UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 9, Men's 4X Final, - - BikeRadar

Men's 4X final: - km

World Cup men's 4X: protests mar finals

During practice the course was dry and fast (Luke Webber)

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Under heavy rains and in the most bizarre circumstances, the four cross World Cup Finals will not be remembered for close racing or a battle to the final, but rather for Roger Rinderknecht's protests.

In the semi-finals, Rinderknecht claimed Romain Saladini (Team Sunn) cut a flag and was not penalised - dumping the Swiss rider from the finals. What followed was an official protest and then an unofficial one, which consisted of Rinderknecht walking up the start straight and refusing to let the final start.

After 15 minutes, the decision was finally taken that the original result would stand and Rinderknecht was to ride in the small final only - a race he ran away with, crossing the line with his hands over his eyes, still clearly angry about a decision which cost him a shot at the win.

More controversially, it was Saladini who went on to win the final in a thrilling race. Within the first 50 meters Jakub Hindak and Joost Wichman (Cannondale Factory Racing) collided, leaving Dan Atherton (Animcal Commencal) to pass Saladini on the first corner. The Frenchman Saladini, however, had in mind Atherton's weakness - a longer sweeping bend halfway down the track, on which Atherton had been struggling all night. Saladini made his move here and despite a desperate attempt on the lower reaches of the course, Atherton could not overtake him for the win.

The battle for the overall World Cup series was decided far earlier in the evening. When Rafa Alvarez took an early exit in the quarter finals, there were rumours the World Champion's luck had run out. Obviously not enjoying the rain and sporting a black jacket for the heats, the pressure fell to title contender Guido Tschugg.

Paired against Atherton and Cedric Gracia (Commencal - Furious - Oakley Team) - who had been racing aggressively all night - Tschugg was bullied out of the race in the first corner as Gracia made an impossible pass from fourth to second. By the finish, Hnidak had profited from Gracia and Tschugg's battle which ultimately benefited neither rider.

Alvarez, in his first international campaign, has captured the clean sweep in four cross by winning both the World Championship and World Cup. Next year it will be interesting to see if his dominant form continues with the return of Michal Prokop and Jared Graves.

MEN'S 4X FINAL RESULTS

For full results see Cyclingnews.com