2026 Photo Gallery

Day 0 – Registration

Photo by Deniz Merdano

Day 0 – Registration Day. 855 racers descended on the Village of Cumberland, the site of our first basecamp for 2026. Welcoming our largest field of racers ever, Cumberland was the perfect location with quaint local businesses to check out after a breezy check-in and swag pick-up facilitated by our amazing registration team.

Before everyone left to eat and rest up for the days ahead, the BCBR team delivered the all-important safety briefing to make sure everyone stays safe and has fun out there.
-Photos by Dave Silver (left) and Deniz Merdano (right)

-Photos by Deniz Merdano

Day 1 kicked off with the iconic start chute on Cumberland’s main street. As 855 racers shook off their last minute jitters, kilt-adorned members of the Comox Valley Pipe Band Society marched through the start chute and rallied racers with the skirl of their bagpipes and the beat of their drums.
Photo by Max Berkowitz

Photos by Max Berkowitz (left) and Dave Silver (right).

Photo by Deniz Merdano.

Photos by Dave Silver.

Photo by Sara Kempner.

The finish for the Pro Men’s category was a nail biter as Peter Disera, Nino Schurter and Carter Nieuwesteeg sped across the finish line, separated by less than 5/1000ths of a second.
-Photos by Deniz Merdano

-Photos by Deniz Merdano

Left: In the Open Men’s category, Disera took the top spot with Schurter in second and Nieuwesteeg in third.

Right: For the Open Women, Ruth Holcomb stood atop the podium with Katerina Nash in second. Sandra Walter took third.
-Photos by Deniz Merdano

After a hard day of racing, it was time to chill out with a few bevvies.
-Photo by Dave Silver

It doesn’t get more picturesque than Cumberland, nestled amongst the trees on the edge of the Cumberland Community Forest.
-Photo by Deniz Merdano

-Photo by Dave Silver

It was the pro women’s turn for a close finish today with just a tenth of a second separating first, second and third. In the end, Sandra Walter took the stage, followed by Ruth Holcomb and Hannah Simms, although Holcomb retained the overall lead and the yellow jersey.

In the pro men’s category, Nino Schurter edged out Peter Disera by 1 second to win the stage and take the overall lead, earning his first yellow jersey of the race. Carter Nieuwsteeg held onto third, but dropped back by more than 2 and a half minutes. Read the race report on our blog for updates on all categories.
-Photos by Max Berkowitz

Brett Tippie interviews Nino Schurter about his Day 2 win.
-Photos by Dave Silver

-Photo by Dave Silver

Welcome to the Green Room!
-Photos by Deniz Merdano and Dave Silver

Dark clouds hung ominously over Cumberland this morning after a night of rain and wind. As racers were getting ready for their third day of riding, it looked like Cumberland and its trails might be socked in for the day. But just as the Town Crier, Kevin Flesher, was preparing to perform “I Am A Mountain Biker” for racers, the rain paused. How’s that for timing?  -Photo by Ale Di Lullo

Even with the rainy cloud cover, the forest views here are stunning.
-Photo by Deniz Merdano

-Photo by Dave Silver

In spite of the weather and the slick rocks and roots that came with it, racers were all smiles at the finish line.
-Photos by Petri Miniotas

At the end of the day, in the Open Men’s Category, Nino Schurter is still in the yellow jersey though Peter Disera closed the gap a little with a Stage win by 2/1000 of a second. Max McCullough took the bronze medal this stage, but Carter Nieuwesteeg is hanging onto third overall after 3 stages.

In Open Women, Ruth Holcomb won the stage and is holding onto the top spot overall, followed by Katerina Nash, who moved up to second overall with today’s third place finish. Maghalie Rochette finished second today, but sits fifth overall. Sandra Walter is still in third overall after 3 stages.

-Photos by Deniz Merdano

For more about the top men’s and women’s race, check out Terry McKall’s Race Report on our blog.

By the time awards rolled around, the rain had cleared and the sun even peeked through the clouds, giving everyone a relatively warm and relaxing evening before another big day tomorrow.
-Photo by Deniz Merdano

Day 4 is arguably the most difficult day of the week no matter where you’re riding and racers faced a tough climb not long after leaving the start chute. No wonder they call this place Hammerfest!!

Long a favourite spot for local races, this is a new stage location for BC Bike Race and just like every community, offers its own unique flavour of riding. A fun mix of 90s jank and modern flow, Hammerfest had something for everyone. Like Cumberland, the trails exist in a working forest, so part of today’s route took everyone through a new growth area, offering views that are invisible in a mature forest.
-Photo by Deniz Merdano

Scott Countryman and Nino Schurter getting a little air time.
-Photos by Dave Silver (left) and Deniz Merdano (right)

-Photos by Dave Silver and Deniz Merdano.

It was a tough stage but with perfect riding weather—not too hot, not too cold and no rain—there were smiles all around at the finish line.
-Photo by Deniz Merdano

Just behind the start/finish chute, the spectacular Englishman River Falls, attracted a few racers. Too bad it’s still a little too cold for swimming.
-Photos by Dave Silver and Deniz Merdano

Day 4 was a moving day for our basecamp operations, so everyone had to pack up everything before heading to Hammerfest. Goodbye Cumberland, hello North Cowichan!
-Photos by Dave Silver and Deniz Merdano

The backdrop for today’s awards ceremony was Mount Prevost, which will be hosting the first ever BC Bike Fest DH race the weekend immediately following BCBR.
-Photos by Dave Silver

It doesn’t get much better than this—a kick-ass trail network nestled in a protected forest with ocean views. What a start to the day!
-Photo by Dave Silver

Our racers may be lean, mean XC machines, but they won’t shy away from hitting those sweet jumps on Cowichan’s favourite flow trail, Double D.
-Photos by Sara Kempner

Rachel Pageau from Fernie, BC, is absolutely givin’er on Bisection, one of today’s downhill rips.
-Photo by Dave Silver

The Aid Station just might be the funnest stop in the race with music, costumes and the occasional hug. Today was Western Wednesday and the crew all dressed the part.
-Photos by Dave Silver

Some images need no words.
-Photos by Deniz Merdano

Peter Disera, Nino Schurter and Carter Nieuwesteeg were a tight group after the climb up AGT to Rocky Ridge and they were rewarded with a gorgeous view, not that they saw much at the speed they were going.
-Photos by Dave Silver

Two mountain bike legends, Nino Schurter and Geoff Kabush, chat at the finish line of Stage 5.
-Photo by Deniz Merdano

The Cowichan Tzinquaw Dancers shared their drumming and dances with racers before the awards ceremony. One of their songs was the interactive Friendship Song that got a few racers out of their seats.
-Aerial photo by Dave Silver; Photos below by Deniz Merdano

It’s Day 6 of 7 and Dale Stone is still smiling! We must be doing something right.
-Photo by Sara Kempner

Spring has sprung and there’s truly no better time to ride on the Island.
-Photo by Max Berkowitz

-Photos by Dave Silver and Deniz Merdano

-Photos by Dave Silver and Deniz Merdano

It was a close finish in both the top men and women’s races, which means leaders Nino Schurter and Ruth Holcomb hang onto their yellow jerseys going into Day 7.
-Photos by Max Berkowitz

After the racing was done for the day, a few racers, including Corey Wallace decided to test out the tasty beverages at Big Bang Cider, who hosted our remote finish line.
-Photo by Deniz Merdano

Photo by Dave Silver

Despite everyone feeling tired from 6 days of racing, the energy level was out of this world at the start line. How could it be anything else with Brett Tippie on the mic? -Photo by Deniz Merdano

At 43.8 kms, the Day 7 course on Maple Mountain was far from easy but there was still an appetite for frivolity on the trails. – Photos by Dave Silver

In the end it was Nino Schurter who crossed the finish line first and received his Belt Buckle from BCBR President Dean Payne. – Photo by Carmel Ecker

Just before awards, a few of the pro athletes stepped up to present BCBR Belt Buckles to racers crossing the finish line at the 5-6 hour mark. Imagine the tired racers’ surprise!! – Photos by Deniz Merdano

The top 3 male and female riders of BCBR 2026 and our last 7-day race received a commemorative last 7-days poster as their award.
Men: Nino Schurter, Peter Disera and Carter Nieuwesteeg
Women: Ruth Holcomb, Hannah Simms and Katerina Nash
-Photos by Dave Silver

See you all in 2027!!