Maxxis riders Sabrina Jonnier and Sam Hill took their first Mountain Bike World championships, and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa added yet another win to her legendary resume. The championships also featured a double Maxxis victory in the junior downhill category.

Dahle Flesjaa won her third straight women’s cross country World Championship, a feat accomplished by only one other rider in the history of the contest. Crossing the finish line in 1.55.20, she told cyclingnews.com that she felt ready for the competition: "I did everything perfect for this race, I could tell all week that my legs were good. In the descent, I had pretty good control today, so I think that is where I was able to make most of my time." Dahle Flesjaa, an Olympic gold medalist, was called “the strongest woman in mountain biking” by cyclingnews.com after her victory.

Hill, of Monster Energy/Iron Horse/Mad Catz, took the men’s downhill title, finishing in 3.11.03. "I'm actually pretty surprised to be up here; I didn't think I could make up that much time from qualifying. My run was flawless. I tried to be smooth; not lose too much time in the technical bits, and start pedaling right away when I was through them," he told cyclingnews.com. This victory capped an amazing August for the 21-year old rider, who clinched the 2006 NORBA downhill championship earlier in the month. Hill is a veteran of the MTB World’s, having earned a bronze and a silver medal in previous years.

Greg Minnaar of G-Cross Honda nabbed the second spot on the men’s downhill podium. Hill’s teammate Jonnier won the women’s downhill in 3.50.32, with Kona Les Gets’ Tracy Moseley in second place.

Orange/Utopia’s Tracy Hannah won the women’s junior downhill in 4:07.07, while Cameron Cole took the men’s title in 3:28.29. Like Hill, Hannah also took a NORBA title earlier in August, winning the 2006 women’s downhill.

Maxxis congratulates these riders on their amazing achievements, and thanks them for proving again that champions choose Maxxis.