Stevie Smith, so fast. Only one fella was faster on this day.

Gee is the man. Every time he put a number plate on his bike this year he won or came darn close. Other racers opted not to show up at Crankworx in Whistler to save themselves for the World Cup finals and the World Champs. Gee showed up in Whistler, winning the gnarly Canadian Open downhill, followed by winning the World Cup title a few days later. He came down second to last at Mont-Sainte-Anne in a driving rain and finished fifth.

Minnaarly, disappointed with the bronze, and rightfully so.

Tyler Allison is a super-quick Canadian junior. Get used to hearing his name. He's also an Olympic-hopeful ski racer.

The Monster/Specialized team has two Australians; both won World Championships in 2010. Troy Brosnan en route to his junior division victory.

Lewis Buchanan’s breakout season culminated with a third place at the 2010 World Championships in the junior division. He's sporting the new Herman Munster, err, Greg Minnaar shoes.

The American women weren’t in contention for the podium. Melissa Buhl on her way to 16^th.

A race-run crash ruined Rachel Atherton’s weekend.

All Brad Benedict did this year was surpass all expectations by going fast. Thirty-eighth in the world at Mont-Sainte-Anne following up a fifth place at the U.S. National Champs.

France’s Romain Paulhan on his way to 15^th place in Elite downhill.

Tough day at the office for Mitch Delfs. He wadded hard 10 seconds before the finish line. Breaking the visor is such a kick in the um, helmet....

Aaron Gwin is the fourth fastest downhiller in the world, just missing the podium. The last American to land on the World’s podium was Myles Rockwell when he won the title in 2000. Eric Carter scored the bronze in 1999.

I met this junior racer from South Africa in the gondola (sorry brother, forgot your name). Running Maxxis High Rollers front and rear in the rain? No wonder he’s covered in mud.

I interviewed Shaun O'Connor for our "Young Ripper" feature in 2009. He broke his chain in the first turn during his race run. Good things to come from this guy, for sure.

Brook MacDonald raced to 12th place in Elite men.

The first-ever downhill World Champ HB in the legends race.

The 4-Cross race was ridiculously dark. Turns out lighting the course with bug zappers didn’t cut it. The only goggles these guys needed were the night vision variety. American Blake Carney getting after it.

The last American man to medal at the World Champs was Myles Rockwell in 2000. He also won the legends short track race.

BMX pro turned 4-Crosser Barry Nobles was the highest placing American in seventh. It’s not often a fella leads Michal Prokop for very long. They don’t just hand out those Red Bull helmets from sending in proof of purchases. Otherwise, I’d have 47.

Foggy memories of Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Kyle Strait raced with a broken hand, crashed in his race run, and finished 56^th. He finished 15^th in the world last year.

The King finished seventh. This year, someone else named Steve finished in second place.

Beaumont sixth. The high-speed, wide-open course dove into wet and slimy rock sections.

Trying to make xc racing a little more interesting…

Julien Absalon dominates. His multiple world titles are book-ended by Olympic victories. Somehow, he finished fifth at Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Adam Craig is one of the best mountain bikers in the world. He happens to choose to race cross-country.

Best cell phone photo ever shot. Willow bringing home the bronze.

Todd Wells crushed the U.S. cross-country scene in 2010. Kabush in pursuit.

The U.S. has a sick amount of downhill talent between the ages of 16 and 24 years old. SoCal’s Bryson Martin Jr. is as fast as they come. Turns out he needs some wheels to support him. Martin’s race run was ruined by a flat tire.

The RockShox Boxxer Worlds went down at Mont-Sainte-Anne. Suspension icon John Dawson goes toe-to-toe with his understudy Evan.

 Story and photos by Ryan Cleek