Season 1, Episode 13: Michael van den Ham, Part Two
From gravel roads outside Brandon, Manitoba to the start lines of the world’s biggest cyclocross races, Michael van den Ham’s career has been defined by curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to ask a simple question: what if?
In this episode of the PedalCast, part two of an amazing conversation recorded on the eve of the Cyclocross World Championships in Hulst, Netherlands — van den Ham reflects on his improbable path from riding his bike to school on the family farm to becoming a multi-time Canadian national champion and representing Canada on the world stage.
Along the way, he shares the pivotal moments that shaped his development: an early MS Ride that first caught the attention of the Manitoba cycling community, the mentors and teammates who helped open doors, and the leap of faith that took him to the United States to race stronger competition and develop the “world-class basics” required to compete internationally.
The conversation also explores the mental side of elite sport — managing expectations, learning from setbacks, and trusting the process that eventually led to breakthrough performances and national titles.
Now serving as Cycling Canada’s National Cyclocross Team Coach, van den Ham reflects on how those lessons shape the way he works with young riders today. For Canadian cyclists coming up through the ranks, he believes cyclocross remains one of the most powerful development tools in the sport.
It’s a story about taking chances, building a community around your ambitions, and discovering just how far a kid from the Prairies can go on two wheels.
Guests
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Michael van den Ham
From the grain fields and gravel roads of Brandon, Manitoba to the mud, barriers, and Belgian-style suffering of elite cyclocross, Michael van den Ham joins the PedalCast to share his journey through one of cycling’s toughest disciplines — and his new role guiding Canada’s next generation as Cycling Canada’s National Cyclocross Team Coach.
Growing up on his family’s farm outside Brandon, van den Ham first took to cycling simply as a way to get around the countryside before he could drive. An inaugural MS Ride to Riding Mountain caught the attention of the Manitoba Cycling Association, and after winning his first race at 17, a passion was ignited. While cyclocross wasn’t exactly thriving on the Prairies, a series of fortunate breaks and relentless determination carried the Manitoba farm kid to the top of Canadian cycling.
Over more than a decade of elite racing, van den Ham became one of North America’s most respected ‘cross racers. He captured four Canadian Cyclocross National Championship titles — the U23 crown in 2013 and three consecutive elite championships from 2017 to 2019 — represented Canada at eight UCI Cyclocross World Championships, spent a season racing in Belgium, and earned multiple UCI victories. Along the way, he also made his mark in gravel racing, winning the 2022 Paris to Ancaster and the 2023 Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder.
After announcing his semi-retirement from professional cyclocross in 2023, van den Ham quickly transitioned to coaching. Within days of his final season, he was already working with junior and U17 riders at the Canadian Cyclocross National Championships in Victoria. Today, as Canada’s National Cyclocross Team Coach, he’s helping shape the future of the sport — including guiding the Canadian squad at the 77th UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Hulst, Netherlands.
(photo courtesy of Canadian Cycling Magazine)