A Monumental Day at Mountain Bike Nationals!

The 2025 Nationals were in Roanoke, West Virginia, a beautiful part of the country, but at this time of the year, it comes with a side of heat and oppressive humidity, just one of many challenges out on the race course.

Sitting on the start line at Noon was Isaac Sproule, who had just placed 3rd in the Short Track(XCC) race just 2 days prior, and you could tell he wanted more. He had been dominating his category (13-14) for the past several races by literally riding other riders off his wheel. Isaac knew 3rd place wasn’t what he came for. He had another shot, and he was confident in both his preparation and ability.

At 12:15, the start whistle goes off, and Isaac sprints from the line. By the time he came around for his first lap, he had 15 seconds on his nearest competitor and a look in his eyes that said there was no way anyone was going to pass him for this win. Even with a minor crash in the last lap and a bit of celebration at the finish line, Isaac took his first National Championships by 22 seconds. It was amazing to see the smiles and pure joy of not only him but also his sister, Ellen, and brother, Aaron, share in this huge achievement at the finish line. 

The scene at the finish was electric, with Isaac’s pure joy matched by the smiles of his sister, Ellen, and brother, Aaron, who celebrated this monumental moment alongside him.

We had the opportunity to interview Isaac about his experience:

Isaac began riding in 2023 and jumped into racing that fall. "We decided we were going to Nationals early winter [2024]," so he committed to focused training, including a month in Arizona, and a strong race season leading up to Nationals. His impressive prep paid off with podium finishes in both Temecula and Missoula, building his confidence ahead of the big event. "After Temecula, I kinda had an idea of where I stood in the category, and so going into other races, I had higher hopes".

Heading into the Nationals XCO race, Isaac knew it suited his strengths better than short track. "I was a little better at XCO, but I was nervous because there was one kid I had never raced before that seemed really good at XCO... But I felt good. I had a good warm-up and rested for a few days... So yeah, I felt really good!" Isaac's strategy was "To be in the top 5 going into the single track, and I ended up being in 3rd, and I was thinking, stay with the group for the first lap... Then, if I was able to break away at the end of the first or second lap, then I would do that". He slotted into third and soon broke away like he planned, likely on a technical climb during the first lap.

He pushed through fatigue and a small crash in lap two, repeating to himself, “You’re in first place, you have to keep pushing!” As he crested the final hill and hit the pavement, it hit him—he was about to become a national champion!

Isaac credits his win to strong preparation, pre-rides, and focused training with Coach Kevin, support from Coach Tom Ryse, and his unwavering crew: his family and Team Booger!

While he’s not yet sure of his 2026 goals, he’s looking ahead to the NICA season and continuing to race locally. After Nationals? It was right back to work on the family farm—national champ or not, Isaac continues to work hard.

Isaac’s victory is not only a huge personal achievement but also a historic milestone as the first National Championship in Team Booger history. We take pride in providing the resources and support to help athletes like Isaac reach their full potential, and we are beyond grateful to him for bringing home this incredible and historic win!