The exciting thing about gravel racing, at least in my opinion, is the way in which different courses in different places can feel so wildly different from each other. Whether its the foothills of Alberta, a Southern Ontario classic with decades of history or the remote back roads of Vancouver Island, it’s all gravel, but the gravel couldn’t be more different. 2026 gravel nationals will certainly be a little wild and, building off the successful Burnt Bridge Gravel Fondo that hosts this years championship racing, likely a classic.
Gravel nationals land on Vancouver Island
For the fourth year of official, sanctioned gravel nationals, Cycling Canada is sending the event off to southern Vancouver Island. While Victoria may have a reputation as a tranquil little oasis of mild weather and mild manners, things quickly get a little rougher around the edges the minute you leave the city limits. And Burnt Bridge Gravel Fondo is taking riders well beyond the city limits. Expect incredibly scenic views and some seriously chunky gravel, originally build with heavy logging equipment in mind, not the 40-50mm tires of gravel racers.
So, while the championship course is just 127km is short by some gravel event standards, that number may be deceiving. Burnt Bridge packs a very blunt 2,149m of elevation gain, and loss, into that distance. Especially when you consider that the first 27km are comparatively gentle, by gradient. And only 13km of that distance is paved.
Weather this weekend is looking interesting, too. Cool mornings, with the forecast predicting just about 10 degrees to start the day, will spike up to 30-degrees Celsius by early afternoon.
2026 gravel nationals preview: Who to watch
With the maple leaf jersey on the line, a ton of big names in Canada’s gravel community are headed west for this weekend’s racing. From mountain bike Olympians to Grand Tour racers, it’s an interesting mix that should make for spicy racing.
Women’s elite preview: Favourites from all angles
On the women’s side, Haley Smith , a past training ground for the Tokyo Olympian and Life Time Grand Prix winner, rolls back into Vancouver Island as one of the pre-race favourites. While she didn’t have the her best result at Unbound, she’s had a stellar spring. That includes a second overall at the iconic Cape Epic mountain bike stage race in South Africa.
From a rider that used to train on Vancouver to one that still does quite often, Hannah Simms will also be a threat to for the win. Having just finished second overall at BC Bike Race, Simms has the speed and will be in tune with the local spirits of gravel.
Fiona Majendie approaches Burnt Bridge from the other extreme. A Gastown Grand Prix winner and part of Canada’s women’s team pursuit squad on the track, Majendie has the firepower, and the sprint, if she can hang with the dedicated gravelista’s on the descents.
National champion Devon Clarke isn’t currently on the start list for this weekend. A few locals, though, could pose a threat in the women’s field. Sister duo Holly and Heidi Henry know the lower Vancouver Island gravel better than most and, with a big podium from Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona already this year, Holly Henry isn’t exactly an unknown.
Men’s elite preview: The roadies vs. the mountain bikers
On the men’s side, it’s a tale as old as, well, gravel racing. Some prominent mountain bikers going bar-to-bar with very experienced road racers. Those contrasting strengths can make for explosive racing, given the right course. And Burnt Bridge is certainly on the technical end of gravel racing.
From the tarmac, Michael Woods and reigning gravel champ Ben Perry are the standout names. Those two former WorldTour pros are the standout names on any national championship start list, of course. Both are dedicated gravel “privateers” this year.
On the mountain bike side, Andrew L’Esperance is the most committed gravel racer, with several years of Life Time Grand Prix events under his belt. The smaller field at gravel nationals will make for different, more tactical racing than those mass start events south of the border, but L’Esperance brings plenty of years of experience off-road into this weekend’s race.
Peter Disera, his brother Quinton Disera and Carter Nieuwesteeg all are not only successful mountain bikers, Peter and Nieuwesteeg recently shared an overall podium at BC Bike Race behind none other than Nino Schurter, but all have a ton of training hours in the hills between Victoria and Lake Cowichan. As does Ethan Pauly, another roadie turned gravel racer (and mountain biker).
Nick Kleban and Finn Borstmayer will roll onto Vancouver Island with experience from gravel worlds in 2025, while North Island racer Cody Scott and mountain bike endurance veteran Cory Wallace will add pressure to keep the favourites honest.
They’ll all be joined by a very solid field of more local racers, many of whom will be looking to use numbers to try catch the pre-race favourites out. That’s a tall order, when you’re talking about names like Woods, Perry, Diseras and L’Esperance. But gravel is nothing if not unpredictable.
Racing takes place this Sunday, June 14 in North Cowichan. Canadian Cycling Magazine will be on site, doing our best to keep you updated through limited cell reception.