GREEN AND DAHLE ON TOP OF WORLD The final day of competition at the world Mountain Bike championships featured the Cross-Country races for Men, Women and Under-23 Men. In the Men’s race Canada’s Roland Green, the Commonwealth Games champion once again showed that he is the current top dog in the class with a 19 second winning margin over Filip Meirhaeghe of Belgium. The legendary Thomas Frischenecht was third at one minute 45 seconds. The rest of the field were a staggering six minutes behind Green, with the best Brit Nick Craig having his best ride at international level for some time, finishing in 23rd position. RESULTS CROSS COUNTRY MEN 1. Roland GREEN CAN 2hr 19m 02s 2. Filip MEIRHAEGHE BEL @ 19 3. Thomas FRISCHKNECHT SUI @ 1:45 4. Lado FUMIC GER @ 6:10 5. Thomas KALBERER SUI @ 6:33 6. Roel PAULISSEN BEL @ 8:27 7. Hubert PALLHUBER ITA @ 8:36 8. Seamus MCGRATH CAN @ 8:43 9. Marek GALINSKI POL @ 8:45 10. Christophe DUPOUEY FRA @ 9:54 other 23. Nick CRAIG GBR @ 15:27 53. Barrie CLARKE GBR @ 26:39 59. Zak TOOGOOD GBR @ 30:37 WOMEN The women’s race went to Norwegian all-rounder Gunn-Rita Dahle, who was over a minute clear of Anna Szafraniec of Poland, with Sabine Spitz of Germany third. Alison Sydor of Canada was fourth at three and a half minutes, with the rest of the field another five minutes back. Caroline Alexander was thirteenth and Jenny Copnall 44th. RESULTS CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN 1. Gunn-Rita DAHLE NOR 2hr 14m 05s 2. Anna SZAFRANIEC POL @ 1:23 3. Sabine SPITZ GER @ 2:48 4. Alison SYDOR CAN @ 3:36 5. Petra HENZI SUI @ 8:21 6. Maroussia RUSCA SUI @ 8:37 7. Chrissy REDDEN CAN @ 9:57 8. Kiara BISARO CAN @ 10:39 9. Nina GOEHL GER @ 11:25 10. Alla EPIFANOVA RUS @ 11:25 other 13. Caroline ALEXANDER GBR @ 13:57 44. Jenny COPNALL GBR @ 1Lap UNDER 23 (ESPOIRS) Julien Absolon of France won the under-23 Men’s race, two and a half minutes clear of Swiss rider Ralph Naef. Ryder Hesjedal of Canada was the bronze medallist. Liam Killeen was nineteenth, a disappointing placing for a rider who just over a month ago was mixing it with Roland Green at the commonwealth Games. Liam still has time on his side in this class, though, being only 20 years old. RESULTS UNDER-23 MEN 1. Julien ABSALON FRA 1hr 59m 01s 2. Ralph NAEF SUI @ 2:32 3. Ryder HESJEDAL CAN @ 3:33 4. Florian VOGEL SUI @ 4:49 5. Manuel FUMIC GER @ 6:01 6. Reto MANETSCH SUI @ 6:28 7. Markus WEBER AUT @ 6:55 8. Christoph SOUKUP AUT @ 8:06 9. Jochen KASS GER @ 10:07 10. Martin GUJAN SUI @ 10:22 other 19. Liam KILLEEN GBR @ 14:27 41. Phil DIXON GBR @ 25:27 43. Phil SPENCER GBR @26:01 54. Simon RICHARDSON GBR @32:43 56. Steven FARMER GBR @ 1Lap