Corinth’s Craig 18th in mountain biking event

MADRID, Spain – Adam Craig of Corinth earned a top-20 finish Sunday in the second International Cycling Union World Cup mountain biking cross country event of the season.

Craig, 23, finished 18th overall among a world-class field of riders, completing the Casa del Campos Park course in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 34 seconds. The top American in the field of 164 starters and 134 finishers, Craig finished 4:23 behind winner Julien Absalon of France, the reigning Olympic mountain biking gold medalist.

Craig’s finish came a week after he made his World Cup mountain biking marathon debut at Riva del Garda, Italy. The Giant Bicycles rider placed 20th in that event, completing the challenging 80-kilometer course in 3:30:39.

Craig and the UCI tour riders are now idle until Memorial Day weekend, when they will compete at Houffalize, Belgium, in Round 3 of the eight-stage cross country tour.