MALVERN cyclists continue to lead the way on the international scene. 

Nikki Juniper represents Great Britain women’s elite team at the UCI Road World Championships across Yorkshire on Saturday.

Originally from Essex, Juniper, 38, has lived in Great Malvern for the last four years, using the hills as her training base.

She races for Pershore's Echelon Cycles in the United Kingdom but has spent the year competing overseas in Europe for Isorex NoAqua. 

Saturday will be her fifth 2019 outing in a GB jersey having done the Tour de Yorkshire, Tour of Brittany, the European Games in Belarus and the European Championships in Holland.

Juniper said of this weekend: "This will be by far the highlight of my cycling career and the biggest honour to be bestowed to me."

Meanwhile, Malvern's 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Evie Richards secured elite women's bronze at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Waterloo, USA.

The Trek Factory Racing rider, 22, had set the fastest lap and finished fifth in Ohio the previous week as well as getting third in a class one race.

Richards' early pace took its toll with half-a-lap left as she fell to third after leading early on.

On a muddy course she clocked 42 minutes 26 seconds for her second USA podium and moved to fourth in the overall elite standings.

Richards said: "I knew that if I wanted to get on the podium I had to endure the pain and force a fast race. I am over the moon with my medal and result.''

She now travels to Japan for the Tokyo Olympic Games mountain bike test event.

Two Malvern Cycle Sport riders race for GB at the Enduro Mountain Bike World Championships in Finale Ligure, Italy, on Saturday.

Hattie Harnden and Louis Brooks, who also coaches, have come through the club's junior programme.

Harnden won the final round of the Mountain Bike Enduro World Series in Zermatt, Switzerland, competing in the under 21s race.

She said: "Despite being a really tough day out on the bike I've definitely fallen in love with enduro as well as the places and people I'm meeting along with it."