Cycling Alberta

2026 Canadian Road Championships & Coupe de l'avenir Team Announcement!

Cycling Alberta is proud to announce our athletes representing Alberta at the 2026 Canadian Road Championships and the Coupe de l'avenir!

This squad has put in the work all season, and we couldn't be more excited to see them race on the national stage.

2026 Canadian Road Championships Team:

Sarah Welsh

Salomon Grigy

Mike Sametz

Riley Oosterhof

Watt Mitchell

Larix Hallett

Axel Lecompte

Coupe de l'avenir Team:

Sarah Welsh

Watt Mitchell

Larix Hallett

Axel Lecompte

Cor Sinke

Elijah Hilts

Aiden Sandmaier

Huge congratulations to everyone selected. Alberta will be well represented!

This Week in Alberta Cycling — June 20th & 21st

We've got a big weekend ahead! Head out to West Bragg Creek for not one, but TWO incredible events!

Saturday, June 20th: The Stoke XCO Provincials
Alberta's top cross-country mountain bikers go head-to-head in what's sure to be a thrilling provincial showdown.

Sunday, June 21st: The Organ Grinder
A beloved community race on one of Alberta's most iconic trail networks, a perfect way to wrap up the weekend.

Come soak in the atmosphere, the dirt, and the community that makes Alberta cycling so special.

Registration closes Wednesday at 23:59. Don't miss out!

📍 West Bragg Creek, AB

Track Coach Alex Ongaro

Born and raised in Edmonton and proud of his Italian heritage, Alessandro “Alex” Ongaro was introduced to cycling at a young age. After participating in a variety of sports throughout his youth, he committed fully to cycling in 1980 and went on to spend six years as a member of the Canadian National Team.

During his competitive career, he represented Canada at multiple World Championships, competed at the 1984 Olympic Games, and represented Canada at the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games, earning a silver medal in 1986.

Following his retirement from competition, he transitioned into coaching, spending his first decade developing young athletes in soccer. In 2015, his passion for cycling led him back to the sport as Head Coach of the Alberta Velodrome Racing Association Cycling Academy.

Over the years, he has had the privilege of working with numerous athletes throughout various stages of their development, including Olympic gold medalists, world record holders, Junior and Para World Champions, World Championship team members, and National Champions.

Today, he coaches with Polaris Sport Academy and the Alberta Velodrome, while also contributing to athlete development projects with Cycling Alberta and supported our athletes at this year's Junior / U17 Canadian National Track Championships. He remains committed to fostering a culture of hard work, respect, and excellence, helping athletes achieve goals they may once have thought impossible.

“There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices.”

A huge thank you to the Rundle Mountain Cycling Club AMP Enduro coaching team, and athletes from several clubs, for coming out on Friday (in miserable conditions!) to run the Cycling Alberta Skills camp to work with youth athletes from multiple clubs and help them prepare for the XCO at the Canmore Mountain Bike Classic.

The Canmore course is one of the most challenging events on the provincial calendar, and the athletes left the session with greater confidence, competence, and character. The hard work paid off, with improved understanding of difficult line choices!

Thanks to all the coaches, volunteers, and athletes who made it a great day on the trails. Special Thanks to The Canmore Mountain Bike Classic for collaborating on this event and congratulations to the athletes on the podium the next day! 🏆👏

One of the things that makes the cycling community so special is the dedicated people who pour their time, expertise, and heart into supporting riders at every level. As we look ahead to The Canadian National Road Championships and Coupe de l'Avenir, we are proud to have Josh Barker on board as our mechanic for these events!

Josh Barker first became involved in mountain biking in 1998 when he took a job as a bike guide in Nordegg. That role introduced him to the world of bike maintenance and mountain bike racing through the original Black Mountain Challenge. From there, Josh went on to work as a mechanic at Bow Cycle in Calgary and United Cycle in Edmonton. More recently, he has worked as an independent contractor supporting bike shops across Central Alberta, race teams, event directors, and Team Alberta.

Over the course of his career, Josh has provided mechanical support at events ranging from community-level races to world-class cycling competitions. His expertise spans all types of bicycles, with a particular passion for high-end race bikes. After 28 years in the cycling industry, he still considers it the best industry and community to be part of.

Josh is also an avid cyclist who enjoys racing all disciplines of cycling. Alongside pursuing his own performance goals, he has been deeply involved in supporting the growth and development of young cyclists in Alberta, including his own son. He feels fortunate to be part of their journeys and to contribute in some small way to their success through the projects and programs he supports.

If your BMX rider planning to participate in the Junior Development Program at Alberta Cup Rounds 1 & 2 (Stony Plain), Rounds 3 & 4 (Lethbridge), or the Alberta Cup Grands (Okotoks), they must be between 13 and 16 years of age, hold an Expert ability classification, have completed the Respect in Sport program. If your rider has not yet completed Respect in Sport, please email [email protected] to receive the registration link. For participation in Canada Cup Junior Devo events (Cochrane, Airdrie, and St. Albert), riders must be 14–16 years of age

Alberta BMX Association Medicine Hat BMX Lethbridge BMX Club Okotoks BMX Club Airdrie BMX Cochrane BMX Association Calgary BMX Association Red Deer BMX Edmonton BMX Stony Plain BMX St Albert Bmx

📸John Pohl Photography

The Canmore MTB Classic p/b Shokz holds the distinction of being Canada's only stop on the 2026 UCI Continental Series XCO Calendar, and this June, the Bow Valley is going to be the centre of the mountain biking world. Three days of incredible UCI-sanctioned racing await at the iconic Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park!

Here’s the full race schedule:

📅 Wednesday, June 10 — UCI XCO C1 Race
📅 Thursday, June 11 — UCI XCC C3 & Provincial XCC Races
📅 Saturday, June 13 — UCI XCO CS, UCI Junior Series Race & Provincial XCO

This event is hosted by the Alberta Nationals Mountain Bike Race Association and sanctioned by the UCI, Cycling Canada, and the Alberta Bicycle Association. The UCI Continental Series is an exciting new initiative from the UCI designed to bridge the gap between national competition and the World Cup! Giving the next generation of riders the opportunity to shine on an international stage.

Whether you’re toeing the start line or cheering on the course, come out and be part of something special!

We are incredibly grateful for the passionate individuals who show up for our cycling community time and time again. As we head into The Canadian National Road Championships and Coupe de l'Avenir, we are proud to share that will be joining us as coach for these events!

Leah Kirchmann is a two-time Olympian, former UCI Women’s World Tour professional cyclist, and NCCP Competition Development-certified coach who brings a wealth of international racing and athlete development experience to Cycling Alberta’s provincial programs across a variety of provincial projects, including Road and Mountain Bike National Championships, Coupe de l’Avenir, and the Canada Summer Games program.

Leah represented Team Canada in road cycling at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games and competed at the highest levels of the sport throughout her professional career. In 2017, she was part of the Team Sunweb squad that captured the Team Time Trial World Championship title in Bergen, Norway. She is also a multi time Canadian National Champion and made history at the 2014 Canadian Road Championships in Lac Mégantic, Quebec, becoming the first woman to win the road race, time trial, and criterium national titles in the same year.

Drawing on her years of international competition and high performance racing, Leah is passionate about supporting the next generation of Canadian cyclists through coaching, mentorship, and athlete development. She works closely with Cycling Alberta athletes across a variety of provincial projects, including Road and Mountain Bike National Championships, Coupe de l’Avenir, and the Canada Summer Games program.

Leah’s athlete centered approach, combined with her elite racing background and coaching expertise, provides Alberta riders with valuable insight, leadership, and support as they pursue success at the national and international level.
📸 Scott Maloney

What a weekend to be a cyclist in Alberta! From family-friendly recreation rides to gravel adventures in the mountains, there is something for every rider this weekend. Here’s what’s happening:

📅 June 6: CycleFest | Calgary

CycleFest is back and it’s a fantastic opportunity for youth and families to get out and enjoy cycling together as part of the Youth en Route program. A great way to introduce the next generation to the joy of riding!

📅 June 6: Jasper Gran Fondo | Jasper

📅 June 7: Canmore Crux | Canmore Nordic Centre

We love seeing our cycling community come together at events like these! Whether you’re a first-time rider or a seasoned competitor. Tag us in your photos this weekend and let’s celebrate the rides together!