A Maple Ridge mountain bike racer will compete in the world championships next month in Italy.
Lauren Rosser is a professional downhill mountain biker racer who will compete in the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, taking place in Val di Sole from Aug. 26 to 30. After a recent comeback, she’ll be racing against the world’s best riders.
“I’ve trained and worked hard for this opportunity, and want to be able to show up and give it my all against the best of the best,” she said online.
After a decade away from pro racing, Rosser came back last year. She has been winning Canada Cup downhill events in B.C. this summer, taking three races in her first three starts in the Dunbar Summer Series, in races at Fernie, Kicking Horse and Sun Peaks.
Last weekend she took second in the elite women class at the Canadian Downhill Championships at Sun Peaks, in a field of 13 riders.
Val di Sole is known for its dramatic alpine landscapes, passionate crowds, and legendary courses – including the infamous “Black Snake” downhill track. It has developed a strong reputation among the mountain bike community over the years, as it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2008, 2016, and 2021, and is also a longstanding host of the discipline’s UCI World Cup.
Rosser is seeking financial assistance with the cost of travel and accommodations, and has an online fundraiser at gofundme.com.