After a day of downhill and four-cross action Saturday, Sunday awoke to the promise of two exciting cross-country races. And with such a technical course, MSA didn't disappoint. First Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) took her career's first-ever world cup win, then Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL, Specialized) won his first world cup on North American soil. Here's how it went down:

We'd been wondering what happened to the powerful and articulate Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL, Specialized) of late. Since being a pre-race favorite for the Sydney Olympics, he'd been off his game - something he readily admitted to.

"Last year was a struggle for me after the Olympics, and this winter I trained more and was able to do better - it's been on my mind to win here, as this is one of my favorite courses and I wanted a win in North America."

So he hunkered down and, after round 2 in Belgium, rested for five whole days before taking 17th in the Tour of Austria and winning a Swiss race last weekend.

Whether for his California-based team or just his own pride, Meirhaeghe wanted to win here. And he did just that Sunday afternoon, racing for six hard laps to beat former World Champ Christophe Dupouey (FRA, Giant) by over two minutes.

Meirhaeghe had taken off early with the winner from round two; Christoph Sauser (SUI, Volvo Cannondale). But Susi suffered a fate that seems to plague Cannondale riders, the dreaded flat tire. After fixing it he later abandoned due to a broken chain, which left Meirhaeghe in complete control of his race and his next chasers - Lado Fumic (GER, Team T-Mobile) and Dupouey - some 35 seconds back.

While the other men must have realized they were not going to catch Meirhaeghe unless he also flatted, Filip was taking it easy on his equipment up front, putting as much distance on the field as possible. "I was hammering full gas on the climbs, and taking it easy on the descents," he said.

And as far as the win, that was that. Dupouey passed Fumic in the 6th and final lap, while Jr. World Champion Julien Absalon (FRA, Motorex-Bianchi) rode in 3rd position and Fumic in 4th. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN, Subaru Gary Fisher) was 5th, after working hard to catch the 10-man lead group earlier in the race.

As Meirhaeghe added to his lead in the final lap, the most exciting race developed for 6th position of all things. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Haro/Lee Dungarees), Roland Green (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen), Roel Paulissen (BEL, Rainer-Wurz) and Kashi Leuchs (NZL, Volvo-Cannondale) were together on the start climb. Then Leuchs dropped off, and #4-ranked Green attacked. So McGrath let him go for the points and overall ranking, controlling #2-ranked Paulissen. And so Green finished 6th, McGrath 7th and Paulissen 8th.

"I felt strong on the uphills as well as the technical sections, and the heat didn't bother me," said winner Meirhaeghe. "I'm very happy to win here."

"I felt good," said Dupouey after he took 2nd. "It's been more than a year since I had this good a sensation. It was a mistake to follow Filip though, I was riding too safely as I was afraid I would blow."

With his win, and a 10th place finish by #1-ranked Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant Bicycle), Meirhaeghe improved his #5 ranking to #1, taking the overall leader's jersey going into the fast part of the season.

— Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Correspondent