Canadian cyclist Isabella Holmgren, just 20 years old, has achieved an extraordinary feat. Only weeks after winning the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes 2025, she climbed to the very top of the cycling world by becoming the U23 MTB World Champion at the 2025 UCI World Championships.
A historic back-to-back performance
Holmgren’s triumph at the Tour de l’Avenir, one of the most prestigious races for young riders, already turned heads. She dominated from the prologue, excelled in the mountain stages, and sealed her victory with a powerful final time trial, taking not only the overall classification but also the mountain and young rider titles.
But instead of taking a break, Holmgren kept her momentum. Just weeks later, on the demanding and technical MTB courses, she showcased her remarkable versatility by winning both the cross-country (XCO) and short track (XCC) events, claiming the U23 World Championship.
A double achievement that makes headlines
This back-to-back success — first on the road, then on the mountain bike — highlights Holmgren’s exceptional talent and her ability to excel across two very different cycling disciplines. In just one month, she went from being a rising star in the women’s peloton to a global reference among young cyclists.
A bright future ahead
Riding for Lidl-Trek, Holmgren continues her meteoric rise. With her already impressive palmarès enriched by this spectacular double victory, the coming seasons promise even more outstanding achievements. Isabella Holmgren is now an unmissable figure in international cycling, inspiring a whole generation of young riders.
