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

The 25-year-old cruised to victory by 41 seconds over Australia’s Zoe Cuthbert who came second, with South African Candice Lill taking the bronze.

Having struggled this season with injuries and Covid just two weeks ago, Richards’ preparations were less than ideal but she took the lead within the opening lap and never looked back, going one better than the silver she won in the 2018 Games in Australia.

She now adds Commonwealth gold to her growing CV, having won the World Championships last year after her maiden Olympic Games appearance in Tokyo, where she finished seventh.

After the race, she said: "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. From being world champion last June, this year has been a shambles. I had a bad back in February and this is the first race I have had this year with no pain and no tears.

"Just to finish a race, it sounds silly, but it is such a special moment. I have had everything from Covid to stomach bugs in Brazil, and everything in between, so just to put a race together, finish and be healthy means the world to me."

Richards was due to be taking part in the World Cup event in America this week but she pleaded with her team to let her take part in the Commonwealth Games.

Her family, including her grandma and grandad, were in attendance and Richards was depsperate to produce the goods in front of them at Cannock Chase.

"I was supposed to be out at the World Cup with my team but I just really wanted to be here.

"It's been a long time since my family have watched me race and for a world champion to be on home soil, it doesn't happen very often so I really wanted to be here and be with a home crowd and be part of the Commonwealth Games because it is so special to me.

"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."