Lantzville mountain biker to represent Canada at world championships in Italy

By Liam Tremblay — 26 August 2026 — 3 min read

Lantzville resident Piper Graaten, a 16-year-old mountain biker from the Nanaimo area, has been selected to represent Team Canada at the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. The championships are scheduled to take place in Val Di Sole, Italy, from Wednesday, August 26, to Sunday, August 30.

Graaten’s selection follows her performance at the 2026 Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championships held at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops in late July. There, she secured third place in the expert women U19 division with a time of 5:33.99.

Val Di Sole’s ‘Black Snake’ Course

The course for the world championships, known as the ‘Black Snake’, is characterized by its challenging terrain. According to a press release, it features steep, technical sections with roots and rocks, maintaining an average gradient of approximately 24.5 per cent. This event marks Graaten’s first competition in Europe.

Graaten expressed her honour at the opportunity to represent Canada on the world stage, noting that racing at this level has been a long-held dream. She described the experience of her first European race being a world championship as “pretty incredible.”

Although she will not experience the course until the competition begins, Graaten has prepared by reviewing video footage. She anticipates the course will be very steep and rocky, with numerous man-made rock gardens, distinguishing it significantly from local races she has competed in.

Her preparation includes a thorough warm-up, mobility exercises, and visualization techniques before racing. Graaten is approaching the championships with tempered expectations, aiming for a confident performance and to enjoy the experience.

Her goals for the competition include finishing within the top 20 or top 15. Beyond the championships, Graaten plans to focus on her senior year of high school and graduation, but she harbours aspirations of pursuing her mountain biking career further.

She hopes to compete full-time on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circuit in the next season, as indicated in the press release.

World Championship Event Details

The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships is considered a premier event on the annual mountain bike calendar, second in importance only to the Olympic Games within the mountain biking community. The event in Val di Sole, Italy, will feature a variety of races, including cross-country Olympic, cross-country short circuit, and downhill disciplines.

Among the notable athletes expected to compete are Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock. Other prominent riders participating include Puck Pieterse and Isabella Holmgren. Several seasoned MTB World Champions are also slated to take part, with athletes such as Jenny Rissveds, Alan Hatherly, Valentina Höll, and Victor Koretzky defending their titles.

For those looking to follow the action, the championships will be broadcast across various platforms. In Canada, FloBikes will provide streaming coverage. Viewers in the UK can tune in via TNT Sports and HBO Max, while FloBikes will also carry the event in the USA. Australian cycling fans can access coverage through Stan Sport.

Additionally, free streaming options are available in several countries. The UCI Youtube channel will offer coverage, though it may be subject to geo-blocking in certain regions, including the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia, due to existing broadcast deals. Other free broadcasters include L’Equipe TV in France, RTVE Play in Spain, RaiPlay in Italy, and VRT / RTBF in Belgium.

The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships are scheduled to run from August 26-30.

Source: nanaimobulletin.com