With help from Rob Jones

The third round of the 2008 UCI cross-country World Cup saw the world’s top riders battle on a sun-baked band of dust and gravel in the heart of Madrid, Spain. The fast, almost road-like course was a far cry from the muddy, wooded tracks in Houffalize, Belgium and Offenburg, Germany. The Madrid course favored riders with huge engines, strong legs and the mental strength to keep the gas pedal floored for two solid hours.

“The [Madrid] race was so fast, it was crazy,” wrote American Todd Wells on his Web site. “Last weekend [in Offenburg] we did about 35k in two hours and this weekend we did 57k in two hours.”

The race marked the third of six races that North America’s Olympic hopefuls have to qualify for their respective nations’ Olympic squads. And with a month-long break in between Madrid and the next World Cup round in Vallnord, Andorra, many riders seemed willing to go for broke. So who did what?

The Canadians

Marie-Héléne Prémont
For the second week in a row Prémont grabbed the runner-up position, this time behind Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå. Flesjå admitted the Canadian likely owned the strongest legs on the day, but lacked the tactical sense to win the race. Prémont didn’t disagree, but took over the World Cup leader’s jersey with her result. In just her third bicycle race of the year, Prémont is proving she will be a contender in Beijing.

Catherine Pendrel
Pendrel’s usual early race surge was stifled by a bottleneck in the course’s thin, hike-a-bike climb. But the Luna rider kept her cool and rode consistent laps to finish ninth, her second top-10 in only her third European World Cup. Only a serious calamity could keep Pendrel from grabbing Canada’s second women’s Olympic spot.

Kiara Bisaro
The leading contender to unseat Pendrel for Canada’s second spot is still suffering from a back injury suffered in a nasty crash at the Mont-Ste-Anne World Cup in 2007. Bisaro has the fitness to ride, but had to pull out of Madrid due to the injury.

Alison Sydor
After suffering two weeks of illness Sydor finished 32nd, nine spots up from her finish in Offenburg. Still, Canda’s best-ever mountain-bike racer needs to find her fast to make the Olympics.

Seamus McGrath

Seamus McGrath was on fire at Offenburg, but struggled at Madrid

Photo: Rob Jones

A week after riding to an impressive 9th place in Offenburg, McGrath admitted he was just trying to hold on to the finish line Madrid. He did hang on, finishing 27th, but crossed the line completely shattered. McGrath is still on track to make the Games.

Geoff Kabush

Geoff Kabush is on track for Beijing

Photo: Rob Jones

Kabush enjoyed his best start so far on the World Cup circuit, riding with the race leaders. But the Canadian quickly realized he didn’t have the legs to be that far up, and faded back into the 30s before beginning to claw his way back. He finished 21st, and is on track for Beijing.

Max Plaxton
After two disappointing DNFs, Plaxton started in 64th place. He pulled his way into the 50s before blowing up again and suffering another DNF.

The Americans

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski

JHK was the top American in Madrid

Photo: Rob Jones

JHK was the top American in Madrid in 15th, a welcomed result after his sub-stellar finishes in Houffalize (60th) and Offenburg (61st), both coming from flat tires. JHK started Madrid in 61st, far behind his American competition, Wells and Adam Craig, but chewed through 30 places on the opening lap. He rode consistently through laps two and three and caught the tail end of the front group by the fourth lap, riding as high as 13th place before finishing in 15h. The result effectively puts JHK back in the chase for the United States’ two men’s Olympic spots, which USA Cycling will choose based on a riders’ cumulative top-three finishes. But with only three races remaining, JHK is third in the chase and has no more room for mistakes.

Todd Wells

Wells briefly led the race, and finished 18th at Madrid

Photo: Rob Jones

Wells achieved his lifelong goal of leading a World Cup by grabbing the hole shot on the opening lap, sprinting ahead of world champ Julien Absalon. Wells stayed in the front group, but was unable to follow Absalon and Jose Hermida’s attack. The American popped out of the lead group on the fourth lap but kept the damage control to a minimum, crossing the line in 18th. With a 23rd, 18th and 11th, Wells is the front runner in the Olympic chase.

Adam Craig
Craig came into Madrid flying high after his 8th place finish in Offenburg. But the American suffered a nasty pileup during a training ride on the Thursday before the race, hitting the deck on a high-speed fire road descent. The injury, matched with sore legs from riding all week, sent Craig into an unimpressive 31st place. He slipped behind Wells in the American standings, but only by two points.

Jeremiah Bishop
After a week of stomach problems, Bishop was left without his usual pop. He crossed the line in 80th place in Madrid. Unless he can turn things around in the second half of the season, the Olympics are out of the picture.

Georgia Gould

Georgia Gould thrived on Madrid's fast course.

Photo: Rob Jones

The fast, cyclocross-like course in Madrid favored Gould, who is also one of the continent’s best female ’crossers. Gould rode just meters behind the lead group of Dahle Flesjå, Prémont and Marga Fullana, but admitted she lacked the wattage to make contact and not risk blowing up. While Gould couldn’t hang with a surging Sabine Spitz, she finished fifth, the top American for the third straight week.

Mary McConneloug
The technically savvy McConneloug didn’t have the power to ride with the top women in Madrid, and the buffed course didn’t cater to her strengths. Still, McConneloug limited the damage and posted another strong finish in the teens (15th). She is now in line to grab the United States’ second female spot.

Heather Irmiger
The ailing Irmiger rebounded from being pulled in Offenburg to finish 26th.