MALVERN’S Evie Richards took a superb third place for Great Britain against world-class opposition at round two of the UCI XCO Junior Series in Haiming, Austria.

For the Chase High School sixth former it was in many ways an improvement on the silver medal she secured in the first round in Italy last month as she was pitted against more comprehensive opposition including current junior world champion Nicole Koller of Switzerland.

Richards led through the first lap and pushed Koller and Swiss team-mate Sina Frei hard throughout and with half a lap to go, she was just five seconds behind Frei and hoping for a second successive silver medal.

At the end, Richards was narrowly pipped for second by Frei with the win going to Koller.

But her late charge saw her cross the line just behind multiple world champion Marianne Vos, who started a minute ahead in the elite women’s event.

Richards said: “It’s all very busy at the moment, but I am loving the whole experience and I know back home I have lots of people willing me on.”

Her next race is at Heubacher in Germany, which takes place on Sunday.