MALVERN cyclist Evie Richards finished third in the Mountain Bike short-track race at the 2023 World Championships in Scotland. 

Richards spent the entirety of the 20-minute race in the lead pack and did make a break for it towards the closing stages.

But favourite and world number one Pauline Ferrand-Prévot from France stormed her way to the gold medal, with Puck Pieterse of The Netherlands claiming the silver. 

But 26-year-old Richards managed to hold onto the bronze medal for Team GB ahead of Saturday's main Olympic race.

"I am super happy with third place," she said after the race. "I think I got a bit excited first few laps and then told myself to sit back and just try to reserve some energy for the last lap. 

"I gave it my all in the closing stages and I am happy with third. 

"The crowd were amazing and I knew I was lucky to just be here racing let alone anything else so I am very happy to be getting a medal in front of the home crowd.

"It's really special and I am very grateful to have a mountain bike race in the UK at this level."

The big race comes on Saturday for the best mountain bike cyclists in the world in what is called the 'Olympic Race', where the champion of the world will be crowned. 

Richards famously won gold back in 2021 after coming seventh in Tokyo at the Olympic Games and she is hoping that the British weather can help her repeat that success.

"It's going to be packed out on Saturday and the atmosphere will be great again I am sure," she added.

"The venue here is pretty sick and Scotland is a great place. Hopefully we will get some true British weather on Saturday, a lot of rain, that's what I am hoping for!"