Isabella Holmgren, a 19-year-old mountain biking star from Orillia, has started her season with an impressive win streak, dominating the World Cup circuit in Brazil.
Holmgren, the 2023 Orillia Athlete of the Year, delivered a flawless performance across two weekends in Brazil, winning all four races she participated in. Competing for Lidl-Trek, she claimed victories in both the U23 women’s cross-country short track (XCC) and cross-country (XC) events.
Currently the reigning U23 world champion in both disciplines, Holmgren’s success comes after a winter of intense training.
Her mother, Lisa Holmgren, explained that Isabella worked closely with her coach and teammates to improve her technical mountain biking skills during the off-season.
“Despite being the favorite, starting a new season always brings uncertainties,” Lisa said, reflecting on Isabella’s approach to the season opener.
Even with high expectations, Isabella, who represented Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics, admitted to feeling anxious. “It’s my first race of the season, so I was really nervous,” she shared in an interview with racing.trekbikes.com. “I wasn’t sure where my fitness stood, so I had to adjust my strategy as the race unfolded. At the start of the year, you never really know how everyone else is doing.”
The track in Brazil presented a challenging mix of high speeds and technical jumps, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition. “The Brazilian fans were amazing, and the track was really intense,” Lisa noted.
Though Isabella has now taken the lead in the World Cup standings, she won’t be competing in all 10 World Cup races this year. Instead, she will shift her focus to preparing for the upcoming road cycling season. “I won’t be focusing too much on the overall World Cup title because I’ll be missing some races,” she said, acknowledging the busy schedule between April and October. “But I’ll continue to enjoy the process and give my best in every race.”
With a solid start to her season, Holmgren is set to maintain her high level of performance as she balances both mountain and road cycling challenges.