had open trail in front of him there was no holding him back. The Swiss rider crested Hammerfest’s high point with a 15 second gap on his closest rival, the resilient Peter Disera. 

“I did what I could but I didn’t get lucky like I did yesterday in terms of closing the gap on the descents. Every little punchy rise after that main downhill, he was standing and hitting it so hard,” Disera said after the race. “I held that 30 second gap for like 40 minutes. Eventually he squeezed out a little more.”

After Day 4 racing, Schurter earns a 48.7-second lead over Disera, the week’s first real separation in the men’s field. 

“We knew this was going to happen eventually. Now it has, so I can relax, which is nice,” Disera said. Even after a rough day at the office, the Canadian was stoked on a day spent touring Parkfest’s finest singletrack. “Hammerfest is sick. I mentioned it to Dre [Hestler] last year that this place is super underrated. Feedback so far is that this place is super sweet.”

Ethan Pauly thriving on B.C. trails 
Not far back from the battle for yellow, local Vancouver Island road and gravel racer Ethan Paully’s been mixing it up with the leader’s on the climbs all week. While everyone’s been hard pressed to hold Nino’s wheel on the descents, Pauly’s holding an impressive eighth overall after attacking Hammerfest’s steep climbs to finish seventh on the day. 

“It’s been fun using my road fitness on the climbs. The descents have been savage,” Pauly said of his first BC Bike Race experience. “I’ve noticed right away that through the week my skills have been improving a ton.” 

“One big thing for me is not hitting the descents out of breath. Now, when I hit the top I hold back just a little bit. I think that’s a basic skill everyone knows except for me,” Pauly added with a laugh. “That’s been huge.” 

Racers are racers though. When your fitness lets you climb with the top guys, it’s hard to hold back. Has the urge to use that road fitness to chase the top pros been hard to resist?

“100%. The first day, I was entering the trails with Nino, Carter and Peter. I learned very quickly that I have to set my own tempo a little bit. Then just focus and attack the trails.” 

Has a few days at BC Bike Race converted Pauly from drop bars to flat bars yet? 

“I’m pretty full-on mountain biking this week, I think! I’ll keep working on the skills and we’ll see what’s to come.” 

Without a doubt, anyone that finishes BCBR is a certified mountain biker. Now we just have to convince him to park the gravel bike in the garage for good and come back to BC Bike Race next year. 

Katerina Nash makes a bid for the crown 
Hammerfest delivered a serious blow to the women’s standings, with Katerina Nash breaking the race up on the extended climb and eating into Ruth Holcomb’s lead. . 

“She just flew up that climb and I couldn’t keep up,” Holcomb said after the stage.” I really enjoyed the lower trails today, the fresh cut sections and the timed DH were so good. The climb, I’ll be honest, I didn’t love. But we got to the top and it was a good ride down.“ 

For Nash, it’s the first BCBR stage win after the 2025 year of dominance from Sandra Walter. 

“I’m excited to take the stage win, I don’t think I’ve won a BC Bike Race stage in a couple of years. The group is strong and pretty close this year which makes it super exciting,” Nash said. The unofficial queen of BC Bike Race was thriving in the new location. “I didn’t know what was coming, which was nice. I didn’t have that memory, remembering dying up any of these hills from past years, so it was all fresh.”

A day earlier, it was the Santa Cruz racer opening up time on the field in Cumberland. The back and forth is making for thrilling viewing for the fans. 

“Yeah, I got some time yesterday, she definitely pulled back some time today. There’s a lot of time left, so I’m just taking it day by day. It’s just been really fun racing with her. She rips and she’s someone I’ve looked up to for a long time.” 

After the win, and time gains, Nash has an eye on the overall but, for now, is focusing on tomorrow. 

“It is what it is, we’ve still got a long way to go. I’m just trying to recover from day to day. I felt pretty good today, which means I probably won’t tomorrow,” Nash said with a laugh. 

Hannah Simms moves into GC podium position 
Behind Nash and Holcomb, the overall standings blew apart. Hannah Simms moved up past Sandra Walter while Maghalie Rochette’s rollercoaster BCBR continued with one of the day’s many flat tires. 

Simms was thriving on Hammerfest’s mix of steep climbs and tight, twisting descents. 

“It was really fun, the trails were so awesome. I think Parksville is a really underrated destination. I’ve done the Island Cup races here a few years ago, but I had no idea there was so much more up top,” Simms said after the ride. 

Despite loving the trials, Simms admitted she was, like many, also feeling the fatigue. 

“I had a slower start today and just kind of chipped away on that super long climb. When we hit the descent, it brought me back to life. It was so much fun. I just got in the groove, knowing the worst part was over for the day. That helped me mentally shift things.” 

Simms’ strategy, and stoke, are a good strategy for anyone else contemplating how they’re going to make it through the week.

“I’m definitely excited for the trails the next three days, when we go to Duncan. And then just eat all the carbs,” Simms added with a laugh. 

BC Bike Race moves south to Cowichan Base Camp 
While hump day at Hammerfest hit some racers hard, it came with good news. If you made it through today, you’re now closer to the finish line than the start. And BC Bike Race has three stellar venues on tap for the latter half of the week. 

That starts with a tour of the legendary trails of Mount Tzouhalem on Day 5. A shorter stage, at just 21.5km, any visit to the Tzou will still test riders fitness. But the reward for climbing A Grand Traverse is a thrilling mix of old school gnar and new-school flow. Rocky Ridge, Danalyzer, then Double D, Resurrection and a thrilling end on the Fox Timed DH of the day: Bumble Bee. What a way to finish a day.

2026 BC Bike Race Results: Day 4 – Hammerfest

Open Women1st. Katerina Nash 2:16:01.3
2nd. Ruth Holcomb 2:17:49.1 (+1:47.8)
3rd. Hannah Simms 2:18:48.3 (+2:47.0)
4th. Sandra Walter 2:20:18.6 (+4:17.3)
5th. Chloe Cross 2:32:01.7 (+16:00.4)

Open Men1st.  Nino Schurter 1:44:25.7
2nd. Peter Disera 1:45:14.1 (+48.4)
3rd. Carter Nieuwesteeg 1:50:20.3 (+5:54.6)
4th. Tobin Ortenblad 1:51:09.8 (+6:44.1)
5th. Justin Peck 1:51:25.5 (+6:59.8)

Day 2 – Overall Standings 

Open Men 1st. Nino Schurter 7:06:05.2
2nd. Peter Disera 7:06:53.9
3rd. Carter Nieuwesteeg 7:17:05.7
4th. Max McCulloch 7:21:32.3
5th. Justin Peck 7:23:04.0

Open Women1st. Ruth Holcomb 8:55:10.2
2nd. Katerina Nash 8:58:03.9
3rd. Hannah Simms 9:03:30.6
4th. Sandra Walter 9:04:37.5
5th. Maghalie Rochette 9:21:25.8

Fox Timed DH    

Men 1st. Peter Disera 1:39.8
2nd. Nino Schurter 1:39.8
3rd. Max McCulloch 1:41.0
4th. Geoff Kabush 1:41.2
5th. Lars Buengen 1:44.1

Women1st. Katie Spittlehouse 1:50.5
2nd. Katerina Nash 1:51.3
3rd. Carolin Gehrig 1:52.0
4th. Anita Gehrig 1:52.0
5th. Celeste Pomerantz 1:58.6

Full Results

We have a great lineup of mountain bike clinics in June and July that range from “True Beginner” to “Intermediate Fast and Fun Berms”. Sign up online for a fun supportive environment to improve your biking. If those don’t work for your schedule, we also offer private solo or small group lessons.

We still have room in several weeks of our Galena Youth Adventure Camp. Sign up online for a fantastic week of mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting and more! Need based scholarships are also still available.

Registration is open for the Galena Grinder mountain bike race on July 18th. We have 1.5 mile, 7.5 mile, 10 mile, 25 mile, and 50 mile options.

For more information please call Galena Lodge at 208-726-4010 or visit here.

DIY Gravel Route
REBOUND is reserved for all cyclists and all levels. The ride will take place on May 30, 2026, starting from any desired point. In the spirit of UNBOUND, we encourage you to pick one of the following distances: 15 miles (25 km), 25 miles (40 km), 50 miles (80 km), 100 miles (160 km), 200 miles (320 km), or the XL version of 350 miles (560 km). The rules are simple.

• Saturday, May 30th
• Suggested start: 6 a.m. – UNBOUND style – but this is up to you!
• DIY 15, 25, 50, 100, 200, or 350-mile gravel route
• Self-supported
• Mandatory post-race celebration
• No fees, no time limits, just fun

REBOUND Rewards
Make sure to register for a chance to win an entry ticket to UNBOUND 2027!
Thanks for joining the REBOUND challenge and enjoy your ride!

Details & Eligibility
Rewards – Here’s what you can win when you ride REBOUND!

1x UNBOUND 2027 starting ticket

From riding REBOUND ’26 to racing UNBOUND in ’27. Ride REBOUND for a chance to win an UNBOUND 2027 starting ticket. UNBOUND Gravel (formerly known as Dirty Kanza) is widely considered the world’s premier gravel bike racing event. Held annually in late spring, it takes place in the remote Flint Hills region of Emporia, Kansas, featuring notoriously challenging, steep, and rugged unpaved roads. Choose the 25, 50, 100, 200, or the XL 350-mile version of this epic event!

Learn more here.

The first day of the 2026 BCBR started with some super-fresh trail, courtesy of the United Riders of Cumberland, and finished with a classic combo of the Sobo no Michi climb trail and sweet flow on Vanilla.

Day one turns up the heat with photo-finish sprint
While today was the first day in a long week of racing, the men’s field was already racing full throttle. After some testing of the legs and checking out of the competition, the win came down to a three way, photo-finish sprint between past champion Peter Disera, hot younger talent Carter Nieuwesteeg and, of course, the G.O.A.T., Nino Schurter.

On the climb, it was Nieuwesteeg that was trading pulls on the front with Schurter. The Canadian led into the first section of singletrack.

“I think we were all trying to pace it. Nino was trying to suss us out. We all kinda knew what we were getting into with him,” Nieuwesteeg recounted. “I knew if I had any shot of getting to the finish line near him, so I sprinted the group for the singletrack. But yeah, I had Nino on my wheel. That’s kind of a crazy thing to say. We got to the climb trail and I could barely breathe, he rolls up beside me and calmly says, ‘Hey, the trails are really nice today,’ hey?”

Schurter, for his part, is settling into Canada quite nicely. The Swiss legend is enjoying his “retirement” tour after leaving the World Cup behind.

“The first climb was quite hard, I could feel the journey coming over here but it was a good first wake up call and some super cool trails.”

Schurter was seen looking around on the climb, gently encouraging some of the younger locals to help set the pace on the climbs, before following Nieuwesteeg into the first big descent.

“I wanted to see a bit, I don’t know most of the guys. My goal is to have fun out on the trails and it’s good to follow someone that knows the trails,” Schurter said of his strategy on Day 1. There’s still six days left, though. “If every day is like this, I’m looking forward to it!”

With some heavy rain looming in the forecast, racers could see another side of B.C. riding by Monday.

The first stage winner of the 2026 BC Bike Race, taking the sprint at the line, is Peter Disera. The Canadian Olympian trailed early on on the climb but kept fighting his way back to the leaders all day.

“I just paced myself at what I felt my max was for the climb. I’ve ridden cumberland a decent amount, so I could give away some time going into the descents and close it down. I don’t have a ton of top end speed right now,” Disera said, perhaps being a little coy about his fitness. While Disera is also retired from World Cup racing, you don’t end up bar to bar with someone like Nino. The many-time Canadian national champion caught the leaders coming into Scat/Brat/Bonestorm and gave it a go, getting some space between himself, Schurter and Nieuwesteeg by the time he hit the dirt road back to the finish line.

“It was the first time I’ve done a legit sprint like that in a while. It hurt,” admits Disera. The reward is a stage win ahead of Schurter.

“I’m just happy to be here and have a good time. Coming away with the win today was definitely unexpected and not necessarily what I was going for. But when the opportunity presents itself you go for it.”

Disera takes the win, Schurter settles for second and Nieuwesteeg starts his week on the podium in third.

A rookie wins ahead of the champs

On the women’s side, Ruth Holcolmb found herself climbing with a trio of past BCBR champions.

“I know Katerina and a lot of the other girls have done this before, know the trails and are really experienced, so I’m just trying to keep a low profile if I can and make moves where I feel like I have an advantage. Then just follow Katerina for the rest.”

That low profile could be hard to maintain. Holcolmb distanced the Queen of BCBR, Katerina Nash, to take the first stage win of 2026. The Santa Cruz racer is making her debut at the BC Bike Race and already enjoying the Ultimate Singletrack Experience.

“It was incredible, so fun. That climb was, it was a big one. But then you’re at the top and you get to go downhill all day! The trails were so good.”

Katerina Nash, who settles into second place, had her eye on Holcolmb in her sights even before the week started.

““She’s the real deal. It might be her first BCBR, but I knew she’d be one to watch and she proved today she’s got the complete tool set. It’ll be fun to try to stick on her wheel a little longer here or there,” Nash said after the finish.

For Nash, the final 7-day BC Bike Race is not an event she was going to miss.

“BC Bike Race has been such a big part of my career. My first one was in 2009, maybe? I didn’t do every one, but a lot of them. It felt like the right thing to do, and I’m stoked to be here!”

Nash isn’t the only BCBR champion making her return for the 20th year of racing sweet B.C. singletrack. Sandra Walter, the defending champion, claimed the final spot on the podium.

“It was a long climb to start, but we just had a girls group which was nice. Things are more unknown with my training and how I’m feeling, so I’m just here to have fun and practice racing before I do some World Cups”. Walter, who was showing signs of a crash at the finish line, said of how her day went “The first singletrack was very fresh. I caught something and went down. Then it was Mags and I for a bit, then I was alone, then I rode with Hannah, which was super fun.”

Hannah Simms led out Walter on the dirt road back to the finish line, but Walter takes third place on the day. Simms finished right behind her with another champion, Maghalie Rochette, crossing the line fifth.

“In my mind, the person who wins the BC Bike Race is the person who’s having the most fun. Some years it’s about actually winning. I’m not as fit as I was in previous years when I was battling for the win, so this year, it’s about pushing myself and enjoying it.”

Fifth is a pretty solid start for someone who says they’re not in their best shape ever. Rochette admits she is happy with how the race started.

“I actually surprised  myself hanging in with these guys on the climb. I didn’t ride super well on the first descent but it got better and I had a great time, so we’ll see. Maybe I’ll surprise myself on the next days. I’ll keep pushing, keep trying and keep having fun!”

A past champion with growing confidence should put the riders ahead of her on notice. Especially with six more long days of racing on tap.

2026 BC Bike Race hits the road to Campbell River
Sunday serves up one of the longest days of this year’s BC Bike Race, at least on paper, at 47.6 km. Campbell River rewards a little effort with a lot of speed, though. There’s 843m of elevation gain along the way, but Snowden Demonstration Forest’s smooth trails should still serve as a salve for any riders suffering after going out a little too hard on Day 1. Rotary Rock and Roll, Dean Martin, Tres Hombres, all beautiful winding ribbons of singletrack taking riders deep into the green room. Another exciting day in the Ultimate Singletrack Experience.

2026 BC Bike Race Results: Day 1 – Cumberland 

Open Women1st. Ruth Holcomb 1:38:41.0
2nd. Katerina Nash 1:39:27.5 (+46.5)
3rd. Sandra Walter 1:40:57.3 (+2:16.3)
4th. Hannah Simms 1:40:58.2 (+2:17.2)
5th. Maghalie Rochette 1:41:53.5 (+3:12.5)

Open Men1st.  Peter Disera 1:20:28.9 
2nd. Nino Schurter 1:20:29.3 (+0.4)
3rd. Carter Nieuwesteeg 1:20:29.7 (+0.8)
4th. Justin Peck 1:22:12.2 (+1:43.3)
5th. Max McCulloch 1:22:46.7 (+2:17.8)

Fox Timed DH – Vanilla  

Men 1st. Max McCulloch 5:06.9
2nd. Geoff Kabush 5:12.0
3rd. Peter Disera 5:12.4
4th. Carter Nieuwesteeg 5:19.6
5th. Nino Schurter 5:19.7

Women1st.  Katerina Nash 5:44.8
2nd. Ruth Holcomb 5:46.6
3rd. Maghalie Rochette 5:55.3
4th. Carolin Gehrig 6:00.4
5th. Anita Gehrig 6:00.9

Full Results

All riders competing in Canadian Championship categories (Elite, U19, U17) must have a valid UCI license, with the exception of Masters categories who must possess at minimum, a provincial license. There will be no one-day or citizen licenses issued for Canadian Championship categories.

For the Open Non Championship categories (Impulso, Intermedio, Esperto), a race license is not required but it is encouraged. For more information visit here.

Some Important Items to Bring
• Minimum 2 bottles, even a Camelbak type of drinking setup.
• Seat bag, handlebar bag, to store tools food, try not to have all your gear in your back pockets of your jersey.
• 45mm – 50mm wide Tires are highly recommended in order to avoid pinch flats or punctures. There are sharp rocks on some of the descents (Don’t inflate your tires to hard or too soft). 30psi is usually a good pressure.
• Tire inserts like Cushcore are highly recommended
• Full fingered gloves. Extra padding is good.
• 2 tubes, 1 patch kit, C02 and/or pump (a small pump is recommended).
• Bear Spray / Air Horn (We are riding in pristine wilderness and there is always a chance to encounter bears or cougars).
• Multi tool with/and a chain breaker.
• Your preferred race nutrition to supplement between aid stations
• Bicycle GPS with uploaded route, Cell phone / ID

Schedule
(subject to change)
Saturday June 13, 2026
10:00 AM to 5:30 PM Check in and race package pick-up

Sunday June 14, 2026
7:30 AM to 9:00 AM Check in and package pick-up
9:15 AM Greetings, Rider’s Briefing
9:30 AM Championship Elite Men
9:35 AM Championship Elite Women
9:40 AM Championship U19 Men
9:41 AM Championship U19 Women
9:42 AM Championship Master Men A/B
9:43 AM Championship Master Men C/D
9:44 AM Championship U17 Men/U17 Women
9:45 AM Championship Master Women A/B/C/D
9:46 AM Open Espreto Fondo (Non Championship)
9:47 AM Open Intermedio Fondo (Non Championship)
9:48 AM Open Impulso Fondo (Non Championship)
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Food Truck & Drinks
3:00 PM Awards Presentations

Technical Guide v2
Read/Download the Burnt Bridge Classic Tech Guide
Important information about the race, rules, schedule, routes, and more.
Available in English / French
Download here.

Registration, accommodations, directions to venue here.

BCBR 2026 is the 20th anniversary edition and the final seven-day BC Bike Race. From May 23 to 29, 800 riders from 35 countries will roll out of Cumberland and head south on Vancouver Island before finishing in North Cowichan just in time for BC Bike Fest and MegaVolt to kick off. Forty-five percent of this year’s field are alumni. They know what’s at stake. They came back to close the book on something special.

Men’s Race Preview
The Big News: Nino Schurter Is Here

If you follow mountain biking at all, you know this name. If you don’t, here’s the short version: Nino Schurter is the greatest cross-country mountain bike racer of all time. Ten World Championship titles. Nine UCI World Cup overall titles. Olympic gold, silver, and bronze. Three Cape Epic wins. A 2017 season so dominant it’s simply called the Perfect Season, every World Cup round won.

Schurter has never done BCBR. What he will find is a deep field of Canadian talent that knows these trails, knows this race, and will not be giving anything away. Whatever happens this week, it will be worth watching.

Geoff Kabush — Olympic veteran, multi-time Canadian National Champion, World Cup winner, and past BCBR champion. One of the most decorated Canadian mountain bikers in history.
Carter Nieuwesteeg — Winner of the legendary Downieville Classic, often called the unofficial All-Mountain World Championship. He took the title by 1.5 seconds after two days of XC and DH racing. A Fernie local who thrives when the stakes are high.
Thomas Frischknecht — Swiss MTB legend, former World Cup champion, and the man who mentored a young Nino Schurter at the start of his career. The two share more than two decades of history in this sport. Now they share a start line at BCBR.
Antoine Duchesne — Canadian road racing legend who made his Grand Tour debut at the 2015 Vuelta a España, won the climber’s jersey at Paris-Nice, completed the Tour de France, and represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Now he’s lining up for The Ultimate Singletrack Experience.
Peter Disera — 2020 Olympian, World Cup top 10, multi-time Canadian XCO national champion.
Cory Wallace — 6 x 24-Hour Solo World Champion and multi-time Canadian Marathon Champion.
Justin Peck — US collegiate MTB national champion, UCI World Cup U23 competitor, and mechanical engineering student at UC Berkeley. Racing alongside his father Chris, because some things are better shared.

Women’s Race Preview
The Comeback: Maghalie Rochette

Rochette won BCBR 2024. In 2025, a broken hand ended her race mid-week. She comes to 2026 with unfinished business, a Canadian cyclocross national champion and World Cup podium finisher who knows this race and knows how to win it.

Sandra Walter – Two-time BCBR champion (2022, 2025). In 2025 she didn’t just win, she swept every single stage. Walter is the benchmark every other woman in this field is racing against.
Katerina Nash – Olympic icon, multi-discipline legend, and the most decorated BC Bike Race champion in history. Nash hinted after 2025 that her race career was winding down. She came back anyway. BCBR wouldn’t feel right without her, and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Anita and Caro Gehrig — The Gehrig twins are the most successful Swiss enduro riders in the history of the discipline. DH, 4X, enduro stage races — they show up on every gravity-oriented start line and they show up to podium. They come as a pair and they never do anything quietly.
Ruth Holcomb — Santa Cruz htSQD rider, Life Time Grand Prix U23 champion, and biochemistry student finishing her final year at UC Santa Barbara. A Colorado kid who grew up riding the Rockies, she brings fearless racing instincts and the kind of engine that wins at altitude.

The Route
The 2026 race starts in Cumberland, home of the United Riders of Cumberland (UROC) and some of the most celebrated trail building in Canada, before moving through Parksville/Hammerfest, Nanaimo and finishing in North Cowichan. Vancouver Island at its absolute best, start to finish.

What Comes Next: BC Bike Race 2027
Registration is open now. Super Early Bird pricing starts at $1,799, first 75 registrants only. bcbikerace.com/registration

In 2027 the race returns to Squamish for the first time in years and visits one more Sea to Sky community before crossing the Salish Sea to Vancouver Island by ferry, and finishing five days later at BC Bike Fest in North Cowichan.

Two formats. One unforgettable week.
• Classic Course — 450 spots, 25 to 45km per day, solo or teams of two. Five days of BC singletrack, every pedal stroke from start to finish.
• Enduro Course — 150 spots, inaugural edition, 3 to 5 timed stages per day through BC’s most celebrated singletrack. Solo only.

“I’ve never been more excited about what we’re bringing to the start line. New format, new terrain, same community that makes this race unlike anything else in the world.” — Dean Payne, BC Bike Race President BC Bike Race 2027 runs Monday, May 24, to Friday, May 28, with racer check-in on Sunday May 23. It finishes on the first day of the second annual BC Bike Fest, which runs May 28 to 30 in North Cowichan.

Register here.

Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that we recreate on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish First Nations. We are grateful to ride and gather on these lands and honour the enduring stewardship of their communities.

The Communities and Clubs
Cowichan Valley, Crofton – CTSS (Cowichan Trail Stewardship Society) Nanaimo – NMBC (Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club)
Cumberland (Comox Valley) – UROC (United Riders of Cumberland) Campbell River – RCCC (River City Cycle Club)

About BC Bike Race
Founded in 2007, BC Bike Race is a world-renowned mountain bike stage race and the original Ultimate Singletrack Experience. Drawing riders from more than 65 countries across its 20-year history, BCBR has built a global community around one thing: the best singletrack in British Columbia, ridden with the best people in the sport.

The Parts of Your Body That Take the Worst UV Hit
When you’re in a cycling position — leaning forward, head tilted up — the geometry of your body changes everything about where the sun hits you. The Skin Cancer Foundation points out that cyclists receive disproportionate UV exposure on the back of the neck, back of the ears, and face — areas that are both constantly exposed and almost never adequately protected.

A study measuring UV exposure across different body sites on cyclists during a seven-day charity ride found that average daily exposures exceeded one minimal erythemal dose (the minimum amount of UV needed to cause sunburn) at virtually every site tested. The highest exposures were recorded at the top of the head — which is exactly where helmet vents channel air, and exactly where most cyclists assume their helmet is protecting them. It isn’t.

A Tour de Suisse study found that professional cyclists during an eight-stage race were exposed to UV levels more than 30 times over the internationally recommended daily limits.

A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that while most cyclists apply sunscreen to their face, only 43% applied it to their ears — one of the highest-risk zones for skin cancer. Just 31% applied it to their arms.

Why Age Changes Everything About Sun Damage
The Skin Cancer Foundation is direct on this point: skin cancer is predominantly a disease of the elderly. At least one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70. The majority of people who develop melanoma are white men over the age of 55. More than half of all skin cancer-related deaths occur in people over 65.

The reason isn’t just that older people have had more sun exposure — though that’s a factor. It’s that aging skin becomes less capable of defending itself against UV damage.

As we age, the immune system weakens, the skin becomes thinner, and the body’s ability to repair UV-damaged DNA decreases. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UV light itself further suppresses the immune system, accelerating the very decline that makes older skin more vulnerable. It’s a compounding effect: more past damage, less capacity to recover, more outdoor activity — all converging at the same time in your life.

One bad sunburn in older age, according to researchers, “may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back” — triggering a cancer process that decades of accumulated damage have been building toward.

Cyclists over 50 face a particular combination of risk factors that most dermatologists and sports medicine researchers flag as serious: cumulative lifetime UV exposure, sweat increases photosensitivity, and older skin shows damage faster.

Research consistently finds that male cyclists — who make up the majority of riders in the over-50 demographic — are significantly less likely to use sunscreen than female cyclists. A study from New Orleans found men were 20% less likely to use sunscreen than women, and research shows men have a higher likelihood of developing skin cancer and experiencing immunosuppression from UV radiation.

Even cyclists who apply sunscreen properly face a problem: sweat. Research from the British Association of Dermatologists found that up to 80% of sunscreen can be lost through sweating during exercise. The recommendation is to reapply every two hours — something almost no cyclist actually does mid-ride.

Protecting the Spots Sunscreen Misses
The ShadyRider was designed specifically for the cycling position. Its wide fabric brim shields the face, ears, and neck — the exact areas where cyclists receive the highest UV exposure and the areas least covered by traditional cycling gear. Unlike sunscreen, it doesn’t wash off. Unlike a regular cap, it’s designed to stay stable at speeds up to 50 km/h.

If you’re riding more than two hours at a time without physical UV protection on your face and neck, you are accumulating damage that no after-the-fact sunscreen application will undo.

The ShadyRider was built by a founder with over 20 years in outdoor sports who understood exactly this problem. Its wide fabric brim shields the face, ears, and neck — the highest UV-exposure zones in the cycling position — across the entire ride. Its 99% UV-blocking polycarbonate lens protects the eyes from glare and UV damage simultaneously.

For riders 50+ who know what decades of sun exposure can add up to, this is the kind of protection that fits seamlessly into a ride rather than disrupting it.

ShadyRider snaps onto your helmet in seconds and blocks 99% of UV rays. It’s built in Canada for riders who take their health as seriously as they take their riding.

Wilbur Tarnasky is a Canadian outdoor sports enthusiast and inventor with over 20 years of experience in active outdoor sports living. He created The ShadyRider cycling helmet brim after recognizing a gap in cyclist protection for traffic visibility and sun protection. Learn more here and enjoy trying their gear finder quiz for 15% off. Get seen better, stay cool, ride safer.