On the age of 18, Ava Holmgren was already a two-time Canadian elite ladies’s cyclocross champion. She had a silver medal from Cyclocross World Championships as a junior, and stood on the rostrum alongside her twin sister Isabella, who secured the gold. Sure, she competes on the highway, too, and had a fourth on GC and the youth classification title on the prestigious Watersley Girls Problem in 2022.
She, together with twin sister Isabella, are the youngest of 5 youngsters to folks Rob and Lisa Holmgren, each achieved cyclists themselves, who frequented trails simply north of Toronto on the Hardwood Ski and Bike recreation centre with their brood. Brother Gunnar, who’s six years older than the twins, is a mountain bike skilled and received the lads’s MTB cross-country title on the 2023 Pan-American Video games. He has been an inspiration for his youngest sisters, however biking can also be a part of their DNA.
When she and ‘Bella’ went 1-2 at Cyclocross Worlds for Canada earlier this yr, making historical past as the primary riders of any age to win world championship medals in cyclocross for the nation, she stated, “we did it”. It was all about household, it was all about group.
Ava will make her professional biking debut in 2024 on the WorldTour stage with Lidl-Trek, which is able to enable her to race with Isabella for 2 years as effectively. Ava stated becoming a member of Lidl-Trek was a ‘good match’. Her new teammates will quickly be capable of simply distinguish between the fraternal twins, with Ava’s most blatant bodily traits being peak, she is the shorter of the duo, and speech, she has a a lot deeper voice.
She shared with Cyclingnews her particular person story about driving bikes yr spherical throughout three disciplines, which self-discipline is her favorite and what plans are on the horizon with Lidl-Trek.
Cyclingnews: You’ve been driving a motorcycle because you have been very younger, as your dad and mom and siblings have been aggressive because you have been small. Inform us how you bought began.
Ava Holmgren: Driving in our weekly race sequence was a household exercise that we did at a really younger age. We all the time had the selection to not go if we did not need to trip our bikes. That wasn’t the case for me as a result of I really like driving my bike. Nonetheless, I nonetheless did a number of sports activities rising up, and aggressive swimming was essentially the most outstanding.
CN: Who in your loved ones influenced you essentially the most?
AH: Bella (my twin sister) is the one in my household that influences me essentially the most. We’re very aggressive, and it has confirmed to be one of many greatest benefits in our coaching. Having a twin sister in the identical sport that you simply do is tough but in addition rewarding.
CN: On the 2022-23 CX Worlds in February within the ladies’s junior races at Hoogerheide, you received the silver medal and your sister took the gold. How massive was that?
AH: The 2022-2023 ‘cross season was such an exhilarating block of racing. I had probably the greatest seasons of my life and did very effectively within the Junior World Cups, typically beating my sister. Bella would normally beat me on the second day of racing and in a few actually robust races. On the day of the World Championships, she was the most effective!
CN: You’ve two Canadian CX titles as an elite and you’re simply 18. How particular is it to put on the maple leaf jersey?
AH: It is rather particular to me. I’m barely biased, however I feel Canada has probably the greatest flags for a nationwide champion’s jersey. I need to signify it effectively in Europe this yr!
CN: After a pair of Pan-Am CX titles as a junior, you moved to U23 this yr and received silver in Missoula, Montana. Your sister opted to race Pan-Ams within the elite race and received. Inform us the way you each resolve which class to race. Is there a way to this?
AH: The entire class switch-up began once I upgraded to the Elite class at Nationals final yr. I upgraded as a result of I had already received Pan-Ams and would put on that jersey whereas racing in Europe. There have been extra factors on the road and in addition a jersey that I might put on whereas racing elite World Cups. I didn’t need to improve to the Elite class for this yr’s Pan-Ams as a result of I used to be nonetheless getting again into type from my harm [broken collarbone prior to MTB Worlds in Scotland].
Bella determined to improve for elite Pan Ams this yr as a result of she was in superb type and had an excellent shot at successful. She additionally determined that after successful the Elite Pan American jersey, she wished to remain within the U23 class at nationals. Due to this fact, she might put on the Maple leaf at U23 races/podiums then the Pan Am jersey at Elite races/podiums.
CN: You talked about the harm that saved you out of MTB Worlds in August. Inform us about not being a part of Crew Canada for Junior Street Worlds, which was additionally in Glasgow 5 days earlier.
AH: I haven’t raced a Street World Championships. The choice standards is based on Nationals and I used to be sick this yr. I used to be very shocked once I wasn’t chosen as a result of Bella and I have been by far the most effective Canadian juniors within the European races. It was a giant purpose of mine to race there and the course regarded arduous and technical, simply how I prefer it!
CN: So what are the three phrases to explain your 2023?
AH: Ups and downs.
CN: Nicely, one of many main ‘ups’ was signing a two-year, skilled contract with LIdl-Trek. How do you need to develop on the high tier with this group?
AH: I’d wish to develop as an entire as a result of there are lots of vital points to knowledgeable athlete that aren’t simply racing. Issues like working with media, day-to-day life, conferences, and many others. I need to have the ability to navigate these items comfortably by the tip of the season so as to discover the fitting steadiness.
I’d like to enhance in lots of issues, particularly the best way to trip as a group. I really feel just like the junior years have been extra like ‘each lady for herself’ at occasions. Having teammates could be very thrilling to me and I’m wanting ahead to studying from them and dealing with them!
CN: What’s your high purpose for 2024 with Lidl-Trek?
AH: My greatest purpose is to progress in lots of points. I’m additionally bold to trip the Tour de L’Avenir.
CN: In two years, the place would you wish to be in your biking profession?
AH: Hopefully, signing one other contract with Lidl-Trek!
CN: What are the distinguishing ‘skills’ that separate you out of your sister?
AH: I take into consideration techniques extra typically than her, whereas she normally goes as arduous as she will (and drops me).
CN: Off the bike, what makes you totally different from Bella?
AH: Off of the bike, we have now a few totally different pursuits. I like to make use of my inventive aspect with artwork and music when she would use it for baking and cooking. I feel that I are typically much less shy than her, till she opens up. Nonetheless, we do share lots of the identical qualities and pursuits!
CN: What’s your dream occasion to trip, and your dream occasion to win?
AH: My dream occasion to win is the World Championships. I’d like to trip the Tour de France. After watching the lads’s race rising up, it has been a dream of mine to race it for a really very long time. Fortunately, we have now the Tour de France Femmes and now the women can watch and be impressed similar to I’m.
CN: You trip so many disciplines – CX, MTB and highway. In the event you had someday to only trip for enjoyable – not race or prepare – which bike would you select?
AH: I might positively select my MTB. There’s nothing else that compares to a superbly satisfying movement path with jumps, berms, and options.
CN: Now that you’re out of highschool, what pursuits, in addition to biking, do you have got for your self?
AH: I simply graduated highschool and I’m taking a bit of break. I’m presently making an attempt to show myself some fundamental Spanish as a result of I shall be renting in Girona.
CN: Down the highway, what do you assume you’d love to do in addition to biking?
AH: I’m not totally positive but, however I take pleasure in expressing my inventive aspect with artwork and music. I may see myself taking over a job that includes biking ultimately.