Isabella Holmgren at a training camp in Girona, Spain, January. Photo by Sean Hardy.

In Conversation with Isabella Holmgren

By Jody Wilson

Raised on the trails of Simcoe County and now racing across Europe, World Champion cyclist Bella Holmgren reflects on family, ambition, and the road ahead.

At just 20 years old, Orillia’s own Isabella (Bella) Holmgren has rapidly ascended to become one of cycling’s brightest rising stars. Growing up in Oro-Medonte, cycling has always been a family affair: Isabella, her twin sister Ava, and their brother Gunnar all compete as professionals, supported by parents with deep roots in coaching and competitive racing.

Bella’s career began on the local mountain bike trails and quiet backroads of Simcoe County. Today, she splits her time between international competition and the world-class training grounds of Girona, Spain, racing for the elite Lidl-Trek and Trek-Unbroken programs.

What Bella has achieved in the last few years is extraordinary: five World Championship Rainbow jerseys (spanning cyclocross, cross-country, and short track), multiple Canadian National titles, a Pan American Championship, and a dominant string of U23 World Cup victories through 2024 and 2025.

This spring, we caught up with Bella in Europe as she prepared for the upcoming season. She shared insights on the role family plays in her success, the moment she realized she wanted to turn pro, and the hurdles she has had to navigate as a young woman in the sport. She also discloses her favourite training partner and local Orillia café for the best coffee.

JODY WILSON: You come from a family where bicycles and cycling play a huge part of your life. What is your earliest childhood memory of bikes and riding, and how important were they in your younger years?

ISABELLA HOLMGREN: Growing up, my parents and all of my siblings rode bikes. Because of this, it was an important part of my childhood since it was how we spent family time together. My earliest memories would be from the Hardwood Wednesday night race series. We would pile into the minivan with all of the bikes, race one of the courses, and then have pizza and watermelon afterwards.

JW: Growing up in Orillia (Simcoe County), where was your favourite place to train and ride?

IH: I’m very fortunate to have grown up in the Orillia and Oro-Medonte region because of the big trail system that’s maintained by the Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club (SCMBC). To this day, they are still some of my favourite trails to ride on. The road riding consists mostly of straight lines and 90-degree turns, but I love it nonetheless (especially the Friday morning group rides!).

The Holmgren sisters go gold and bronze at the 2024 XCC World Cup in Pal Arinsal, Andorra—Isabella Holmgren first, her sister Ava Holmgren third; Ella Maclean-Howell of Great Britain second. Photo by Ross Bell.

JW: When did you realize you wanted to race bikes professionally? Is there a stand-out moment?

IH: It is hard for me to pinpoint an exact moment in which I realized I could race bikes professionally. I think I simply enjoyed the training and racing, and once I was given the opportunity to race my bike for a living, it was an easy choice to make.

JW: Spending so much of your time on the road and training in Europe, how do (did) you manage your school schedule and work?

IH: I went to a very small high school, which was favourable for my unconventional schedule. My teachers were extremely flexible and helpful. They would let me take tests earlier or later depending on my racing, and they took their time to have virtual meetings with me if I needed help and clarification on a topic. For the most part, I was able to follow from afar, and I definitely learned how to get the most out of a textbook.

JW: As a young woman going through the process of elite cycling and racing, what do you feel was the hardest obstacle you’ve had to overcome to get where you are today?

IH: I’ve been very fortunate to have an easier path to get to where I am today. I was able to make cycling my job right out of high school, something that would be unimaginable for women a couple years back. The biggest challenge would have to be getting a visa to be able to spend more than 90 days in the EU. It’s still a challenge to this day, and finding a solution for athletes in a similar position would be fabulous.

JW: What is it like racing and training alongside your twin sister Ava?

IH: Being able to race and train alongside Ava is, without a question, what I am most grateful for. Having a twin is special because even if you have a bad day, you can be so happy for the other person’s accomplishments. It’s not always easy living far from home, but having Ava with me makes it exponentially easier. Even though we can get on each other’s nerves sometimes, I still much prefer a day spent with her rather than without her.

Clockwise from left:  Bella takes double-gold at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Photo by Ross Bell; With family and friends at Hardwood Hills Ski & Bike; With family and friends at the 2022 Olympic Summer Games in Paris, France.

JW: In a short period of time, you have acquired a crazy number of National, International and World Championship titles in both Cyclocross and MTB. What has been your favourite professional cycling memory to date?

IH: I have too many favourite moments to only choose one. Some that stand out would be the MSA MTB World Cup this year. My family and friends came to watch, which is always special, but it was also the last race of the season, so I really put all that was left in the tank into the weekend knowing that there was time to rest and enjoy time at home afterwards. Another notable race for me was the Giro d’Italia. It was my first Grand Tour, and it made me realize how much I love to suffer many days in a row.

JW: In 2022–2023 you became the World Junior Cyclocross Champion. Can you walk us through the feeling of putting on the World Champion Rainbow Jersey for the first time? How did it feel? Had you ever dreamt it would happen to you?

IH: To be completely honest, winning the World Junior Cyclocross Championships in 2023 wasn’t even something I thought was possible. I think that’s why I was so overcome with emotion. Other than the feeling of happiness seeing Ava cross the line in 2nd and having my parents and friends there watching, I felt a lot of gratitude. There were many Canadians before us that paved the way and inspired us to accomplish this. I was also extremely grateful for the staff and mechanics that worked tirelessly that entire winter in cold and wet conditions to ensure our bikes were top notch. I was fortunate to share that win with all of them.

JW: What events are you looking forward to in 2026? Will Canadian cycling fans see you at Road Worlds in Montreal this September?

IH: I’m very excited for the 2026 racing season. I will be combining road with Lidl-Trek and mountain biking with Trek- Unbroken again this year, but I will have a road focus for the beginning of the season and then look more towards MTB in the summer. However, being selected for Road Worlds in Montreal is definitely a big goal. It’s a very rare experience to race at home, never mind a World Championships for Canadian cyclists, so I really want to be on the start line. To make it even more special, the Canadians would be defending the Elite Women’s road title after Magdeleine’s [Vallières] win in Rwanda!

Isabella Holmgren wins gold at the 2025 Mont-Sainte-Anne XC World Cup U23. Photo by Ross Bell.

JW: With a shift away from cyclocross this past fall/winter to focus more on road/MTB, what’s in store for the next few years? Is there a possibility we will see you in the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with your Team Lidl-Trek? Do you have your sights set on representing Canada at the Summer Olympics in LA in 2028, maybe both MTB and Road?

IH: Taking a step away from cross this past winter was a tough decision, but I knew it was the right one, especially after spending Christmas at home with my entire family for the first time in at least eight years. The break from racing through the winter allows for more focus on the combination between road and MTB, which is a great benefit. In the coming years, racing the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with Lidl-Trek would be a big dream and goal of mine, and the same goes for competing in both the MTB and Road in LA 2028.

JW: A few final simple questions. If you could only have one training partner, who would it be?

IH: If I could only have one training partner, it would definitely be Ava. We can enjoy each other’s company on a ride, but we can also “ride alone” when we’re together if we are fed up with one another.

JW: Currently, where is your favourite place to ride your bike (anywhere in the world)?

IH: It’s a very general answer, but I love riding in the mountains in France, Italy and Switzerland. I also enjoyed the scenery in Scotland when I was there for Super Worlds, so I would love to discover that country some more. Reading this back, I also thought about the days spent in Victoria riding the MTB trails, so that has to be added to the list as well.

JW: We all know cyclists love cafés and coffee culture. When you are home, what is your favourite local café to ride to (and your brother’s coffee at home doesn’t count, even though it may be the best)?

IH: My favourite café at home (and probably in the whole world) is Mark IV Brothers in Orillia. The owner, James, can make an awesome coffee, and he recently got his own roasting machine, so it’s always a treat when we get a bag of his coffee brought here to Girona when friends/family visit! He is also a very kind person, so visiting the café when I’m back is, without fail, one of the highlights of being at home. E