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BC Bike Race 2025 Day 7. Wild racing, wildlife and last-chance racing
The Final Stage of BC Bike Race 2025, year 19, was a mixture of hard battles, and emotional release.
This journey has so many dynamic stories, it's virtually impossible to tell each and every one. We try to tell some of the stories but the reality is that each person, team, and or group has some poignant reason to be here - kudo's to each and everyone for digging deep and achieving greatness.
It's "All Week Long" as Brett Tippie says - we're all in this together - the "Ultimate Singletrack Experience", it delivers wayyyyyy more than a bike race, it's a life experience shared by all, for all!!
Stage 7 - Cumberland - July 6 - Presented by NOBL Wheels
31km - 893m
Day 7, the grand finale. A victory lap for some lucky riders but, for many, it was one last battle for glory, one final opportunity for redemption. Or, maybe, one last chance to rip a few good laps on some amazing trails with new friends. With a buffet of Cumberland’s best singletrack on the menu, it was a course sure to satisfy any racer’s appetite for singletrack.
While Sandra Walter worked through one more day of racing to land the perfect BCBR experience, leaving the rest to race for podium positions, all the top 10 men were still duking it out to try move up the standings in this, the second last seven-day BC Bike Race.
Wild racing, wildlife and last-chance racing
For the pro men, stage 7 was the climax of a wild week of racing. As expected, it was once again a boxing match between Matthew Wilson and the Forward Racing Teammates, Sean Fincham and Andrew L’Esperance. A large group arrived at the top of Sobo no Michi together and trained down the Vanilla’s together. But, starting the day’s final, and longest climb, the race was on.
“I knew the fireworks would start on the dirt road and then Above and Beyond,” said Fincham. “It’s hard to pull back a minute with so little time, so I was feeling confident but Matt twisted the screws out there.”
It was the Canadian that really initiated the attacks, with the two getting tangled in the entrance to Above and Beyond before sprinting up the steep doubletrack climb.
“I had a couple minutes over L’Espy in GC, so I could risk it a bit more today,” Wilson says. “Both the boys knew I was going to give everything I had up the main gravel climbs. I attacked at the bottom and couldn’t get away. He attacked into Above and Beyond, then we were both just swinging from there.”
Once over the top of the climb, the Kiwi slid out going into Lost Wood. That let Fincham get by and, quickly, out of sight.
“I was so cross-eyed dropping in,” Wilson admits. “I was just trying to keep it rubber side down.”
While Fincham had dropped Wilson, he wasn’t out of trouble quite yet. Proving that BC Bike Race is a truly wild event, the race leader was flying through the final trail back to town when he found himself face-to-face with one of the locals.
“I came around a corner and there was a young deer just in the middle of the trail!” says Fincham. “I slammed on the brakes and just skidded into it. But it was fine, it just ran away. I only hit it with my front tire, and kept rolling.”
That last, unexpected obstacle safely out of the way, Fincham rolled back into Cumberland to claim the stage win and back-to-back BC Bike Race titles. After finishing 1-2 with teammate L’Esperance last year, 2025 was a harder fought victory.
“This year, Matt definitely pushed me to the limit, and then some,” Fincham admits. “So it was fun to see how far I could push myself.”
Wilson was also revelling in the week of hard-fought racing.
“It was great! I was glad to have both the guys there pushing me all week. Tight racing’s always fun, it makes you a better rider. I was glad to have some fierce competition out there,” the New Zealand racer said. Despite having travelled a long way to get to the start line this week, Wilson’s already keen to return for the final week-long BC Bike Race. “I reckon I can see myself coming back. It’s such a fun week and such a well run event as well, I’m pretty keen to get back here,” he said, adding that he’s staying around Cumberland for a month now to ride. After pushing the Canadians to the limit riding the course completely blind, Wilson could be a bigger threat with a little more local knowledge in 2026.
Despite a mid-week trip to the hospital, Andrew L’Esperance nursed a heavily-taped thumb through the last two stages to hold onto the final podium position. That injury dropped the Canadian out of contention for the top two spots, but L’Espy adds another BCBR podium to his resume.
“My goal today was just to help Sean as much as I could, just so he wasn’t in a position where he could lose time,” L’Espy said. Ever the teammate, fighting through injury and risking his own result to keep Forward Racing on the podium. Still, L’Espy has his eyes on 2026, too.
“I’d love to be part of the final, OG edition. We’ll have to see how the calendar shapes up.”
It’s not just the leaders that were battling right to the final finish line in Cumberland. Not far back, Ryan MacKay and Cory Wallace were locked in all day in the hunt for ninth on the stage. The North Van-based Kiwi dangled just off the Canadian’s wheel all day Sunday.
“I thought if I just push on the descents, I could catch his wheel and he could tow me, but he was just so strong on the hills,” MacKay said after the finish. MacKay ends his first BCBR 11th overall in the open men’s race. Impressive, considering he was, like Wilson, riding completely new trails every day. “Today was probably my favourite, just in terms of trails that were good to ride blind. It was a challenging week trying to push the pace down blind trails. Not knowing what’s coming uphill is also super hard, but we got through it.”
Sandra Walter completes the sweep
In the women’s race, Sandra Walter earned her second BC Bike Race victory, repeating the feat she first accomplished in 2022. This year, the Canadian elevated her overall title by winning every single stage in the 2025 race. While Walter made it look easy, sweeping a solid field is anything but.
“I was definitely very tired today,” Walter admits. “The whole week, I was thinking Katerina or some of the women’s teams were going to come for me. I was expecting to see them, because I was dying out there, so I just kind of put my head down today and went hard again.”
Going hard is just part of the strategy. “I usually try to start up front with the men and then just hang on to groups and surf the wheels. That seems to work,” Walter explains. Will the Canadian be back for a third title next year? “It conflicts with a World Cup, so TBD. But it’d be tough to miss it, for sure.
Sitting in second is BC Bike Race royalty, and all-round mountain bike legend Katerina Nash. The U.S.-based Czech Olympian has been humble all week, despite her speed. After the finish line, she was taking time to revel in the accomplishment.
“It feels so good right now. Finishing BCBR is definitely a big effort. Not having a mechanical, not crashing, it’s not getting any easier, lets be honest,” the veteran racer admits. “But I really did enjoy it and, now that I’m at the finish, I just have so much appreciation for the race, for the equipment but I hardly ever give credit to myself. So I’m going to take a moment to appreciate what I’ve done and, yeah, go relax!”
With at least seven BCBR’s under her belt now, will the multi-time champ be back for one more kick at a title in 2026?
“Oh, I don’t know. I feel like my race career is close to its end, but I say that every year,” Nash says with a laugh. That said, she’s already scheming plans. “When I saw it would be the last one, I pitched it to my former teammate Georgia Gould. We raced together for 10 years. I said, ‘Dude, let’s do it together!’” Nash says, adding “Put that on Pinkbike, let’s put the pressure on her!”
Rounding out the 2025 BC Bike race women’s podium is Usha Khanal. The Nepalese XC and DH champ was quick to point out that Maghalie Rochette held that position before crashing out mid-week. But you have to be in the right position to take advantage when those opportunities arise, right? “I can’t believe it. I’ve never been on the podium in any seven-day race, now I’m on the podium!”
And how was her first BCBR appearance?
“It was awesome. I could not ask for a better week. It was the most fun and competitive week for me,” says Khanal. Vancouver Island is a long way from the Himalayas. But Usha’s plotting a return already. “With the change of the date, we have a big race in Nepal on the same date. So it’s tricky, but I would love to be back!”
Trading podium spots with Khanal all week were official unofficial teammates Starla Teddergreen and Lauren Zimmer. The two Distance to Empty racers entered the solo category but rode together and finished exactly 1 second apart after seven days of racing in fourth and fifth overall.
“Did we really!? I love it!” says Starla, with Lauren quickly adding “She gets the podium today, I get the overall. Perfect!”
The two top-five finishers were fast this week, but also consistently two of the happiest riders on the course. Their first BCBR is also their first race together as a team (even if they were entered in the open category).
“It was incredible, just so much fun. We proved to ourselves what amazing teammates we are. It was our first time riding together, and we proved that we compliment each other so well. Where I fall a little bit short she’s stronger and vice versa. We’re both easily able to take the lead and it’s just so much fun,” Starla enthused, with Lauren adding “I’m like the team mom. I’m shouting ‘Eat ! Drink! There’s a big climb here, gear down.’ It’s great.”
“We’d love to come back and celebrate the last year. I’ve been following this race for a while, it’s always been a bucket list race to do. We’re stoked to be here this year!” says Starla. And maybe celebrate where a successful partnership started? “Yeah! Absolutely. We have some big goals together for next year, We’d probably officially do the team category together. We confused a few people out there with our ‘not a team-team’ race out there.”
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In the officially official team categories, mountain bike legend, Olympic medallist and 2010 world champion Maja Wloszczowska and her teammate, U23 European champion, Olympian and two-time eMTB world champion Nathalie Schneitter, walked away with the women’s team of two title at BCBR. The two former competitors were clearly enjoying racing as a team and taking in BCBR Basecamp life.
“We are riding for joy, mostly. Of course we’re super happy to win, but it was great to enjoy racing, meeting different people,” Maja said after the podium. “It also was cool to stay in the camp. When you are professional, you are focused on your recovery, you stay in a hotel, you are stressed. Here, you can just have a beer at the finish line and stay in camp. Maybe not have the proper sleep, ok, but you have nice company and you meet people.”
Despite the perhaps looser structure to the week than their professional days, Wloszczowska and Schneitter had no problems holding the leader’s jersey throughout the week.
“And we did not shout at each other once this week, and we’re still friends!,” Schneitter adds, “I said at the start that was the number one goal!”
Winning all around! Will the two highly decorated riders be back for the final 7-day BC Bike Race?
“I would say, never say never,” says Schneitter, with Maja adding “There are still a lot of fun things in the world to do. But we had a lot of fun this week. We hear that Nino is coming next year? If there is more cross country racers, why not!” Would Nash’s plan to recruit Gould for the team race might entice them to make their way back to Vancouver Island?
“Oh my god, if Georgia is coming, I’ve gotta be back,” Nathalie says with Maja adding “Then we need to convince Catharine [Pendrel] as well! Can we make… a team of 10?”
“It’s just fun to hang out with old friends, old competitors. I was just saying to someone that as a mountain biker you never retire, you just retire from World Cups.”
Canadian Olympian and general mountain bike pioneer Lesley Tomlinson was on a similar retirement plan at BCBR. Winning the 60+ category ignited some dormant competitive fires in the B.C. rider, but she isn’t quite planning a comeback.
“I remember the things I liked about racing and… and also remember the things I didn’t like. There’s a number of years you can stay super focused and be super concentrated and serious. After that you have to change your focus. I felt different out there. It’s also more fun not being so focused, but I also missed that, too,” explains Tomlinson.
The more casual vibes at BCBR, though, were more appealing now than her high performance past.
“It’s been really great. Everybody’s super friendly and into it and having fun,” says Tomlinson. “Yesterday I rode with Dean Payne’s daughter for a good portion of the race and I think we are close to the oldest and the youngest women in the race. And that’s pretty cool that you can do that, right?”
Racing together in the mixed team of two category, Dutch/Colorado duo Mia Aseltine and Jimme de Haan were blazing through Vancouver Island singletrack all week. The inter-continental team lead all week. Did their winning strategy change throughout the week?
“Did we even have a strategy?” Mia asks? “I think it was that I wait after the descent” Jimme says, with Mia quickly adding “And then I push you on the climbs.”
Whether formalized or figuring it out on the fly, the strategy clearly worked as the two leave as BCBR champions.
“This week was amazing,” Mia said. “Personally, my body is very tired. The longer stage in Cumberland killed me, but we’re still here!”
“It was hard, but so good,” Jimme adds. “It hurts every day, but I think I was quite decent throughout the week.”
“Yeah, I didn’t feel as bad as I would have thought,” Mia added, with Jimme qualifying “Except for the start. Then, you feel terrible.”
Everyone was feeling the weight of seven days of racing by the final finish line, even race leaders like Mia and Jimme and 40+ winner Wendy Boyce.
“The end of the week has been awesome. The last two days have been tough, I’m pretty tired, but today was epic. I just left it all out there.
The Kiwi also looked to have left some of her leader’s jersey out on course in a crash somewhere on Cumberland’s trails.
“I just came out of Lost Wood, slid out on the gravel and straight into Blockhead. It was on an easy part. But you just get straight up and keep going,” Boyce explained.
Her journey to Vancouver Island with her husband, also racing, wasn’t just a long distance, it concludes a multi-year plan to visit Canada that started with their wedding a full seven years ago. That’s a lot of pressure to live up to, but Boyce says BCBR delivered on its promise of the Ultimate Singletrack Experience.
“It’s been better than I expected. It’s also been harder than I expected, but so rewarding as well. It’s such a great thing to do.”
While everyone may be tired, no one is quite ready to leave.
“Now I really don’t want to go back to work!” 50+ Men’s winner Bob Welbourn said with a laugh as he crossed the finish line Sunday.
Just seconds after finishing the race, Welbourn was already thinking ahead to the final classic edition of the BCBR.
“I hope so! It’s the best thing. I love to do this, I love this race. I had a lump in my throat on the last descent.”
Well now we’re all a little choked up. But we’re also already thinking ahead to BC Bike Race 2026. Planning is well underway and, if you’re one of the people saying BCBR is a “bucket list event” but weren’t here in 2025, you have one more chance. Don’t miss out on The Ultimate Singletrack Experience.
2025 BC Bike Race Results: Day 6 - Campbell River
Open Women
1st. Sandra Walter 1:49:28.8
2nd. Katerina Nash 1:56:26.6 (+6:57.8)
3rd. Starla Teddergreen 2:08:04.4 (+18:35.6)
4th. Lauren Zimmer 2:08:05.1 (+18:36.3)
5th. Usha Khanal 2:09:41.8 (+20:13.0)
Open Men
1st. Sean Fincham 1:29:29.1
2nd. Matthew Wilson 1:30:56.9 (+1:27.8)
3rd. Andrew L’Esperance 1:31:31.6 (+2:02.5)
4th. Matthew Bird 1:32:53.7 (+3:24.6)
5th. Peter Disera 1:33:20.1 (+3:51.0)
Day 5 - Overall Standings
Open Men
1st. Sean Fincham 10:01:10.6
2nd. Matthew Wilson 10:03:41.9
3rd. Andrew L’Esperance 10:11:11.1
4th. Peter Disera 10:19:20.2
5th. Geoff Kabush 10:39:09.3
Open Women
1st. Sandra Walter 12:25:45.2
2nd. Katerina Nash 12:58:21.5
3rd. Usha Khanal 14:51:27.8
4th. Lauren Zimmer 14:57:51.5
5th. Starla Teddergreen 14:57:52.5
Fox Timed DH - Final results
Men
1st. Geoff Kabush 24:20.1
2nd. Sean Fincham 3:29.6
3rd. Wells Tanner 24:41.2
4th. Trevor Thew 24:44.2
5th. Matthew Wilson 24:50.4
Women
1st. Katerina Nash 26:54.9
2nd. Maja Wloszczowska 27:15.5
3rd. Nathalie Schneitter 27:45.3
4th. Sandra Walter 28:33.9
5th. Jessica Hild 30:32.5