September 12, 2004 (Les Gets, France) – Julien Absalon followed in the
footsteps of Gunn-Rita Dahle by adding the world championship crown to his
recent Olympic title, while Thomas Frischknecht of Switzerland claimed the
bronze medal proving that he is to men’s cross country what Alison Sydor is
to the women’s field: an unstoppable force that just keeps on going. Cedric
Ravanel of France took home the silver medal.

Canada’s Geoff Kabush finished top Canadian at 9:42 in the 2 hour, 20
minute race, one place ahead of Chris Sheppard who came in ten seconds
back. Ricky Federau was the third Canadian home, in 26th, at 14:54.

Frischknecht came out punching, no doubt relishing the slippery, muddy
conditions in which he has established himself over the years as the rider
to beat. Leading through the end of the first and second laps, it was clear
that Frischky once again was on a mission to add to his collection seven
world championship medals, and possibly even claim his first outright win
in this race. It seemed to all that this was his day.

Absalon, now entering his mid 20s, is emerging as a rider with a great
racing brain to match his abundant physical talent. After a small crash on
the start loop put him back into sixth place, for the first two full laps
he allowed Frischknecht, who at 34 years old is ten years his senior, to
drive the race while he gradually pulled himself back into contention to a
place, about 20 seconds behind, waiting to see what happened.

On lap three Absalon saw his chance. The Swiss master had been stopped by a
severe case of chain such that cost him an expensive two minutes. Absalon
moved up to join the Polish rider Marek Galinski – who had been
Frischknecht’s companion on lap two – and these two led through the end of
the third lap.

From then on, it was just a crazy chase. Frischknecht blazed through the
finish of the third lap in 6th place, 1:30 behind Absalon. The young French
rider knew he just had to give it everything and was being roared on by a
huge French crowd. Frischknecht, taking the necessary risks to get back to
the front paid the price on lap four and dropped back to 7th place, 1:54
down on Absalon. Yet for him the race was far from over. He regained his
rhythm and started picking off riders, one by one. As Galinski gradually
fell back, Frischknecht powered on, passing the Pole on the final lap as
well as Belgium’s Roel Paulissen. Only Ravanel and Absalon escaped
Frischknecht’s vengeful charge.

At the finish Frischknecht was 1:44 adrift of the winner, and as has been
the case so many times in his magnificently flawed career, he must have
been wondering what might have been.

Results -94 Starters
1. Julien Absalon (France) 2.20.37
2. Cedric Ravanel (France) 0.57
3. Thomas Frischknecht (Switzerland) 1.44
4. Roel Paulissen (Belgium) 1.48
5. Marek Galinski (Poland) 2.57
6. Lado Fumic (Germany) 3.18
7. Kashi Leuchs (New Zealand) 3.45
8. Jean-Christophe Peraud (France) 5.48
9. Martino Fruet (Italy) 5.53
10. Michael Weiss (Austria) 7.14

15. Geoff Kabush (Canada) 9.42
16. Chris Sheppard (Canada) 9.52
26. Ricky Federau (Canada) 14.54
65. Roddi Lega (Canada) -2 laps