Craig takes fourth in Quebec

MONT SAINTE-ANNE, Quebec – Exeter native Adam Craig matched a career-best in International Cycling Union World Cup mountain bike competition with a fourth-place finish Sunday in an elite men’s cross country race at this resort north of Quebec City.

Reigning Olympic champion Julien Absalon of France won the six-lap race in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 44 seconds, 2:33 ahead of Canadian Geoff Kabush.

Burry Stander, an under-23 rider from South Africa, was third, 4:53 behind Absalon and 24 seconds ahead of Craig.

Craig, who rides for the Giant Mountain Bike Team and will represent the United States in the Summer Olympics in Beijing next month, ran a steady overall race and passed several riders on the final laps to earn his first World Cup podium finish of the season.

The performance also moved Craig up from 16th place to ninth place in the World Cup point standings entering next weekend’s race in Bromont, Quebec, just outside of Montreal.