The Diesel-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup wrapped up its big-daddy double weekend of racing Sunday, hosting round six of the XC tour on the steep and dry slopes of Snow Summit. Volvo-Cannondale ruled the event, winning both the men's and women's races - thanks to Christoph Sauser and Alison Sydor.

Christoph Sauser

The day's biggest win came when Swiss youngster Christoph Sauser attacked and beat teammate Cadel Evans in the final lap of the men's six-lap race – taking his first-ever world cup victory. "Sausi" had been working with Evans all afternoon, keeping the two out in front to both protect Evan's overall lead from rival Miguel Martinez (FRA, Full Dynamix) and hopefully get another world cup victory.

"...it was up to the two to race for themselves, which is what Sauser did when he attacked Evans just before the finish...."

Bas Van Dooren (NED, Be One), who won round five in England, led the first two laps but flatted a tire and dropped back to an eventual 4th place finish. That left just Sauser and Evans out front with several riders chasing nearly one minute back and Martinez struggling to a 13th place finish.

In the last lap it was clear that Sauser had as much power as teammate Evans on this day, so the question became whether he would protect Evans for the win, or take his chances for a win of his own. With no marching orders from team management, it was up to the two to race for themselves, which is what Sauser did when he attacked Evans just before the finish.

Evans would have like to have the win himself, but said he was happy for Sauser – and the fact that his overall lead jumped from 16 points to 153. But guess who is now in second overall… Sauser, tied with Martinez, with Van Dooren in fourth. That gives four riders a legitimate shot at the title this year.

Cadel Trailing

The Snow Summit course is 5.2 miles long, with the men racing for six laps plus one short start loop. The women raced two start laps and four laps, over dry and dusty conditions. The course has an exposed climb, followed by rolling fireroad back to the finish – simple yet difficult at high speeds.

The top women of the day were also wearing the V-C uniform, as points leader Alison Sydor beat teammate Annabella Stropparo by nearly one minute after the two rode in solo efforts in the morning's event.

Sydor took control of the race early, after second-ranked Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, DBS) fell from the chase due to a flat tire. Even though Dahle lost several minutes, she was still able to work her way back from 14th to 4th place by the finish, and maintain her number-two ranking.

Alison Sydor

Stropparo maintained her speed to fend off Caroline Alexander (GBR, American Eagle) who put forth a powerful effort for third, while Dahle passed top American finisher Ruthie Matthes (USA, Trek Volkswagen) – rounding out the podium. But Sydor was in full control, using the extra fitness gained at a recent women's stage race to maintain her dominance of the women's field. She now has a 180-point advantage over Dahle in the overall, with two races remaining in the season.

Next stop for the cross-country tour; Canmore, Alberta, Canada for round seven.

— MountainZone.com reporters, freeriding with Marla Streb