The Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team was in Houffalize, Belgium, over the weekend for round 2 of the UCI World Cup Cross-Country Series. Showing its depth at one of mountain biking’s classic venues, the team scored top-10 finishes in the elite men, elite women and under-23 races.

French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prevot led the way with a strong fourth-place finish in the elite women’s race on her XtC Composite 29er. Ferrand-Prevot, an Olympic hopeful for the 2012 London Games, has emerged this year as a top World Cup XC contender. After two races, she is ranked fifth overall in the series and is the highest-ranked Under-23 woman.

In the elite men’s race, Swiss rider Fabian Giger rode his XtC Composite 29er to a strong 10th-place finish on the technical course in Houffalize. Giger is now 10th overall in the World Cup rankings.

Finally, in the Under-23 men's race, Dutch rider Michiel van der Hiejden finished sixth. Van der Heijden, the Dutch U23 national champion, is now sixth overall in the series.