The 2004 MTB World Championships have drawn to a close. And Belgium looks like being the dominant country in men’s XC racing, with Filip Mierhaeghe winning the rainbow jersey and countryman Roel Paulissen third. Canadian Ryder Hesjedal managed to sneak in between them, though.

Best British performance was from Nick Craig in 24th (and he was sedond oldest in the field…), with Oli Beckingsale in 34th and Zak Toogood in 50th. It’s frightening to think how fast the front of the Worlds field is when you consider how well these guys do in the UK…

Canada scored another second place in the women’s event courtesy of Alison Sydor, while Germany’s Sabine Spitz took the rainbow jersey. Irina Kalentieva was third, while the top-placed (and indeed only) Brit was Jenny Copnall in 51st.

So that’s that for another year…