Malvern-born mountain biker Evie Richards claimed her first World Cup win last weekend.

Fresh off winning World Championship gold last month, Richards came out victorious in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup race in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, on Sunday September 5.

Richards, riding for Trek Factory Racing, finished 19 seconds ahead of second-placed Rebecca McConnell from Australia, with Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds completing the podium.

While France and Massi Bikes’ Loana Lecomte only managed a fourth-placed finish on the day, she was able to take home the World Cup title, having won all four previous races.

Richards, a former Chase School pupil, is currently fifth in the standings with one race left to go, in Snowshoe, USA, on September 19.

Richards claimed the rainbow jersey after winning the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in Italy on August 28, although she didn’t expect her next victory to come so soon.

Speaking after the World Cup race, she said: "I just thought I’d have a wobble after this, because I think there’s a load of pressure when you have the jersey.

"I really didn’t think it would come that quickly, but my coaches said I have good form and to be confident in myself and be patient. And I think I did that, so I’m just shocked as always.

"It was such a weird race. It was just like holding back the whole race, no one wanted to commit, and I have to be very patient when it’s like that."

Richards came second in the short-track event at the World Cup behind Rissveds.

She also claimed silver in the short-track event at last month's World Championship as she was beaten by Sina Frei from Switzerland.