Annie Last made history as she became the first British woman in 20 years to win at the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup.
Olympian Last took the lead with two laps to go of six in Lenzerheide and held off the challenge of Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja to take victory.
The 26-year-old is the first British woman to win the elite women’s race since Caroline Alexander took victory at St Wendel, Germany in 1997.
History made
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) July 10, 2017
Watch @annielast1 become the first woman in years to win elite race at UCI MTB Cross-country World Cup.#UCIMTBWC pic.twitter.com/QEcK4k0Xof
“I’ve had a tough couple of years, even to be racing at the front felt incredible. It’s not sunk in yet, unbelievable. I’m so happy,” Last said.
OMX Pro Team’s Last made a superb start from her gridding of 17th and was up to seventh after the first lap.
By the end of lap three Last was within 20 seconds of the top four of Yana Belomoina, Jolanda Neff, Maja Wloszczowska and Dahle Flesja.
Annie Last takes her maiden World Cup victory, and first ever Elite podium for @OMXProTeam.
— UCI MTB (@UCI_MTB) July 9, 2017
Congratulations @AnnieLast1! #UCIMTBWC
As Last grew stronger, Neff and Wloszczowska faded with Belomoina and Dahle Flesja unable to distance the Briton.
Last made the decisive moved on lap five with only Dahle Flesja, record win holder in the world cup, able to keep within striking distance.
But Last kept her composure and showed remarkable strength and skill to hold off the Norwegian for a famous win.
Richards third in under-23 race
Great Britain Cycling Team's Evie Richards continued her impressive UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season with third in the under-23 women’s race in Lenzerhiede.
The 20-year-old finished one minute behind American Kate Courtney in Switzerland, as she recorded her fourth podium in as many rounds.
Home rider Sina Frei was second with the result leaving Richards third overall in the standings with two rounds remaining.
Well done @eviee_alicee!
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) July 9, 2017
It's rd for the in the under-23 women's cross-country race at #UCMTBWC
Another podium pic.twitter.com/WIvg5C7ccB
lsla Short impressed with 13th place while Ella Conolly was pulled from the race on lap four.
Strong start
A superb start from the British under-23 champion saw her lead after two of the five laps with a 10-second gap.
But Courtney and Frei brought Richards back on lap three with the American under-23 champion pushing on alone to leave Richards and Frei to work together.
Home favourite Frei then made her bid for second with two laps to go and that order remained to give Courtney her second win of the series.
29th for Clacherty
Frazer Clacherty continued his season with a 29th-place finish in the under-23 men’s race. The 19-year-old, who took a career-best sixth at round two in Albstadt, completed the seven laps in 1:34:31.
It's 2th for @FrazerClacherty in the under-23 men's race at #UCIMTBWC
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) July 9, 2017
Another valuable racing experience for the 19-year-old. pic.twitter.com/aeQ1evIx9t
Latvian Martins Blums won in 1:28:48 with Clacherty now 19th in the overall standings.
