With the World Cup already decided both among the men and the women, the final round was mainly a catching-up exercise. And Christoph Sauser made the most of it. Fourth in Beijing, the World Champion saw his hopes of winning the World Cup dashed after his twelfth place at the prior round in Canberra, Australia. The Swiss rider therefore had nothing to lose. Two years after his first victory in Austria, the Specialized rider took another victory (the thirteenth of his career). It secured him second place in the overall rankings with two stage victories (Vallnord and Schladming). Most importantly, it was his first win while wearing the fresh rainbow jersey!
 
Regular throughout this season, Jose Hermida finished in second place in Austria and took third place overall. The surprise came from the Spaniard Ivan Gutierrez, who finished the Austrian race in third place. In the Under-23 category, Burry Stander (GT) held onto his leader’s jersey and won his first overall U23 World Cup. Next year, he should be the big boss of this category.
 
After her second place at the Olympic Games, Maja Wloszczowski said: "I am the happiest girl in the world.” The Polish rider should stay happy for a while. At 24 years old, she won the first World Cup race of her career. Irina Kalentieva took second place just ahead of Marie-Helene Premont, who can enjoy a first victory in the overall World Cup Series. Tereza Hurikova, unhappy in Beijing after pulling out early on, won the overall ranking in the Under-23 category.
 
SCHLADMING WORLD CUP XC RESULTS
1. Christoph Sauser (Swi)...Specialized...1.57.56
2. Jose Hermida (Spa)...Multivan Merida...+0.19
3. Ivan Gutierrez (Spa)...Giant Italia...1.09
4. Lukas Fluckiger (Swi)...Athleticum-MTB...2.20
5. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze)...Czech National...2.51
6. Moritz Milatz (Ger)...Multivan Merida...3.10
7. Florian Vogel (Swi)...Swisspower...3.23
8. Adam Craig (USA)...Giant...3.32
9. Matthias Fluckiger (Swi)...Athleticum-MTB...3.44 (Top U23)
10. Burry Stander (RSA)...GT...3.53 (U23)
11. Todd Wells (USA)...GT...4.09
12.Geoff Kabush (Can)...Maxxis...4.14
71. Barry Wicks (USA)...Kona ...-2 laps                                          
WOMEN
1. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)...Halls Professional...1.26.42
2. Irina Kalentieva (Rus)...Topeak-Ergon...+0.37
3. Marie-Helene Premont (Can)...Rocky Mountain...1.05
4. Margarita Fullana (Spa)...Massi...1.17
5. Sabine Spitz (Ger)...Central Ghost...2.26
6. Rosara Joseph (Nzl)...Ghost...2.55
7. Katerina Nash (Cze)...Luna CHIX...3.19
8. Catharine Pendrel (Can)...Luna CHIX...3.39
9. Petra Henzi (Swi)...Fischer-BMC...3.47
10.Elisabeth Osl (Aut)...Ghost...4.01
13. Tereza Hurikova (Cze)...Ceska Sporitelna...5.30 (Top U23)
14. Georgia Gould (USA)...Luna CHIX...6.26
19. Willow Koerber (USA)...Subaru-Gary Fisher...9.17
 
FINAL 2008 WORLD CUP XC STANDINGS
1. Julien Absalon (Fra)...Orbea...1340 points
2. Christoph Sauser (Swi)...Specialized...1195
3. Jose Hermida (Spa)...Multivan Merida...1064
4. Geoff Kabush (Can)...Maxxis...1030
5. Burry Stander (RSA)...GT...992 (TOP U23)
6. Adam Craig (USA)...Giant...878
7. Florian Vogel (Swi)...Swisspower...848
8. Nino Schurter (Swi)...Swisspower...808 (U23)
9. Lukas Flückiger (Swi)...Athleticum-MTB...808
10.Todd Wells (USA)...GT...803
 
WALL OF FAME
EVERY AMERICAN TO EARN 2008 WORLD CUP XC POINTS
29.Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski...Subaru-Gary Fisher...313 points---43. Michael Broderick...Kenda-Seven...220---52. Jeremiah Bishop...Trek-VW...171---55. Samuel Schultz...Subaru-Gary Fisher...156---69. Barry Wicks...Kona...102---89. Carl Decker...Giant...68---105. Spencer Paxson...S&M Young Guns...51---129. Tad Elliot...U23 National...32 (U23)---149. Adam Snyder...3D...26---155. Andrew Freye...Bikeman-Salsa...19---158. Troy Wells...Tokyo Joe's...17---163. Cody Peterson...Scott Bike...16---166. Ross Schnell...Trek-VW...15---171. Ethan Gilmour...U23 National...13 (U23)
 
FINAL 2008 WORLD CUP XC WOMEN STANDINGS
1. Marie-Helene Premont (Can)...Rocky Mountain...1580 points
2. Catharine Pendrel (Can)...Luna CHIX...1243
3. Margarita Fullana Riera (Spa)...Massi...1060
4. Irina Kalentieva (Rus)...Topeak-Ergon...900
5. Georgia Gould (USA)...Luna CHIX...890
6. Lene Byberg (Nor)...Specialized...870
7. Katerina Nash (Cze)...Luna CHIX...811
8. Tereza Hurikova (Cze)...Ceska Sporitelna...798 (Top U23)
9. Mary Mcconneloug (USA)...Kenda-Seven...723
10.Sabine Spitz (Ger)...Central Ghost...675
 
WALL OF FAME
EVERY AMERICAN WOMAN TO EARN 2008 WORLD CUP XC POINTS
21.Willow Koerber...Subaru-Gary Fisher...416 points---32. Heather Irmiger...Subaru-Gary Fisher...322---33. Lea Davison...Trek-VW...309---49. Susan Haywood...Trek-VW...163---100. Kelli Emmett...Giant...56---103. Kyia Anderson...Ekho-Cannondale...54---117. Caitlyn Tuel...Trek-VW...28
 
TOP 10 WORLD CUP XC SERIES TEAMS
1. Orbea...467 points
2. Swisspower MTB Team...409
3. GT Bicycles...347
4. Athleticum-MTB-Team...326
5. Multivan Merida Biking Team...301
6. Specialized Factory Racing...301
7. Giant Mountain Bike Team...290
8. Cannondale-Vredestein...279
9. Team Maxxis...220
10. Team Lapierre International...136
WOMEN
1. Luna CHIX...578 points
2. Rocky Mountain...306
3. Massi...213
4. Team Ghost International...211
5. Team Lapierre International...201
6. Specialized Factory Racing...179
7. Ceska Sporitelna MTB...163
8. Colnago Cap Arreghini...151
9. Topeak Ergon Racing Team...150
10. Central Ghost Pro Team...150