MALVERN mountain biker Evie Richards concluded her UCI Cycling World Championships with a sixth place in the Olympic Race at the weekend.

Having won bronze in the short-track on the Thursday, Richards was then up against the best in the world in the main event on the Saturday. 

And in the end she had to settle for a sixth-place in the race, which was eventually won by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, who successfully defended her title from 2022 with a dominant victory over teammate Loana Lecomte by over a minute.

Richards tried to battle Alessandra Keller, Puck Pieterse and Mona Mitterwallner for bronze but faded in the last couple of laps. 

Richards admitted that her efforts in the short-track on Thursday had an impact on her performance in the main race. 

"I was tired to start, so I just tried to hang on for dear life after getting a good start," Richards said.

"I pushed as hard as I could and couldn’t stay with that medal – but I gave it all that I could. I think I was still tired from the short track, to be honest.

"I just felt I was really happy that I could push, that I was competitive, I wasn’t off the back – and the crowds were amazing. I feel really lucky that I got to race in front of them today."