One year after dominating the world of under-23 year-old riders in the high altitude of Vail, France's Julien Absalon (Motorex-Bianchi) did it again Sunday in the lower elevations of Kaprun. He held off a surprisingly fast silver medalist in Switzerland's Ralph Naef, while Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Subaru Gary Fisher) finished 3rd for the bronze.

Winning his second consecutive rainbow jersey in a muddy and difficult event on the final day of Worlds, Absalon was brilliant as he kept his bike upright on this most challenging course.

"It's fantastic," he said after his win. "I love the mud and when it's wet, and I like to slide and use a little gear when my legs are strong. It was difficult but I like these conditions."

Absalon built up a 30-second lead over Naef in the second lap, while Hesjedal chased in 5th position after a slower start. Naef was surprised at his own strength, keeping a steady gap between himself and first place.

"I was very surprised to be second," said Naef. "At the start I was in front behind Absalon on the climb. I tried to follow him, and was good but I was surprised it was possible to keep the position." "On the first climb I was in 6th place and thought 'Oh, it's going to be difficult today,'" said Absalon, "but then Ryder and some other leaders fell and without difficulty I was in the front. Then on the gravel I was leading and got a gap on the descent over Ralph."

Ryder soon moved up into 3rd place, but was unable to close the gap on either 2nd or 1st place. "You never know what to expect on a day like this," said Hesjedal. "I played it safe and just rode my pace as fast as I could. I'm disappointed of course - my goal is always to win, but racing in Europe's a different ballgame. It's hard to come over here and get a medal."

While the gap was around a half-minute between Absalon, Naef and Hesjedal in the start of the 3rd lap, Absalon opened up a bigger lead during the course of the lap. By the end of lap 3 the gap was 1:13 between 1st and 2nd, and :45 between 3rd and 2nd.

"I was thinking the other riders would pass me," said Naef, "but I was informed of Ryder's gap and then I believed I could be second." Asked if the mud was a problem for him, Naef - who was 3rd in both the mountain bike and cyclo-cross Swiss Championships this season - replied "We Swiss like these conditions!"

And thus the order remained the same for the 4th and final lap, as Absalon built up an eventual two-and-a-half-minute lead over Naef, and three and a half minutes over Hesjedal.

"It's like at home where it's muddy," said Absalon. "I also won silver in relay, so it was a very nice week for me and the French team. These championships were my first objective this season, and I'm very happy to win in my last year as espoir (u-23)."

— Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Correspondent