The Best Mountain Bikers

THE BEST MOUNTAIN BIKERS in the world must possess powerful legs, huge lung capacities, and fearless nerves. And nowhere are those characteristics more needed than in the relatively new sport of four-cross. At the 2003 Mountain Bike World Championships, the 4X event thrilled spectators with its high speeds, tight turns, and big jumps under the lights in Lugano, Switzerland.

Four-cross pits four riders against each other on a relatively short, technical track. Competitors go all out as they jockey to be the first to cross the finish line. In the men’s final, three Americans—Eric Carter, Brian Lopes, and Brian Schmith—faced off against the Czech Republic’s Michal Prokop, the No. 1 ranked rider in the world. Prokop proved his champion status again that night, exploding from the starting gate. Carter and Lopes tried to challenge, but Prokop held them off to earn the gold medal. Carter took home the silver with Lopes claiming the bronze.

On the women’s side, two Americans (Jill Kintner and Melissa Buhl) matched against the French duo of Anne-Caroline Chausson and Sabrina Jonnier. Kintner had the best jump out of the gate, but Chausson and Jonnier caught her by the first turn. Chausson, possibly the best female mountain biker of all time, added another gold to her collection of medals, while Jonnier ended up second, and Kintner picked up the bronze.

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POINT The Americans challenged at the World Mountain Biking Championships, but in the end the top-ranked riders stayed alert and walked away with the gold that crisp Swiss evening. Night contests under the lights can add a lot of excitement to sporting events. The fans in Switzerland certainly enjoyed the action of the 4X.

The Bible says Christians belong to the light. We aren’t part of the darkness. God’s light brings things to life and makes everything more vibrant and exciting, just like lights at a sporting event. Life without Christ is dull and pointless . . . like competing in the dark.

GOAL! Have you noticed that just a little light brings life to the darkness? Commit to God to be his light. Pray that he’ll give you the power to live an exciting life for him.