Sidney McGill's Journey from the Plains of Alberta to USCX Podiums
The young Canadian from Edmonton is making a name for herself in domestic racing
Sidney McGill has been racing cyclocross at the UCI level since 2015, so her name is one that has definitely been out there, but in 2022 she made her proper arrival on the domestic scene.
After a 4th-place finish in the mud at Rochester Day 2, McGill just missed out on the podium at Charm City on Day 2 in the mud after an epic battle against Austin Killips. Just a few weeks into the season, and folks were talking about the young rider from Alberta, Canada.
McGill capped her 2022 domestic campaign with a silver at the Pan-American Championships in Falmouth last November, and then she headed to Europe, where she scored two top 10 finishes at the Dublin and Val di Sole World Cups.
This past weekend, McGill had perhaps her best run of domestic races to date, finishing 3rd on a dry, dusty Saturday and then following it up with another 3rd as part of a Canadian sweep on Sunday, again in the mud.
I sat down to chat with McGill on Sunday in Roanoke, in what proved to be a decision that makes me look good after her great weekend of racing in Rochester this past weekend.
Interview: Sidney McGill, Live from the Plains of Alberta
Zach Schuster: You said you've been racing 'cross since 2013?
Sidney McGill: Technically, my first 'cross Nats was in 2013 in Surrey, BC. That was my first season. There have been a few on-and-off years since then, but it's been a decade now. I feel old.
Zach Schuster: You're still, what, 24?
Sidney McGill: Yeah, 24.
Zach Schuster: So you're 24, but you've been doing this for a while. And where are you from?
Sidney McGill: I'm from Edmonton, Alberta.
Zach Schuster: Van den Ham's from Manitoba, right?
Sidney McGill: Yeah, he's from 'Toba, but he lived in Alberta for a while, so when I was starting 'cross growing up, he was always out at the 'cross races. He was one of our top elite men in Alberta for a long time.
Zach Schuster: Maghs is from Quebec. There's BC, the Toronto area. You're kind of out there. What was it like growing up as a cyclist, and how did you get into the sport?
Sidney McGill: I got into the sport as a result of injury. When I was younger, I was a cross-country runner and skier. I had a bad knee injury, and doctors recommended cycling to strengthen that. I ended up liking it more than anything else, and I dropped all the other sports and just continued with cycling.
Growing up racing in Alberta, I'm from Edmonton, which is a dead-flat prairie, but the Rocky Mountains were a four-hour drive away, so it was easy to go to Canmore for a weekend trip. Lots of great mountain biking there.
Our best racing in Alberta really is cyclocross, and I think that's why I ended up falling in love with this discipline more than anything else. From the beginning of September to November, every weekend there are double headers, and they're all really fun races with good courses. The people are just so gung-ho about it. It was such a good time, I wanted to come back every year.
Zach Schuster: I think there's something about maybe the scenes that aren't the bigger ones where you have a good core group of people who are really into it, and it sounds like maybe that's kind of what you had?
Sidney McGill: Definitely. I was racing in Alberta last weekend, and it's pretty much all the same people as when I started. There are lots of new kids, but the people who I met in my first year of racing when I was 13 years old are still out racing and cheering. Everyone comes together in the fall again.
Zach Schuster: Like this!
Sidney McGill: The community reunites in Alberta, and then of course, everywhere else.
Zach Schuster: That's how I felt coming here yesterday. Someone asked me what I am up to this weekend, and it was like, "Oh, just reuniting with old friends." It's nice.
So did you mountain bike at all? I feel I remember your name from mountain biking question mark.
Sidney McGill: I was a mountain biker for a long time. I still mountain bike and race a bit. I came from a mountain biking background; that was kind of my primary thing for a while. I did a couple of years of 'cross plus mountain, and now I'm kind of transitioning to focusing on 'cross but enjoying the mountain bike and introducing a bit of road racing as well.
Zach Schuster: I know mountain biking is really big in Canada, why did you pick 'cross as the discipline you want to focus on?
Sidney McGill: After some illness, I had to make some changes early in my Junior/U23 years. Things really weren't working out great, and I had to take some time off. Everything just lined up well with the 'cross season as I was coming back. It's a lot of fun. The racing is great. There were some opportunities to go do Christmas Cross and travel overseas.
For a long time I did try to do both, but it just came down to picking one or the other, especially with health and managing fatigue. It slowly evolved. There wasn't any one decision point, it just came to this point, and I'm really happy to be racing 'cross.
Zach Schuster: Last year you really stood out because of your technical abilities. Do you see a lot of crossover with the skills you gained mountain biking? And how is it similar and different?
Sidney McGill: I think a lot of the 'cross racers who come from a mountain bike background bring over a lot of extra technical skill. We get to see it on the muddy days, especially.
I think mountain biking is a bit more gnarly and sendy with big, rocky descents. But the foundation of that comes from good handling skills, and we see those in 'cross a lot. It's different, but the foundation of the skill translates really well.
Zach Schuster: If there's a race that stands out last year, for me, I think it was Day 2 at Charm in the mud. Mountain biking is dry and dusty and gnarly, what does it take to be a good mud rider?
Sidney McGill: I think the technical skill is something you can practice and develop. For me, I think it came along from racing in Alberta and the fact it gets a little cold sooner in the year. I was racing in the mud. I was racing in the snow. Every single year. It forces practice for developing those skills. Snow and mud are a little different, but you're still learning how to handle your bike.
Zach Schuster: Another part of your skill set we've seen is you're a fast starter. Which is kind of interesting because I don't necessarily view that as the most important thing in a mountain bike race. What is your mentality at the start of these races?
Sidney McGill: I like to start fast and get into a good position. I think that's the motivation for it. Hit those first two corners, first few technical sections near the front. It's nice just to get a clean line if possible.
Honestly, it comes back to Alberta racing again. We had holeshot prizes at every race.
Zach Schuster: That's the answer.
Sidney McGill: The real reason is that you got an extra $20 or a bag of coffee. I was 14, so my parents got a case of beer if I hit that first corner first, so you best believe I was going for that holeshot. It's still how I start.
Zach Schuster: There was one race I did where there was a holeshot prime, and this guy rolls up and he's like, "Hey, I'm not on the front row, I just want the holeshot prime." Takes the holeshot and just drops back. I looked and he finished like 20th. I was like, "Kudos to you, sir. You told us what you were going to do, and congratulations."
Sidney McGill: We had people like that too. You show up, you go for the holeshot, and the rest of the race is just a fun ride.
Zach Schuster: Last year, I think you were one of the people who stood out, making a name for yourself domestically. Did you feel that? What are your thoughts on how your season went last year?
Sidney McGill: That's interesting. I was pretty happy with my season last year. I felt a good progression from the year before. Honestly, I just had a lot of really great battles and got to be in the mix a bit. I didn't have any podiums; just Pan-Ams I think.
Zach Schuster: You didn't podium at Charm?
Sidney McGill: I was 4th in a sprint.
Zach Schuster: In my remembrance, you finished 3rd, so congratulations.
Sidney McGill: Thanks. It's ok. I was 4th, but I had one of the best times in that race. I was battling with Austin [Killips], and we had a lot of fun.
Last year was a great time. Overall, I'm just happy to see the progression year to year, and I'm hoping to see a little more this year.
Zach Schuster: Was there any moment where you felt like things were coming together, or was it just that slow progression? Some people talk about breakthroughs, but a lot of people are like, "Yeah, I got a little bit better. Now I'm finishing 4th instead of 6th."
Sidney McGill: I think there were a couple of races in that season. Day 2 at Rochester, again in the mud, I was battle in 2nd, 3rd, 4th place. It was another one where I didn't have it in the final meters, but it was a big jump from the day before. That was my first race in the States that year, so I was coming in blind. To see I could be in that position and battling was great.
Then Charm would be the other one. Following Annemarie [Worst] for a lap. One lap. I think there were a few of those glimmers of seeing progress.
Zach Schuster: It's raining more. I assume you're getting more excited as we're sitting here.
Sidney McGill: I'm trying not to jinx it and talk about it too much. I was definitely hoping for some rain for today. We'll see how it actually goes on the course, but no matter what my result is, if it's raining out, I'm having more fun and it will be a good day.
Zach Schuster: You hooked up with the Cervelo - Orange Living team. I imagine you're pretty excited about this opportunity?
Sidney McGill: Yes, I am very very happy. I was chatting with Chris [McGovern] throughout last season, and when I heard about this coming together, I was really interested and I was excited to see what happens with it. I just showed up on Thursday, got everything together, and it's been fantastic. I'm loving the bike; it's my dream bike, probably. Everyone's awesome. The setup is incredible. It's been a great start to the season.
Zach Schuster: When I talked to Chris, he said you have ambitions beyond the scope of the program. What are those ambitions in the sport this year and long term?
Sidney McGill: I did read that in the interview, and I believe that's referencing my goals with World Cup racing. I'll do the full USCX series, and then after that I'll head to Europe and do some World Cups. I don't think the entire team will be around for the entire World Cup season, so I think that's where I'll be on my own for a little bit with the support of the team.
My goal for the year is to do the USCX and then head to Europe. Race the World Cups in France, Ireland, France, Italy, Namur. It's a whole series of races that I'm really excited for.
Zach Schuster: It seems like Canadian off-road cycling is really coming into its own. What does it mean to you to be a part of a program that has been building over the years?
Sidney McGill: It's been amazing to see. I'm so excited to see cycling in Canada growing. We've gotten some results. Obviously the Holmgrens; everyone knows them now. The Stimulus team put in so much effort and time into bringing up kids in racing. Maghs has been an amazing role model for years. I'm just happy I get to hang out around all these awesome people and be inspired by them. Hopefully we're helping inspire more Canadians to get into racing.
Zach Schuster: Maghalie is kind of part of this program, and it sounds like she's already kind of providing some mentorship. What has it meant to you to have her around for so long?
Sidney McGill: It's been really nice to have Maghs around, hanging out together.
Zach Schuster: Conveniently as she walks by.
[To Maghalie] We're talking about you.
Maghalie Rochette: I can go away.
Sidney McGill: Only great things, don't you worry.
Zach Schuster: Can we say one bad thing about Maghalie Rochette?
Sidney McGill: She went to a concert without me.
Maghalie Rochette: I did look it up, and there are some shows that are close to our next races.
Zach Schuster: Who was it?
Maghalie Rochette: It's Charlotte Cardin. She's a really good Canadian artist. I didn't know Sid loves her too, and yesterday she brought the music and started playing the album, and I was like, "Oh my gosh. I went to the concert last week!"
Sidney McGill: We found out yesterday that we have some similar music tastes, so I think we might be bumping that for a while in the tent.
But yeah, it's been great to have Maghs around. She obviously has a lot of experience in cyclocross. She's a great person to learn from. I get to pre-ride with her a little bit and just chat. She's able to share her wisdom and knowledge, and it's been great.
Zach Schuster: Well thank you, this has been great to chat.
Hooray, a fellow (sister?) Hole Shot Queen! Delightful to get to know Sidney this way. Hugs from the lower 48 and I'll be cheering for you, Sidney!
I think kudos is due to the whole CX Hairs Team who have always really supported women riders and really championed equality in the sport. Great interview with Sidney and looking forward to all the favourite Canadians making it to Europe.Also props to Sidney for giving Austin a mention.