Landrie McLain, a 17-year-old Bella Vista, Arkansas resident and member of the Bear National Team, is set to compete at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland next month. She will represent the US in the World Championship Cross Country Olympic (XCO) Junior Women’s race on September 12, marking the first time a rider from the Bentonville area has earned a spot on the World Championship start line.
Originally from Bossier, Louisiana, McLain lived there for 12 years before moving to Arkansas specifically to pursue mountain bike training opportunities. She’s called Bella Vista home for the past five years and says the move has been pivotal for her development.
“There are hundreds of miles of trails in Northwest Arkansas (NWA), with all different types of terrain and levels of difficulty,” she told Singletracks via email. “I can leave my house and immediately hop on the trail, which is super convenient because I don’t have to drive to reach technical trails. There is a whole amazing community of cyclists in the NWA area, and they provide many different levels of group rides, making training more enjoyable while also meeting new people!”
The announcement comes less than three years after USA Cycling officially named Bentonville, Arkansas, the “Home of the U.S. National Mountain Bike Team” in 2022. That designation highlighted the region’s growing reputation as a world-class riding and training destination, and McLain’s selection underscores the role local resources can play in developing elite athletes.
Last year, Singletracks visited a USA Cycling training session in Bentonville focused on technical skills and jumping. There, McLain’s Bear National Team teammate Makena Kellerman said, “I’ve never had a whole area where you could practice drops and do jumps and have different lines. So it’s really cool to see the progression you can make out there [in] a small spot.” Kellerman will be competing at next month’s World Championships too, in the U23 category.
Technical trails await in Switzerland
When asked about racing on the international stage, McLain is clearly stoked. “I’ve never been to Switzerland before, so I’m super excited to see what the trails are like! I’ve heard they are super technical and rocky, which is my favorite kind of terrain!”
Her debut on the World Championship course in Switzerland will be a milestone not just for her career, but also for the Bentonville cycling community.
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