Student and young qathet region athlete Ellie Winchell has always been a competitive person. So, it's no surprise that after she started racing mountain bikes in the fall of 2021 at age 14, and proceeded to win her first title at the provincial championships in Abbotsford, she knew she wanted to keep going.
Now Winchell is headed to Andorra to compete at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships 2024 after being selected by Cycling Canada. Winchell will compete in the U19 cross country Olympic mountain biking category.
The Peak asked her some questions about cross country Olympic mountain biking, and the world championship that begins on August 26.
Peak: Can you describe for those unfamiliar with cross country Olympic mountain biking what it is, in comparison to other cycle sports?
Winchell: There are three other types of cross country racing but XCO or cross country Olympic mountain biking is the type of XC race that they have at the Olympics.
Peak: How long is a cross country mountain biking race?
Winchell: My races are always about an hour-and-a-half long and can range from 10 to 25 kilometers, depending on how technical the course is and how much climbing we have to do. The courses are usually set on trails similar to our local Duck Lake trails.
Peak: What do you like about cross country mountain biking?
Winchell: I really enjoy XC racing because it combines fitness with technical skills. This means that the races can be a combination of gruelling climbs and a big test of fitness, but you do get a little recovery on the downhills, and if the trails are quite technical sometimes, I get a little adrenaline rush, too.
Peak: How long have you been into biking?
Winchell: I have been biking since I was about three years old. Both of my parents are very passionate about biking so I was biking on the trails from a fairly young age.
My parents both competed in the BC Bike Race about eight years ago and I did a couple little races when I was nine or 10 years old, but I ended up with a few major crashes that scared me away from racing.
Peak: How did you end up being selected by Cycle Canada to compete in the world championships in Andorra?
Winchell: This year was my first year in the U19 category, so it was the first year that I could even attempt to qualify for international racing. The big selection event that decided who would get to compete at world championships was the national championships in Kentville, Nova Scotia, earlier this summer.
Peak: What challenges did you face competing in the nationals?
Winchell: I worked hard throughout the season in order to prepare for national championships because I knew it would be the most important race of my season. I felt strong but there were a few other girls who I had been battling all year, so it was 50/50 odds that I would qualify; it all depended on how the race went.
So many things can happen during a bike race, like crashes or mechanicals, so I knew I had a chance to sneak into that top five. In the end I was in fifth place, exactly where I needed to be.
A couple of days later I got an email from Cycling Canada that I was selected to go to the world championships in Andorra.
Peak: What kind of training and skill building do you need to excel at this sport?
Winchell: A lot of training goes into racing at the national level. I train year-round and I always mix it up by going out on the trails, exploring gravel roads, road riding and running. I also do lots of strength training and gym work to help prevent injuries. For an average week I train about 15 hours.
Peak: What does it take to race competitively?
Winchell: A big part of being a complete racer is race experience, so this year I joined a race team based out of Squamish. With their help and support I have been able to travel and race all around North America this year, gaining valuable experience and UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) points.
Peak: What is the significance of gaining UCI points?
Winchell: UCI points can be very helpful for race call-ups and they are an international system of ranking racers. Based on the points system I am currently ranked 34th in the world because of all of the high-level races I have been able to go to this year.
Peak: What races did you compete in this year?
Winchell: Those races include the Pan American Championships in Utah, where I finished 12th, a US Pro Cup in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and most of the Canada Cup races in Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick.
Peak: What are you most excited about regarding the world championships?
Winchell: I am very excited to race in an international field with the best athletes from every country. It will be neat to see how I compare as well as experiencing the atmosphere of such a high level race. I am definitely going to be learning lots.
Peak: What are you hoping for in Andorra?
Winchell: My big goal would be a top 40 result and to learn as much as I can from the other Team Canada racers.
Peak: When you come back, what's next?
Winchell: When I get back from my trip, I will be starting grade 12 right away. Throughout the fall I will be racing a little bit of cyclocross and I will be doing some cross country running/racing for the Brooks Secondary School team, and my training and preparation for the next XCO race season will begin.
To get an idea of what Winchell will be doing at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships 2024, search for Women Elite MTB Cross-country Olympic Highlights - 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships on YouTube, or watch the video at youtu.be/njDReM7-ze4?feature=shared.
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