Silver For Evie Richards AT UCI Mountain Bike World Cup

Great Britain Cycling Team’s Evie Richards reached her first international mountain bike podium of the year as she took the silver medal at the first cross-country UCI Mountain Bike World Cup of 2017 in the Czech Republic.

The 2016 under-23 cyclo-cross world champion has high hopes for herself in the mountain bike cross-country discipline, with a podium finish at the world championships in Cairns this September set firmly in her sights.

She got knocked down, but she got up again…@eviee_alicee wins silver despite an first lap crashhttps://t.co/79vIR1udNY#UCIMTBWC pic.twitter.com/pjhJysE0gz

— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) May 21, 2017

After missing her pedal on the start, Richards went out hard on the start loop, in order to split the race.

The British team had prepared for the Nove Mesto course, where racing in groups can often be slower as they stall the riders’ rhythm over the roots, while the repeated climbs makes aero gains from drafting negligible.

Richards pushed on through the back end of the start loop in first place, together with American rider Kate Courtney and the pair got a good gap on the chasing field.

A crash for Richards on the rock garden gave Courtney the gap over the British rider on the first main lap, but Richards regained her rhythm and crossed the line in second place.

Down but not out.

?? @eviee_alicee battled back from an early crash to take 2⃣nd in the under-23 race at #UCIMTBWC #MondayMotivaton pic.twitter.com/8X2Go43UIV

— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) May 22, 2017

Mountain bike cross-country lead coach Simon Watts said that, despite her early fall, he was pleased to see Richards regain a good pace and hold her advantage.

“It’s a really solid start to the World Cup calendar,” he said.

“Next week will be tough, with Albstadt’s savage climbs.”

Senior Academy rider Ella Conolly unfortunately did not finish the race, having to retire due to illness – although pre race information told us her focus was on getting a good first lap time. Also in the U23 Women, former BC program rider Isla Short took 14th place. Elite Men’s UK hopeful Grant Ferguson just snuck in before the final couple of finishers, while U23 Frazer Clacherty finished in 40th place, well inside the top half of the field. Annie Last took 10th place in the Women’s Elite race – could this be the start of a good season?

Full results of the races are here.

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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