Fernie’s own Hugh McDougall (yellow jersey above) delivered a breakout performance at the 2025 Ghost of the Gravel, Alberta’s premier gravel race and this year’s official Canadian Gravel Championships, held Sunday, June 15, in Water Valley, Alberta.
Racing in the Junior Men’s category, McDougall finished an impressive 4th place with a time of 3:58:13, just over 14 minutes behind the national title. Competing as an independent rider, his result places him among the top young gravel cyclists in the country.
The championship route—known as the Scary Ghost—is a 118-kilometre crucible of climbing, grit, and sheer willpower. Riders faced 6,800 feet of elevation gain across remote ranchlands, ridge climbs, and loose, technical descents. The conditions were classic Alberta foothills: unpredictable, rugged, and relentless.
“It was full gas from the start,” said McDougall. “Everyone was attacking early, and it just didn’t let up. I’m proud to have held strong and represented Fernie on the national stage.”
McDougall’s performance highlights not just his endurance and bike-handling skill, but his grit and tactical maturity—qualities that have earned him respect on the local and provincial race scene. As gravel cycling continues to surge in popularity across Canada, athletes like Hugh are helping put Fernie on the map as a hub for high-performance gravel cycling.
With the Junior Nationals behind him, McDougall sets his sights on the rest of the summer race calendar and looks ahead to the Fernie Gravel Grind on July 5th. One thing is certain: this is only the beginning for one of Fernie’s fastest.
Photos: Cody Shimizu
