Road To 2012
Annie Last: “I’ll give everything for a medal at London 2012”

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Speaking for the first time in Olympic year, Annie Last has outlined her goals for 2012 including a World Championship gold medal.

The British Cycling Olympic Academy athlete enjoyed her most successful season to-date in 2011, with two top-ten senior World Cup finishes and a second silver medal at the under-23 World Championships – but in 2012 hopes to go one better after targeting the Olympic Games.

“The opportunity to represent Great Britain at the London Olympic Games is one I want to take hold of with both hands” said Last “and I am working as hard as I can everyday to be the best prepared I can be. I am still a young developing rider and I am up against the best bike riders in the world, but with the home crowd behind me I believe I can do myself, my family and the nation proud.

"A medal is a challenging target as Britain has never medalled at the Olympics in mountain biking before, however I will give everything I have on the day to achieve it. The World Championships in Austria follow the Olympic Games three weeks later and I will be looking to win my first world title here.”

Last was speaking before hosting a skills masterclass for women at mountain bike facility Lee Quarry, part of another challenge for the 21-year-old, who hopes to introduce more women to the joys of cycling off-road through a series of free coaching days for all abilities.

After divulging some trade secrets and with local women inspired for their next mountain biking adventure, Last continued to prepare for the forthcoming UCI World Cup Series which starts on March 22 in South Africa and is critical for Olympic qualification.