Cross country racing could be considered the premier event of the Worlds, and with its Sunday time slot it usually garners the biggest crowds and most attention. And this year was no exception. Although the weather wasn't quite as cooperative during this long day of three elite races, when it was all said and done, the U.S. had a new champion, it was a North American sweep, a feat not repeated since 1991.

Under-23
The first big race of the day was the men's under-23 race, an event devised to help develop younger male racers before throwing them in with the top ranks. After producing exciting races in the past few years between talented younger riders like Cadel Evans (AUS, Volvo-Cannondale) and Miguel Martinez (FRA, Full Dynamix), this year looked to be a barn-burner as two of the sport's best racers - Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi Motorex) and Ryder Hesjedal (CAN, Subaru Gary Fisher) - were going up against each other for the same race distance as the elite men would be later in the day.

Absalon had won a World Cup round earlier this season in nearby Durango, and now had returned to Colorado to win his first rainbow jersey, beating Hesjedal by 1:38.

"It's a great day, I'm very happy," said a smiling Absalon after his win. "I had a slow start, but when I got the lead my legs felt great. I think Ryder must not be in good shape! The track was hard to ride at this altitude, but I've been here for twenty days which was good preparation."

"I knew it wouldn't be easy," said a disappointed Hesjedal, who also finished 2nd in the World Cup Finals in Quebec. "This was a one-day race and I made unreal gains this season so I'm happy with the silver. I've never raced here before and rode conservatively. I wanted a good year and accomplished that. People wanted me to win here, but I knew Julien would be tough."

One person not expected to medal was reigning Junior World Champion Walker Ferguson (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher), who grabbed the bronze medal just one minute behind Hesjedal.

For Ferguson, the lack of expectations served him well as he raced with little pressure. "I would have been happy with a top-ten," he said. "I was surprised to be up front and the crowds were unbelievable, and so loud! I did road racing this spring and then a few NORBAs (National Off-Road Bicycling Association races). It worked out well for Worlds because I built up all season."

Women:
While Alison Dunlap (USA, Team GT) is always a top contender in the women's ranks, it is fair to say that she wasn't favored to take the win here in Vail. Not with World Cup Champion Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized) there, along with other World Cup winners Laurence Leboucher (FRA), teammates Mary Grigson (AUS) and Chrissy Redden (CAN, Subaru-Gary Fisher), and especially defending World Champion Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized).

But Fullana, citing illness, didn't show up in Vail and this changed things a bit, but not as much as the first lap of racing when Redden, Blatter and Grigson all came around outside the top-10, leaving multi-time champion Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen) leading the race after a lackluster season, with Dunlap in the top-five. This was going to be an interesting race.

Even more interesting was the woman who took the lead away from Sydor in the second and final three-loop lap — former contender Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, DBS). Dahle had burned herself out preparing for the 2000 Olympics and only returned to international competition mid-season when she finished 4th in Leysin. But here she was, adding to her lead in the second of the three loops and looking like a sure lock for the win, as Sydor chased 32 seconds back and Dunlap a full minute behind.

But, as the saying goes, anything can happen in mountain biking - and it's usually a flat tire. Dahle punctured her tubeless tire on the final climb of the second loop, just a few miles from her first rainbow jersey.

"From heaven to hell in two seconds," is how her coach described it. Just as racing disaster was befalling Dahle, Dunlap was attacking, and passing Sydor, to take what she thought was second position. "When I passed Sydor I was excited to be in second, but then I passed Gunn-Rita and realized I was in the lead," said Dunlap. "I thought 'there it is!'"

Minutes later, the enormous American crowd inspiring her with a deafening roar, "big Al" came through the venue and headed out on one, final short loop - Sydor hot on her tail. Minutes later she came to the finish line first, grabbing an American flag on the way. She then crossed the line and dropped off her bike just beyond the timing lights. She dropped to her knees in tears and disbelief - overjoyed at her fortune.

"This is the best day of my life except for getting married," she said through her tears of joy. "After everything that's happened last week, I really wanted this in my heart. I've never ridden so hard in my life, and the crowd was so loud - it was incredible. Hearing them was just enough to keep me from falling off my bike. In that last lap I've never hurt so bad."

"It came down to the last lap and was exciting," agreed three-time champion Sydor after she finished 2nd for the silver. "Al got a gap and had some special motivation obviously. I'm happy for her; she's one of the nicest riders and deserves it."

Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida), who rode in 5th position for most of the day, finished 3rd for the bronze while Blatter worked her way up from 15th to 4th, with Leboucher in 5th place.

Men:
While the prospect of an American winning gold in the women's race might have seemed far-fetched before Sunday, no one was about to count the powerful Canadian Roland Green (Trek-Volkswagen) out of the running in the men's race. Not only did he amass a Miguel Martinez-esque resumè this season by winning the Overall World Cup (and two rounds to boot), along with the NORBA title, but he kept saying that all that was second fiddle to his true goal, the rainbow jersey.

And one of the only men to beat him squarely this season, defending World Champion Miguel Martinez (FRA, Full Dynamix), was stuck in Italy and Germany for days leading up to the race, only arriving in Vail the night before and without his bike. So he was pretty much out of the running. That left a long line of potential medallists, but not too many riders capable of taking on Green mano a mano.

1999 World Champion Michael Rasmussen (DEN, Haro/Lee Dungarees) was willing to try. He was tired of the rotten luck that has plagued him all season and was, as he said, "in the shape of my life." So when he glommed onto Green's wheel and then took the lead in the first full lap (of three), it looked like we might have a race after all.

Other riders took cracks up front, including the entire men's Volvo-Cannondale squad. But in the second lap Green and Rasmussen (known affectionately as "chicken") were a minute clear of Christoph Sauser (SUI, Volvo Cannondale), while a half dozen chasers, including World Cup winner Thomas Frischknecht (SUI, Ritchey Yahoo), rode several seconds behind "Susi" Sauser.

The top-10 began to gel late in the second lap, as each rider had pretty much shown his cards. Green was tiring of having a riding partner up front and began to attack Rasmussen, who chased gamely and kept the gap close until the beginning of the final lap.

"I was with Michael on the climbs," said Green, "and at one point my legs felt better. That's how my whole season has been." Green got a small window right about the time that "chicken's" bad luck came home to roost. He flatted his rear tire at the top of the second-to-last loop of the race, riding his rim in 2nd place while the two Swiss, Sauser and Frischknecht, chased him down with minutes remaining.

In the final loop Green was safely clear and could ready himself for the win, overjoyed at his successful season.

"I didn't know what to expect at altitude," he said from the finish. "Today was a matter of pacing. I can't put it into words, I'm just very satisfied. I think this is no longer a Euro sport only, and we have a bunch more Canadians coming up, so North America is looking good."

Frischknecht attacked Sauser and took yet another silver medal while Sauser would settle for bronze. "Thomas and I both crashed in the last lap, and then were close to the end. Everyone wants a medal even if we're on the same team," said Sauser of his last-minute battle.

"I have a couple silver medals already, I'm happy to get another!" said Frischknecht.

Rasmussen, meanwhile, was plodding along on a flat tire and would eventually finish 11th, leaving Cadel Evans (AUS, Volvo-Cannondale) and Ludovic Dubau (FRA, Team Orbea) to round out the top-five, out of the medals but always good for the resumè.

"Roland is superhuman," said Rasmussen. "I'm in the shape of my life, but he is superhuman. I was glad to give him a run for his money though."

Todd Wells (USA) was the top American finisher in 26th, although Kirk Molday (USA, SunRace/SantaCruz) had made it as high as 19th position before disappearing from the line-up. And what of Martinez, who was riding Laurence Leboucher's second bike, disguised with duct tape? He gamely rode on, finishing 45th and showing the mark of a true champion.

— Ari Cheren