Canadian Michael van den Ham grew up on his family’s grain farm in Brandon, Manitoba, first discovering cycling as a way to traverse the countryside before he could drive. He started working in a bike shop at age 16, and a year later he entered (and won) his first bike race. Though he spends his summers racing everything from criteriums to gravel events and endurance mountain bike races, his true love has always been cyclocross, a discipline where he has won three elite national championships and represented Canada at the UCI World Championships on eight occasions. In 2023, “MVDH” took the overall victory at the five-stage Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder with three stage wins and two second-place finishes.

TeamGravel
HometownBrandon, Manitoba, Canada
Where you live nowChilliwack, BC, Canada
Other team/group affiliationsEaston Overland (Gravel, MTB) Easton-Giant p/b Transitions LifeCare (Cyclocross)
Top Results
  • 4-time Canadian cyclocross national champion
  • 6 UCI Cyclocross race wins
  • 7 times representing Canada at Cyclocross World Championships
  • 3rd at 2024 Canadian Gravel National Championships
  • 1st at 2023 Rebecca's Private Idaho Gravel Stage 3
  • 1st at 2022 Paris to Ancaster
  • 2nd at 2018 Mid South Gravel (Oklahoma)
Main cycling disciplinesCyclocross, Gravel, MTB
Favorite bikeGiant TCX Advanced Pro
Current favorite cycling gearGloves! That’s pretty vague, but I love gloves. I probably bring 5-6 different weight gloves to every ‘cross race. Usually I end up in the 100% iTrack gloves, but I like knowing I have enough options to keep my hands warm regardless of the conditions.
Favorite place to rideI love where I live, so Chilliwack!
Dream destinationCroatia to ride, Peru to visit
What are you carrying on a long ride?Pump, multi-tool, phone, and of course snacks! I prefer Dino Sours, but cookies are fine in a pinch.
Tips for new ridersJust ride, have fun, and remember that every person on the trail who looks like a pro was a beginner once too
If you could ride with one person, living or dead, it would beTwo years ago I did a bike packing trip with my dad and my two brothers into the Black Hills in South Dakota. It was the first time we’d ever all ridden together and honestly, I would just want to do something like that again.
Words to live byDon’t be afraid to make mistakes for the things you care about. Talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling - Bill Belichick.