She's America's sweetheart of mountain bike racing and a tough competitor to boot. After winning the sport's big prize in 2001 with an emotionally charged victory - just days after 9/11 - Alison Dunlap continued her quest for greatness and earned something no American since Juli Furtado had, the women's XC World Cup title.

The day may have belonged to the impossibly talented and fast Marga Fullana (ESP, Orbea), but the season belongs to Dunlap. Fullana's self-centered style of racing, which keeps her away from North American World Cups, flies in the face of the World Cup's test of overall results. But after two seasons of herself sacrificing the overall title by missing Euro events, Dunlap found the formula for success, smiling through a face full of mud Sunday to narrowly beat German Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida) for the title.

Dunlap held off possible race spoiler Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer K2) at the finish by just seconds, saying "I won the championship by 11 seconds, but I'm so thrilled to win the overall. You never know how things will go when you start the season, and winning the World Cup is something I haven't done; that was my focus this season."

Fullana earned her third World Cup victory of the season, when the 2000 World Champion dominated a strong women's field. She beat Anna Szafraniec (POL, Lotto) by a minute and 44 seconds, and has won every World Cup she's entered this season.

Conditions were sunny and warm, but the track was muddy as a result of heavy rains Saturday night. The women had to be careful and preserve their equipment, fighting up challenging climbs on a course that doubled back on itself - giving the thousands of spectators and TV cameras multiple chances to see the riders each lap.

Asked if she was making a statement with her riding this weekend after abandoning the World Championship in Kaprun due to losing time in Kaprun's muddy descents, Fullana replied "I think everyone saw how I was feeling today. I was feeling good, and nothing was difficult for me. When you're feeling good, everything is okay."

Fullana led the women's four-lap race from start to finish, building up an increasing lead during the hour and 51 minute race as 65 women struggled through slick mud and tricky off-camber grass sections.

With her manager and boyfriend Miguel encouraging her via a one-way radio from several points on the track, Fullana hit her pace and found her rhythm in the third lap, increasing her lead with each pedal stroke and not worrying about those behind her.

Behind Fullana, Szafraniec overtook Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen) for second position in the second lap, and remained there for the duration of the race.

"This finish will motivate me to work harder," said a newly blonde Szafraniec after she finished 2nd - coming just one week after she took silver in the World Championships. "After Worlds I went home and did press conferences, and after this I'll go back and do more."

Asked if she was surprised to be riding so well when other top riders were feeling the effects of the Worlds, Szafraniec replied, "I wasn't too surprised until the last moment, because there were many good riders behind me, but I felt good today and am happy with my finish."

After Sydor was passed by Szafraniec she then battled with Spitz for 3rd place, the two trading positions until the final lap when Spitz asserted herself and dropped Sydor, crossing the finish 2:41 from the lead while Sydor finished 4th, 3:16 from the winning time.

"It was tougher than last week," said Spitz. "I'm not completely recovered from Worlds and the course is tough. The first two laps I didn't feel so good and thought I'd explode, but second overall is good and I'm very happy; my goal this season was to be in the top-four, and I'm second."

While Fullana rode off the front to the tune of a minute and a half, Spitz and Sydor battled to catch Szafraniec while Dunlap struggled to stay ahead of Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer K2) in order to secure the overall championship. Henzi finished 6th.

"That was the hardest race of my life, physically and mentally," said a mud covered Dunlap after the race. "Petra was so tenacious! I went 100 percent and so much was on the line, I really had to fight for this one."

With her win here, Fullana finished the season ranked 3rd overall, while Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) is ranked 4th. Alison Sydor ends her season ranked 5th overall.

— Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Correspondent