Only a World Championship competition for two years, the dual slalom race was added to the schedule last summer in Spain after debuting as an exhibition event in '98. Since then it has established itself as a mainstay of World Cup racing, with two riders going head-to-head on short tracks full of jumps, thrills and spills.

In that time two people, Anne-Caroline Chausson (FRA, Volvo-Cannondale) and Brian Lopes (USA, Fox/GT), have established themselves as the best in the sport. Chausson won the first women's rainbow jersey for the sport last year, while Lopes missed out on his rightful reward when Wade Bootes (AUS, Trek-Volkswagen) won the first men's jersey.

Lopes set the record straight this year, taking the jersey after a near-perfect World Cup season. Chausson on the other hand virtually quit dual racing this season, tired of the constant pressure and expectations associated with the discipline. But she came out in Vail to defend her jersey and swiftly dispensed of the competition once again - earning her a 13th rainbow jersey in cycling.

Racing took place under the lights on a chilly Saturday night with thousands of spectators lining the beautifully sculpted course designed by dualer Eric Carter.

Women:
Chausson's win in the finals was a clean sweep against three women, including former World Cup Champion Katrina Miller (AUS, Jamis). Only Tara Llanes (USA, Yeti/Pearl Izumi) even challenged Anne-Caro that night. Llanes, a California girl, caught up to Chausson after she slipped a pedal on a big table-top jump during the first semi-final, but Chausson got away again, advancing to the finals while Llanes was relegated to the consolation round to meet up with Leigh Donovan (USA, Schwinn).

Donovan, this year's World Cup champion, lost her semi-final run to Miller and was subsequently beaten by Llanes in the consolation round when Tara made an aggressive inside move on Leigh to take the lead, and send her to the dirt while Llanes took the bronze medal.

"I'm disappointed, but happy for Tara," said Leigh just hours after winning her own bronze in the downhill. "That's what this race is all about, making those hard passes. I'm bummed but will be cheering for Tara and the U.S. at the awards ceremony!"

"I feel good," Llanes said. "Either way the U.S. got a medal. I'm glad I could medal, for my sponsors and my mom."

The final run between Chausson and Miller was all Chausson, especially once Miller wiped out on the same critical corner as Donovan. It gave Chausson her second-straight dual World Championship.

"I had lane choice which was an advantage," said Chausson. "They can try to pass so you have to protect your line. Durango [where Chausson was passed from behind] was a big lesson for me so tonight I just pedal, pedal, pedal."

Men:
Lopes was definitely not to be denied this year. Lopes made it through the World Cup season with hardly a mistake, always taking the holeshot and leading each run with near perfection, after spending all season watching rival Wade Bootes (AUS, Trek-Volkswagen) wear the rainbow jersey. He also earned 20 World Cup wins - the most of any male mountain biker.

After qualifying fastest on Thursday, Lopes capped a special season with a special win.

"I wanted to do it for the USA," he said after his run, adding "I'm at a loss for words." Asked if this was redemption after losing last year he said, "I definitely thought about it. I wanted it so I could stand on that podium and hear our national anthem this week."

Lopes former teammate Cedric Gracia took the silver after nearly being eliminated by countryman Mickael Deldycke (FRA, Schwinn). The two met up in the semi-finals, where Deldycke rammed Gracia with full speed on the final turn sending Cedric into the wall and earning himself a disqualification for the maneuver. His expletive-laden description over the loudspeakers immediately afterward prompted him to apologize to the crowd, saying, "I'm sorry, my English teacher is Snoop Dog."

Soon afterward Karim Amour (FRA, Diamondback) met, and lost to, Bootes in the consolation round, after the two had been beaten by Lopes and Gracia in the semis. Bootes handily dispensed with Amour and earned the bronze medal.

While the dual remains a controversial sport, mostly due to its lack of passing and sometimes-arbitrary rules, this year's race on a pass-happy course showed that it remains a crowd favorite. And besides, it keeps the downhillers around on Saturday nights, and no one parties like the downhillers!

— Ari Cheren