Silver lining for Sydor's year

ARE, Sweden (CP) -- Alison Sydor capped another remarkable season by claiming the silver medal in the women's cross-country race at the world mountain-biking championships yesterday.

It was the second medal for Canada after Sydor helped a relay team win bronze on Wednesday.

Margarita Fullana of Spain, a three-time winner on the World Cup circuit this season, staved off a strong challenge from Sydor and Olympic champion Paola Pezzo of Italy to win the 35.9-km race in two hours 31 minutes and 59 seconds.

Sydor, who won the overall World Cup title two weeks ago in Belgium and who is a three-time world champion, raced for the lead in the first lap but slowed her pace in the second lap when she realized she wasn't making up time on Fullana. She finished in 2:33.46 -- 1:47 behind the winner.

"At some point you have to accept that you're not making up any advantage," said Sydor of North Vancouver, B.C.

"I was riding to win in the first lap and a half, and I realized I was going a bit too hard for such a long race. I checked my pace a little bit and got my heart rate down, then I had a good last lap."

Canadian champion Chrissy Redden of Campbellville was 20th after the first lap but climbed back to finish 14th.

Sydor, 33, and Redden will also compete at the world road cycling championships next month in Verona, Italy.