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Great Britain mountain bike rider Annie Last continued her build up to the London Olympic Games as she triumphed in the Davos BMC Racing Cup on Sunday, beating current Olympic champion Sabine Spitz and silver medallist Maja Wloszczowska in the elite women’s race.
Last came home in 1:15.55 in Davos, Switzerland, on a course which had been subject to heavy rainfall during the weekend. Beijing silver medallist Maja Wloszczowska of Poland came in second, 13 seconds back whilst Germany’s Sabine Spitz managed third, one minute and 32 seconds back.
The win continues British Cycling Academy Programme rider Last’s strong form ahead of the elite women’s Olympic cross-country race on Saturday 11 August, having finished ninth in each of the last two rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup at Mont Sainte Anne, Canada and Windham, USA respectively.
“We’re now looking to put the last part of the plan together which is the final push towards the Games, to get her in the best shape she has ever been in to start the Games.”
British Cycling’s Olympic Mountain Bike coach Phil Dixon
In the elite men’s competition, Kenta Gallagher, also on the Academy programme came in 11th, three minutes and 33 seconds back from winner Lukas Flückiger. For Gallagher, it follows 8th and 10th place world cup finishes in the under 23 category.
British Cycling’s Olympic Mountain Bike coach Phil Dixon said of Last’s performance: “She obviously still an under 23 rider, she’s consistently a top 10 rider in the world cups.”
“We’re now looking to put the last part of the plan together which is the final push towards the Games, to get her in the best shape she has ever been in to start the Games.”
Result
Elite women
1. Annie Last (Gbr)
2. Maja Wloszczowska
3. Sabine Spitz
Elite women
1. Lukas Flückiger
2. Martin Gujan
3. Daniel McConnell
other
11. Kenta Gallagher (Gbr)
