Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Merida International) found redemption and glory in the most adverse of conditions Sunday, winning the Cross-Country (XC) World Championship after an extended struggle both on and off the racetrack. Racing Sunday morning under heavy rains and on a slippery track, Dahle capped a stormy career with this well-deserved championship.

Last year in Vail's World Championships Dahle suffered a flat tire during the final lap, then watched as American Alison Dunlap (USA) passed her for the win. But this year Dunlap was out of contention after damaging her rear derailleur in the second lap, and Dahle was strong from start to finish. She held off a trio of chasers to claim her first rainbow jersey after several emotional seasons of racing (including missing the 2000 Olympic season due to over-training).

"It was unbelievable to win, and kind of unbelievable to get revenge for what I almost got last year," said Dahle after her victory. "When I started today, I felt everyone was faster than me and I had to focus on using an easy gear. My experience helped a lot."

Dahle held off 1999 Junior Cross-Country World Champion Anna Szafraniec of Poland and World Cup winner Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida) for four laps, holding her breath and hoping nothing would go wrong, then going on to win her first title.

"I followed Anna for part of a lap and once I found her weakness I took the lead and felt that if I got a little gap on the climbs I could increase it on the descents," she said.

And so she did get a gap on her chaser on the muddy course, staying smooth and under control in the pouring rain. "Of course I had the win in my mind but knew I would need a perfect day," she said. "So I kept my focus on the whole of the course. It was a hard-working course, both climbing and descending."

While it represented redemption for Dahle, it was more like a dream come true for the young Polish racer. "Even in my best dreams I didn't think I could finish second," said Szafraniec after earning silver to go along with her junior title. "From the beginning the course was good for me and I was riding at a good level, but I never thought about this kind of result. But when I'm on the course I'm giving it all I have."

While Szafraniec chased Dahle for the gold medal, Spitz and former World Champion Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen) battled for the final medal position. After a last-lap battle between Sydor and Spitz, it was the German who captured the bronze medal for the day.

"After the second lap it was more like mud wrestling than mountain biking," quipped Spitz. "The traverses and forest sections were very hard, and I had a problem with my brakes so I lost contact with the leaders."

Even so, Spitz recovered to catch Sydor at the feed zone of the final lap and then ride away from her to capture the bronze medal. This race took its toll as only 43 women of 80 starters finished the lead lap.

— Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Correspondent