Bread rises, Hope falls

Despite a minor win, the 1999 and 2005 gold medal winning American team has lost its gold medal ranking to the French in the 2008 Baking World Cup competition.

Team France ended its 12-year losing streak when it rose to the top with its high scores in three out of four categories of bread baking. The French dominated with their authentic light and crusty baguettes, elegant Viennese pastry (yeasted sweet bread) and an elaborate bread masterpiece dedicated to the female form in an haute couture doughy outfit. The American team won the Pastry competition, but the sweetness of their high scores was not enough to overcome the bitterness of walking away without even a single medal. Bakers from Taiwan finished second and Italy won bronze. The two-time winning American team and 2002 Japanese champions finished without any medals.