Richards forgets her ‘terrible year’ with commanding victory
MALVERN’S Evie Richards put a “terrible year” behind her to storm to Commonwealth gold in last week’s mountain bike race.
There was no sign of the back injury or multiple illnesses that have plagued the world champion over the last six months as she rode clear on the first of the seven laps around Cannock Chase Forest to improve on the silver she took in Gold Coast four years ago.
There was one scare with two laps to go when she slid on a corner and had to remount but that was the only moment in the 95-minute race where a Richards win looked in doubt.
Former Chase School pupil and Gloucester Rugby season ticket holder Richards had insisted coming into the race she needed to “be realistic” about her chances given recent setbacks.
But she was ultimately a comfortable winner from Australia’s Zoe Cuthbert and South Africa’s Candice Lill, with Scotland’s Isla Short fourth.
“I’ve had a terrible year,” the 25-yearold said.
“From being world champion last year this year has gone to shambles. I had a bad back in February and this is the first race with no pain, no tears. Just to finish a race, it sounds silly, but it’s such a special moment.
“I’ve had everything from Covid to a stomach bug in Brazil so just to put a race together and to finish without a bad back, to be healthy, really means the world to me.
“I knew I wasn’t the strongest but I just had to try.
“Sometimes I play it down to make it easier mentally, to take a bit of pressure off, but obviously I always want to win.”
Richards, who grew up in Malvern, has had this day circled since Birmingham, a little over an hour away, was awarded these Games.
She has skipped two legs of the World Cup for the opportunity to ride in front of family and friends – her grandparents Jean and Cliff were able to watch her for the first time in six years – and took her rewards.
Richards attacked from the start, building a lead of over 30 seconds after just two laps.
But Cuthbert was starting to eat into it going into the final two laps, and the sight of her coming back forced Richards into a mistake.
“I was really shocked,” she said. “I’d felt calm and confident but coming into the arena I turned behind me and saw a rider.
“I had a little slip because I was quite surprised.
“I had very clear time splits from my team and it scared me.
“I thought, ‘Oh God, I’m going to have to do something special.’
“Luckily I still had reserves, I put in a surge and managed to drop them but I scared myself.”