"Olympic champion Julien Absalon (France) showed up at the start line for the men's cross-country resplendent in gold - gold helmet, gold shoes, mostly gold bike. Whether it was the gold accoutrements, or the partisan French crowd, Absalon rode to a decisive victory, adding the elite title to his previous Junior and Under 23 titles. French team mate Cedric Ravanel took the silver medal, and Thomas Frischknecht (Switzerland) the bronze, an incredible 15 years after winning silver in the first mountain bike world championships, in Durango, Colorado"
in http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb/2004/MTBworlds04/?id=results/MTBworlds0414
in http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb/2004/MTBworlds04/?id=results/MTBworlds0414