Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL, Specialized) is a good winner. He first came into race fans' consciousness with the image of his bicep-bulging win in Germany a few years back and has since won five more World Cups. Always masterful on the course and analytical in the interview tent, he's just a fun rider to follow - win or lose.

And on the podium Sunday, after he had crushed the field for the second-straight week, Filip was making a party of it, mugging for the cameras in his Specialized crown and pouring champagne over his competitors' heads.

He's so on top of his game right now that he seems unbeatable. But Christoph Sauser (SUI, Volvo Cannondale) would take exception to that analysis. Because in that same two weeks, "Susi" had felt he was equal to Meirhaeghe but was frustratingly unable to prove it. Last week Sauser flatted and broke a chain to force a DNF after leading the race. Then this week he was caught up in a crash at the start, losing valuable time and position on this tough course.

Regardless, Meirhaeghe has beaten him and all other comers for two weeks and heads into the finals ranked #1. "Maybe it's my time," he pondered after he won this 4th round Sunday. "There's pressure, but it's pressure I put on myself to win."

Meirhaeghe took the lead in the third lap of the men's seven-lap event, heading out with several other contenders who all wanted to be in the lead pack heading for the singletrack descents. If one person crashed in front of the pack, they'd all lose valuable seconds.

Sauser, who won round two in Filip's home country of Belgium, knew that and was cursing as he worked his way up from 9th place in lap one.

Round one winner Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant Bicycle) also had his work cut out for him as he rode in 7th place.

Last year Roland Green (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen), who would go on to win both the overall World Cup title and World Championship, had horrible luck on this course. He had been leading until the final lap when he flatted, giving Sauser the win. Anything can happen on this course and Green, who was riding in the top-3, knew it. As the race headed into lap 3, 4th-placed Roel Paulissen (BEL, Rainer-Wurz) and 6th-placed Julien Absalon (FRA, Motorex-Bianchi) knew it as well. Within minutes both Paulissen and Absalon would be out of contention — Roel with a double-flat and Julien with a broken chain.

Halfway through the race Meirhaeghe took the lead of a quartet of riders including Green, Christophe Dupouey (FRA, Giant) and teammate Brentjens, while Sauser chased them in 5th position with his teammate Kashi Leuchs (NZL, Volvo-Cannondale) in 7th.

"I got the lead in the third lap, but they were all on my wheel," said Meirhaeghe later. "I knew I had to go now."

And that's where the Belgian bomber dropped his ordinance, putting 23 seconds on the field within a half lap and heading for the hills. Green was chasing but, as he would later say, he "just didn't have the legs" and was about to be passed by the Giant riders. Brentjens was feeling good and now riding with teammate Dupouey, while Sauser got to within 40 seconds of the lead.

One hour had passed, and the racers had 50 more minutes to make their moves. Meirhaeghe was unstoppable, but Sauser continued to pursue him and moved all the way up into 2nd place to close the gap to 30 seconds while Dupouey, Brentjens and Green chased in formation with Leuchs still a minute back.

Heading into the penultimate 6th lap, Sauser dropped his chasers and continued his pursuit while Green lost contact with the Giant riders and moved backward toward Leuchs - who began to catch sight of a podium finish.

Green, like Alison Sydor in the race before him, was being fueled by the crowd, who pounded on the plastic banners trackside and cheered loudly. But there was a disconnect between heart and legs on this day.

"I prefer longer courses, but this track was good and short," said Meirhaeghe afterward. "It's uneven though, with short climbs and drops, so it's hard to find your rhythm. If it's not the most challenging course in the World Cup, it's very close." But none of that mattered to Meirhaeghe now, as he flew around the final lap and headed to the finish to claim his 6th World Cup win.

"Unless Filip had a problem like a flat, there was no way I could catch him today," said Sauser. "I had to push really hard to move up after losing time in lap one. I just wish I had been up front with him the whole race." Even so, Sauser lost more time to his rival, making it to the finish line 57 seconds after Meirhaeghe.

Brentjens came across 1:38 from the win for 3rd, after finally leaving his teammate Dupouey and going solo. "I felt good with enough energy to go so I dropped him near the finish," said "Sir Bart," who was celebrating the birth of a child on this day.

Leuchs had an impressive final lap, first passing Green to secure 5th place, then Dupouey to secure 4th. "Once I caught Green I was just thinking podium, podium," he said smiling." Dupouey held on for 5th place while Green finished a disappointing 6th.

In the overall championship series, Meirhaeghe keeps the blue leader's jersey with 765 points, while Brentjens is 120 points behind. And with 250 points awarded to each round's winner, the finals in France look to be another winner-take-all battle for this year's Waterford Crystal globe trophy.

— Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Correspondent