Evie Richards

Richards, who was the silver medallist four years ago on the Gold Coast behind team-mate Annie Last, had played down her medal hopes after battling back ...

“I knew I wasn’t the strongest but I just had to try… I hope I didn’t scare the family too much. I had a bad back in February and this is the first race with no pain, no tears. Richards attacked from the start, building a lead of over 30 seconds after just two laps. “I was really shocked,” she said. “I’ve had a terrible year,” the 25-year-old said.

Malvern has a new Commonwealth Games champion after Evie Richards won gold in the Women's Cross-Country Mountain Bike event at Cannock Chase.

"Just to finish a race, it sounds silly, but it is such a special moment. "To be here with my family watching just means the world and I couldn't imagine a more special moment having them here with me." "I have had a terrible year.

Evie Richards produced a dominant performance to add a Commonwealth Games mountain bike gold medal to the world title the English rider won last year.

Mountain Bike "Birmingham 2022 have put on a brilliant event. Mountain Bike

MALVERN cyclist Evie Richards put in a superb ride to take gold for Team England in the Moutain Biking at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Evie had a tough battle to be fit for the games, suffering from Covid and a back injury in the run up to Birmingham 2022. Athletes got to test their bravery, fitness and endurance to the full as the route took competitors through some stunning countryside with spectators mingling among the trees to cheer Evie and her fellow racers on. MALVERN cyclist Evie Richards put in a superb ride to take gold for Team England in the Moutain Biking at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Team England;s Evie Richards stormed to an incredible gold medal after a dominant performance in the women's mountain bike race at the Birmingham ...

Blackmore chased, dropping Orr in the process, but it wasn’t meant to be for the Scotsman, as he slipped on the grass section, breaking his derailleur and putting him out of contention for a medal. The sixth lap saw Gaze ride away from Oliver, establishing himself as the strongest rider on the day. "I just really wanted to put on a bit of a show today and try and inspire some younger girls to see what they can do in the future. World champion Richards and Scotland’s Isla Short set the pace early on, opening a gap on the first lap, with Candice Lill of South Africa and Australia’s Zoe Cuthbert chasing. It's been a long time since my family have watched me race and to be a world champion on home soil, it doesn't happen very much." I've got amazing coaches, an amazing psychologist, and a great family, so they do the best job of managing the pressure for me.

When you have battled through a bad back, Brazilian stomach bugs and Covid, a late slip was never going to derail Evie Richards' Commonwealth dreams.

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Malvern has a new Commonwealth Games champion after Evie Richards won gold in the Women's Cross-Country Mountain Bike event at Cannock Chase.

"Just to finish a race, it sounds silly, but it is such a special moment. "To be here with my family watching just means the world and I couldn't imagine a more special moment having them here with me." "I have had a terrible year.