Upon winning the Enduro World Cup's (EDR) recent mid-May contest in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, Elly Hoskin didn't know she had made history.
It was not until she arrived home in Squamish that a friend broke the news via text message: Hoskin is the first woman who doesn't hail from Great Britain or France to strike gold at an elite-level EDR race. Ever.
When asked if the feat has sunk in yet, she replied: "A little bit? I don't know. I feel like the same me, and I feel like I rode the same. That's a huge achievement, and I didn't know that was even on the line so it's pretty cool to do. I really like the trails in Poland and I think they played on my strengths a bit: they're quite [pedalling-heavy], you have to generate your own speed and [deal with] fast technical stuff. My goal was to stay in the top 15 … but really it was just to enjoy myself and do my best."
Hoskin doesn't check her results on any given race day. She had been in a razor-close battle with Germany's Raphaela Richter for top spot, but Richter injured her shoulder at a key moment. Unaware of this, Hoskin won in 26 minutes and 46.980 seconds: well clear of second-place Ella Conolly (27:32.803) and Morgane Charre in third (27:38.834).
Connolly represents Great Britain and Charre rides for France. Hoskin often feels "like an imposter" next to them, but says they are two of the nicest people she's met—as is her steadfast coach, Adam Walker.
"Oh, man, I cannot say enough good things about coach Adam," Hoskin said, becoming emotional in the process. "He has been my coach for four years now and I think I talk to him as much as I talk to my parents. He's on the phone with me before every race and after every race. He's just really been there for me, and I'm really lucky to have him as a coach."
Putting Canada on the map
The Sea to Sky has produced its quota of great enduro riders like 2022 Enduro World Series (EWS) king Jesse Melamed. His fellow local veteran, Andréane Lanthier Nadeau, has mentored Hoskin for years and continues to be a source of support.
"Canada is such a force in enduro and I think this [achievement] just brings more light to that," remarked Hoskin. "That's all you can ever want to do: pave the way for other people and put Canada on the map. Hopefully it opens some doors for some other female Canadian athletes.
"ALN had a really hard day out there, [finishing 27th in Poland], but she came and gave me a big hug … that felt very full circle and emotional. She's so tough, and that is something I think matters so much in enduro—probably one of the biggest reasons I love the sport. A lot of time it's not perfect, and it's mostly just making the best of the situation. [Nadeau] is the Canadian enduro athlete who inspires a lot of people, and she's been so good to me as I've been coming up. I can't thank her enough for everything she's done."
Hoskin has learned to invest in the process, not just chase results like she often did as a junior. Despite being competitive as ever, she no longer feels a successful race has to produce a medal.
Ironically, that pressure-free mindset buoyed her to the top of her career's grandest podium to date—an outcome she lightheartedly describes as "some kind of sick joke."
Now it's time for some well-earned R&R: Hoskin doesn't plan to go back to the World Cup until June's end. She wants to give her body a chance to recuperate after an injury-plagued 2024.
"It's really hard for a lot of North Americans to do a full season in Europe … also, the two rounds I'm skipping are not my favourite venues," Hoskin said. "This year, my priority was just finding the love of racing, and I think you have to pull away a bit to want it some more.
"I always vouch for an approach that values longevity, and—as funny as it is—now that I have this result, I'm getting the platform to share that it's not all about results. Sport teaches you a lot of things and competition is tremendous, but it has to be taken with a solid approach and a good support system. If there's anything I can do, it's just to help other people when things get hard."
