Evie Richards won the gold medal in the women's race at the World Championships in Val di Sole. After the silver medal in the short track race, this is already the second World Championship medal for the 24-year-old Briton. After five laps, Richards was 1:03 minutes ahead of Anne Terpstra from the Netherlands, who went home with silver. In the Swiss duel for bronze, Sina Frei came out on top against Olympic champion Jolanda Neff.
After a fast start by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Richards shifted up a gear on the second lap. The Briton first caught up with the Frenchwoman and then overtook her on the third lap. Anne Terpstra, Sina Frei, Jolanda Neff and Maja Wloszczowska, who all had hopes of winning the silver medal, then benefited from the defending champion's difficulties.
Terpstra consolidated her second place in the second part of the race, while Frei and Neff battled for bronze until the final straight. Sina Frei, the short track world champion, won the sprint for third place in the end.
Nina Benz in 11th place
Nina Benz (JB Brunex Superior) took a good eleventh place in the women's elite race. She finished 3:54 minutes behind the winner Evie Richards. Nadine Rieder (Ghost) crossed the finish line in 17th place. The third German starter, Elisabeth Brandau from Schönaich, finished 57th, two laps behind the winner.
More information about the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole can be found at www.valdisolebikeland.com
