Meet Rach (they/them)
Rach has been racing full-time as a professional athlete since 2011. They are a 5-time Ironman 70.3 Champion, 4-time Unbound 200 Gravel Nonbinary Champion, and have numerous podium and course record results across several distances in the triathlon and gravel racing.
Known as the “Purple Tiger,” Rach is a swim-bike powerhouse. They have logged 11 Ironman 70.3 fastest bike splits and have come off the bike in the lead 10 times. Since competing in the inaugural Lifetime Grand Prix, they have stacked up non-binary wins at gravel majors such as Unbound 200, Leadville 100 MTB, Midsouth, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Gravel Worlds, and Big Sugar.
Deemed "the most interesting [person] in triathlon" by TRS Radio, Rach is the first professional triathlete to be out as gender non-binary. They hold two graduate degrees in genetics and are an accomplished cellist, having toured the US and performed in Europe with various bands. In their “free time”, Rach coaches triathletes and works in sexual health education and advocacy in the beautiful ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, as well as the Stz’uminus and Stó:lō First Nations (Vancouver, Canada), where they live and train.
SPONSORS
my journey would not be possible without a network of support.
Thank you to the following partners.
SMITH OPTICS
Designed by athletes, for everyone to #pursueyourthrill.
TOPO ATHLETIC
Topo Athletic offers a range of footwear designed to provide a natural fit and feel for your run.
Use discount code TOPOMCBRIDE25
varlo sports
Varlo brand provides modern and functional solutions for everyday living.
Use discount code RACH15
shimano
Just as gravel is composed of quartz, stones, sands, and clays, gravel riders are a mixture of ethnicities, genders, and orientations. Diverse in shape and level of fitness, but united in passion. That is the magic of gravel riding. A community strengthened by individuality. So, go on, get out there, and join us in celebrating all those that are United In Gravel.
watch
listen
read
Washington Post: Endurance sports make a life-changing update for nonbinary athletes
Sports Illustrated: Living Nonbinary in a Binary Sports World
Shondaland: Nonbinary Pro Triathlete Rach McBride Is Following Their Passion — and It’s Taking Them Everywhere
Sport Beyond the Binary - Topo Athletic Blog
Nuun Life: Rach McBride Talks Gravel, Hydration, and Canadian Adventures
Triathlete: Rach McBride Didn’t Intend to Become a Non-Binary Gender Advocate for Triathlon
Unique interview with Innervoice.life
TT Tuesday: Relentless Rach McBride’s super-fast ride
Tri Mag Canada: 5 Questions: Rachel McBride is Kona bound
Tri Mag Canada: McBride takes fourth at Ironman New Zealand
Rach McBride wins the Cascade Gravel Grinder 3-day stage race
Red Bull 400 – Straight Up
career highlights
RESULTS & UPCOMING
2026 Race Calendar
March - midsouth gravel
April - The Traka
May - unbound xl
july - Challenge ROth relay (swim)
July - The Rift Iceland
Remainder TBD
2025 results
Midsouth gravel
cancelled due to brush fires :’(
9th F - Paris2ancaster, UCI gravel world series
1st NB - oregon gravel epic
1st NB - west coast gravel
1st NB - stetina’s paydirt
1st NB - unbound 200
4x winner!
6th F - canadian gravel national champs
Powered back to 6th after a flat tire
1st NB - sbt grvl
1st NB - fernie gravel grind
2nd NB - Foco fondo
Another flat!
1st NB - gravel worlds, gravel earth series
2nd NB - rebecca’s private idaho, gravel earth series
Lost the W with 3 flats and other mechanicals on the final stage of the Queen’s Stage Race, after winning the 1st 2 races.
2nd F - Mammoth Tuff, UCI Gravel world series
1st NB - Grey Ghost Pursuit
54th F - uci gravel world championships, Elite Female
54th in the WORLD!!
2024 results
1st NB - Rock cobbler: boulder 113 miles
2nd NB - MidSouth gravel (100 miles)
1st NB - Rasputitsa dirt
9th - ironman 70.3 north american champs
1st NB - burnt bridge gravel stage race
1st NB - Unbound 200
14th - ironman 70.3 mont tremblant
1st NB - Grounded ne
1st NB - foco fondo
8th - ironman canada
1st NB - Rebecca’s private idaho QSR
10th - ironman cozumel
2023 Results
1st NB - MIdsouth 100 gravel
6th - ironman 70.3 north american champs
7th - Ironman 70.3 chattanooga
1st NB - unbound 200 gravel
7th - ironman lake placid
31st - ironman 70.3 world championships
1st NB - Burnt Bridge Gravel Classic
19th - ironman Florida
2022 results
21st - Ironman World Championships (St George)
1st NB - Unbound 200
Lifetime Grand Prix race #2
1st NB - Crusher in the Tushar
Lifetime Grand Prix race #3
15th - PTO Canadian Open
1st nB - Leadville 100 mtb stage race
1st - ironman 70.3 boulder
1st NB - Leadville 100 mile MTB race
Lifetime Grand Prix race #4
1st - TransRockies gravel royale
Winner of all 4 stages, 2x QOM
13th - PTO US OPEN
1st - Ironman 70.3 Cabos
11th - Clash Daytona
2021 results
6th - Ironman coeur d’alene
11th - Challenge Roth
8th - ironman chattanooga
3 IMs in a row of something nutritionally going horribly wrong :(
1st NB - Big sugar gravel race
1st race ever in a non-binary category!
7th - Clash Daytona
resources
Looking for bike races w/ non-binary/gender expansive categories?
Are we missing a race or see something that needs updating?
Looking for running races? Check out nonbinaryrunning.com!
Coaching
Rach McBride is a USAT and TrainingPeaks level 1 certified coach and loves working with folks at any level. They value autonomy and integrity to empower athletes. Training is designed to integrate with daily life, respecting work, family, and mental well-being so progress is sustainable. Using their 2 decades of elite level racing in endurance sport as a basis for their connection with athletes, they use metrics as a guide, not a dictator, pairing performance insights with genuine empathy and understanding. Long-term success comes from trust, adaptability, and consistency, not just perfect numbers. Interested in being coached by Rach for triathlon, gravel, or other swim, bike, and/or run endeavours?
Contact below about availability on Rach’s coaching roster!
