EVIE RICHARDS

It’s taken 31 years but Britain finally has its first XC world champ! Malvern-based Evie topped her promising seventh place at the Tokyo Olympics with victory in Val di Sole, Italy, barely three weeks later, winning those long-elusive rainbow stripes, then followed that with her debut World Cup win! The two-time U23 CX world champ isn’t our only women’s XC hope either, with the likes of Annie Last, Isla Short and Harriet ‘Hattie’ Harnden not far behind. This is Evie’s time in the spotlight, though – and long may it last for the world-beating girl with the perma-grin!