Julien Absalon from France cycles to win third place at the men's cross country event at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Champery, September 3, 2011. REUTERS/Valentin Flauraud (SWITZERLAND - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

Julien Absalon from France cycles to win third place at the men's cross country event at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Champery, September 3, 2011. REUTERS/Valentin Flauraud (SWITZERLAND - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon leads the Men's Cross Country Mountain Biking test event at Hadleigh Farm, east of London July 31, 2011. The mountain biking was one of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) test events for the London 2012 Olympics Games. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon leads the Men's Cross Country Mountain Biking test event at Hadleigh Farm, east of London July 31, 2011. The mountain biking was one of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) test events for the London 2012 Olympics Games. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon leads the Men's Cross Country Mountain Biking test event at Hadleigh Farm, east of London July 31, 2011. The mountain biking was one of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) test events for the London 2012 Olympics Games. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon wins the Men's Cross Country Mountain Biking test event at Hadleigh Farm, east of London July 31, 2011. The mountain biking was one of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) test events for the London 2012 Olympics Games. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon (bottom L) leads the Men's Cross Country Mountain Biking test event at Hadleigh Farm, east of London July 31, 2011. The mountain biking was one of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) test events for the London 2012 Olympics Games. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon cycles during the men's cross country at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Mount Ste-Anne, Beaupre, September 4, 2010. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

Switzerland's Nino Schurter (L) and France's Julien Absalon (R) cycle during the men's cross country at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Mount Ste-Anne, Beaupre, September 4, 2010. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon reacts after the men's cross country at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Mount Ste-Anne, Beaupre, September 4, 2010. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA - Tags: SPORT CYCLING HEADSHOT) 

France's Julien Absalon (C), Spain's Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (L) and Canada's Geoff Kabush (R) celebrate on the podium after the men's UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross-country competition at Mount Ste-Anne in Beaupre, July 26, 2009. Absalon won the competition, Hermida Ramos finished second and Kabush finished third. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon celebrates during the men's UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross-country competition at Mount Ste-Anne in Beaupre, July 26, 2009. Absalon won the competition. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA SPORT CYCLING) 

France's Julien Absalon cycles during the men's UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross-country competition at Mount Ste-Anne in Beaupre, July 26, 2009. Absalon won the competition. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA SPORT CYCLING) 

Julien Absalon of France competes in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA) 

Julien Absalon of France competes in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA) 

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France (R) is surrounded by fans and media after winning the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France competes in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France competes in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (CHINA)

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France (R) and his compatriot silver medallist Jean-Christophe Peraud walk to the podium for the medal presentation ceremony after the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA)

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France (C), his compatriot silver medallist Jean-Christophe Peraud (L) and bronze medallist Nino Schurter of Switzerland celebrate on the podium after the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA) 

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France (C), his compatriot silver medallist Jean-Christophe Peraud (L) and bronze medallist Nino Schurter of Switzerland celebrate on the podium after the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA)

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France (C), his compatriot silver medallist Jean-Christophe Peraud (L) and bronze medallist Nino Schurter of Switzerland celebrate on the podium after the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA)

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France (L) and his compatriot silver medallist Jean-Christophe Peraud hold their medals on the podium after the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France (L) and his compatriot silver medallist Jean-Christophe Peraud hold their medals on the podium after the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France bites his medal on the podium after the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Gold medallist Julien Absalon of France (L) and his compatriot silver medallist Jean-Christophe Peraud bite their medals on the podium after the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France shakes hands with supporters after crossing the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France shakes hands with supporters after crossing the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France celebrates as he arrives to crosse the finish line and win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France waves to supporters after winning the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France celebrates after winning the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA) 

Julien Absalon of France celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France competes in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France competes in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (CHINA)

Julien Absalon of France (front) and Marco Aurelio Fontana of Italy compete in the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CHINA)

France's Julien Absalon smiles after winning the men's UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross-country competition at Mount Ste-Anne in Beaupre July 27, 2008. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

France's Julien Absalon cycles during the men's UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross-country competition at Mount Ste-Anne in Beaupre July 27, 2008. Absalon won the race. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

France's Julien Absalon cycles during the men's UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross-country competition at Mount Ste-Anne in Beaupre July 27, 2008. Absalon won the race. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

France's Julien Absalon waves to the crowd during the men's UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross-country competition at Mount Ste-Anne in Beaupre July 27, 2008. Absalon won the race. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

France's Julien Absalon smiles after winning the UCI cross-country mountain bike world cup at Mount Ste-Anne in Quebec City June 23, 2007. REUTERS / Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

France's Julien Absalon celebrates after winning the UCI cross-country mountain bike world cup at Mount Ste-Anne in Quebec City June 23, 2007. REUTERS / Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

France's Julien Absalon cycles during the UCI cross-country mountain bike world cup at Mount Ste-Anne in Quebec City June 23, 2007. Absalon won the race. REUTERS / Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

France's Julien Absalon cycles during the UCI cross-country mountain bike world cup at Mount Ste-Anne in Quebec City June 23, 2007. Absalon won the race. REUTERS / Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

France's Julien Absalon celebrates after winning the UCI cross-country mountain bike world cup at Mount Ste-Anne in Quebec City June 23, 2007. REUTERS / Mathieu Belanger (CANADA) 

World Cup leader Julien Absalon of France races during the men's mountain bike cross country World Cup final in Schladming September 9, 2006. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader (AUSTRIA) 

France's Peraud displays his gold medal next to Absalon and Bui at European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race. France's Jean-Christophe Peraud (C) displays his gold medal next to compatriot Julien Absalon (L) who was second and Italy's Marco Bui (R) who was third place at the European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race in Kluisbergen, July 31, 2005. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir 

France's Peraud cycles to win European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race in Kluisbergen. France's Jean-Christophe Peraud cycles to win the European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race in Kluisbergen July 31, 2005. Peraud won ahead of compatriot Julien Absalon and Italy's Marco Bui who took third place. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir 

France's Peraud climbs hill during European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race in Kluisbergen. France's Jean-Christophe Peraud climbs a hill during the European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race in Kluisbergen July 31, 2005. Peraud won ahead of compatriot Julien Absalon and Italy's Marco Bui who took third place. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir 

France's Jean-Christophe Peraud cycles to win the European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race in Kluisbergen July 31, 2005. Peraud won ahead of compatriot Julien Absalon and Italy's Marco Bui who took the third place. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir FLR/KS 

France's Jean-Christophe Peraud bites his gold medal after winning the European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race in Kluisbergen July 31, 2005. Peraud won ahead of compatriot Julien Absalon and Italy's Marco Bui who took the third place. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir FLR/KS 

France's Jean-Christophe Peraud celebrates after crossing the finishing line of the European Championships men's cross-country mountain bike race in Kluisbergen, Belgium July 31, 2005. Peraud won ahead of compatriot Julien Absalon and Italy's Marco Bui who took the third place. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir FLR/CN 

France's Julien Absalon (C) celebrates winning gold in the the men's Olympic mountain bike cross country race at the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games August 28, 2004. Spain's Jose Antonio Hermida (L) won silver and Netherlands' Bart Brentjens won bronze (R) . 

France's Julien Absalon celebrates winning gold in the the men's Olympic mountain bike cross country race at the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games August 28, 2004. [Spain's Jose Antonio Hermida won silver and Holland's Bart Brentjens won bronze.] 

France's Julien Absalon celebrates with his country's flag after winning the gold medal in the men's mountain bike event during the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games, August 28, 2004.