EVIE Richards started her first UCI Junior XCO Series in style with a silver medal for Great Britain at the opening round in Montichiari, Italy.

The 18-year-old Chase School student, part of the Olympic development programme, led for the first two laps and took her place on the junior women’s podium behind winner Ida Jansson from Sweden.

Richards, one of the many talented mountain bike riders being produced at Malvern Cycle Sport, crossed the line well ahead of the Italian champion and one minute and six seconds behind Jansson at Trofeo Delcar.

She said: “The course was very tough and technical. This aside, I loved training at Lake Garda, and racing in a beautiful town was a wonderful experience.’’

British Cycling Olympic development programme coach Simon Watts said: “Evie rode strongly, as we know she can.

“She continues to develop rapidly and still has huge amounts that will improve. We are pleased with the result but know there are a lot of things that also need working on.”

Richards next competes for T-Mo Racing in the national series in Plymouth before moving on to races in Austria and Germany.