CLICK FOR AUDIO INDEX Larsen Likes It Sydor Speaks Her Mind Daddy Wiens' Emotional Rescue ON THE SIDE BAR Second placer David Wiens is the proud father of the first genetically engineered biker baby. His wife Susan DeMattei (Olympic Mountain Bike Bronze Medalist) gave birth to a bouncing boy named Cooper on Wednesday. He's already a recognized NORBA member and sponsored by Polo Sport, Vans and Powergel. Marla Streb didn't ride the cross country like she promised me. Apparently she had too many fluids after her downhill win yesterday. The other downhill winner Oscar Saiz took to the cross country and did a lap and a few wheelies, while downhill champion Jurgen Beneke amazed all by passing pros and pedaling for three laps before he had to catch a ride home.

Alison Sydor AUDIO

Three-time world champion and World Cup points leader, Alison Sydor (Volvo-Cannondale) and 1997 national champion Steve Larsen (Schwinn-Toyota), both pulled out their second wins at the second annual Seven Springs stop on the NORBA tour today.

Sydor laid waste to the competition. She had 1 minute 20 seconds on her competition after the first lap and added another minute each lap, finishing the 18-miler more than three minutes ahead of second place finisher Ruthie Matthes. Ruthie battled attacking Tammy jacques the entire last lap and only overtook her after Tammy spilled before the final descent. Then came the fight for fourth that lasted most of the race. It all came down to Chrissy Redden and Ann Trombley sprinting for the finish. Ann took fourth by two seconds in a hair-raising, crowd-screaming finish.

Steve Larsen AUDIO

Larsen, who flatted and was forced to drop out of the first NORBA race, had to start at the back of the pack of 86. He slowly worked his way into the lead group and then blasted a last lap attack.

"I knew the race would be won in the last lap," Larsen said. "I knew at that time it was no guts, no glory." He overtook Tinker Juarez, who had maintained a strong second for most of the race, and reeled in Andres Brenes (Ritchey) of Costa Rica and Chris Sheppard (Catera/Pure Energy) of Canada over the final seven miles. David Wiens was in fourth place for the final lap before passing Sheppard, who finished third (which moves him into second overall in the series).

Tammy Jacques

The day concluded with brilliant sunshine after ominous black clouds unfurled themselves from above and watered the men just enough to give their final steep descent a new slick twist. The 22.5-mile course was a technical riders delight and World Cup prowess obviously paid off on this technical course.

"All these rock parts are so right up my alley," Sydor said. Tammy Jacques felt the same way. "My favorite part was that screaming downhill," Jacques said. "I had so much fun in there - I was just laughing all the way through the feed zone."

— Hans Prosl, unseemly and unkempt for The Mountain Zone.