September 9, 2002 (Les Gets, France) – This weekend was host to the UCI-Tissot World Cup Mountain Bike Finals in Les Gets, France. Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Gary Fisher-Subaru) pulled out all the stops and won the men’s cross-country race – his first World Cup win ever!

Hesjedal rode harder and better than any of his competitors, including current World Champion Roland Green (Trek/Volkswagen), World Cup leader Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL, Specialized) and top contenders Christoph Sauser (SUI, Volvo-Cannondale) and Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant-Global).

Hesjedal’s finish put him into sixth place overall and made him the top espoirs rider. Second place went to Sauser and third to Meirhaeghe. Canadians Green and Seamus McGrath (Haro-Lee Dungarees) finished in 5th spot and 6th spot respectively.

Meirhaeghe secured the overall title. Second place overall went to Sauser and third went to Bart Brentjens. Canadians Green and McGrath placed 4th and 12th in the final standings.

World Cup Final #5
Les Gets, France
September 8, 2002

1. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Gary-Fisher Subaru
2. Christoph Sauser (SUI) Volvo-Cannondale
3. Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL) Specialized

Canadians:
5. Roland Green (CAN) Trek-Volkswagen
6. Seamus McGrath (CAN) Haro-Lee Dungarees
70. Geoff Kabush (CAN) Kona
80. Peter Wedge (CAN) Kona

Overall Standings:

1. Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL) Specialized
2. Christoph Sauser (SUI) Volvo-Cannondale
3. Bart Brentjens (NED) Giant Global

Canadians:
4. Roland Green (CAN) Trek-Volkswagen
6. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Gary Fisher-Subaru
12. Seamus McGrath (CAN) Haro-Lee Dunagarees
48. Geoff Kabush (CAN) Kona
50. Mathieu Toulouse
54. Chris Sheppard
55. Peter Wedge
64. Ricky Federau
67. Andreas Hestler
82. Julian Hine
117. Carter Hovey
120. Michael Pruner
127. Roddi Lega
132. Jean-Phillippe Provost
136. Greg Reain
137. Kris Sneddon
144. Ian Carbonneau
146. Ryan Ingham
147. Bruno LaFontaine
150. Osmond Bakker
153. Shawn Bunnin
161. Martin LaFontaine
163. Jaimie Douglas
167. Menno Hubregtse