Craig second in race

WINDHAM, N.Y. – Exeter native Adam Craig tuned up for the U.S. Mountain Bike Championships with a second-place effort Saturday in the men’s elite cross country race at the East Coast Nationals at Windham Mountain.

Craig, who will represent the United States at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, lost by the width of a front wheel to Mathieu Toulouse of Montreal, Quebec. Both riders were timed in 1 hour, 35 minutes, 11 seconds after four laps of the new 4.8-mile course.

Craig, 26, led after the first two laps and was second to fellow American Jeremiah Bishop entering the final lap. Bishop faltered and Toulouse surged to the lead. Craig caught up to the Canadian entering the final sprint, but Toulouse was able to hold off Craig.

Craig, a member of the Giant Mountain Bike Team, will attempt to defend his 2007 U.S. national cross country championship at Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt., next weekend before heading to Quebec for back-to-back International Cycling Union World Cup races at Mont Sainte-Anne and Bromont the next two weeks as he gears up for the Olympic men’s mountain bike race on Aug. 23.