Evie Richards recovers to make the podium in World Cup opener

Having won her opening event of the season in Switzerland at the end of April, 26-year-old Richards came into the first weekend of the World Cup series in good form and raced out to an early lead. 

The Commonwealth Games Mountain Bike champion was growing a big lead at the front before her wheel broke half-way through, leaving her stranded and requiring a change.

She dropped back to eighth as she made the adjustment but came back fighting in the closing stages to record a fourth-placed finish.

Evie Richards on the podium in Nove Mesto after finishing fourth (Image: Gareth Richards)

Each World Cup event has a short-track event on the Friday as well as the main Olympic race on the Sunday (in which Richards came 4th). 

Evie Richards amongst the leading back (Image: Gareth Richards)

Friday's short-track race was a thrilling spectacle from start to finish and the top five were all separated by just a second. Richards was part of the lead pack, but was just edged out in the end as she finished fifth behind winner Laura Stigger of Austria. 

An enthralling finish played out as Stigger sprinted for the line as Alessandra Keller and Sina Frei completed the podium, with Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Richards just missing out.

But it signifies a strong start to the new season for Richards, who will no doubt be looking to build form ahead of next year's Olympic Games in France.

The former Chase School student finished seventh in her maiden Olympic Games back in 2021 in Tokyo, before later that year becoming World Champion. Richards then went and won gold at the Commonwealth Games last summer. 

Her collation of 188 points over the two races last weekend puts her fourth after the first of eight World Cup events in the 2023 season.