EVIE RICHARDS
Age 25 – started racing aged 15, in the Welsh Cycling XC Series
Hometown Malvern, Worcestershire
Team Trek Factory Racing
Achievements XCO world champion, 2021 Lenzerheide & Snowshoe XCO World Cups winner, 2021 U23 CX world champion, 2016 & 2018
What exactly goes through your mind when you realise you're going to become a world champion? I was just so shocked, and even now it feels like a blur, says Evie Richards. I thought about it during the race, and realised, 'Oh my God, I'm going to win the World Champs!' I couldn't believe it.
For 25-year-old Evie, the ride to the top had originally been in search of hoops rather than rainbow stripes, and started when she was seven. The whole family was just obsessed with the Olympics, she explains. We'd go on holiday and watch everything, from the opening ceremony, all through the night. At that time, mountain biking wasn't on Evie's radar: I just wanted to represent my country in a sport, I didn't care what it was. I wanted to wear a GB top.
After trying numerous activities, Evie decided that shin pads, rather than skinsuits, were her path to becoming an Olympian. I got into hockey, was moving up the tiers and trialling for England. I thought that was how I was going to go to the Olympics. But it was really hard, there were so many trials and clubs, and I just wanted this instant thing rather than that.
This story is from the July 2022 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2022 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS
We see whether carbon fibre or steel, big-name value or boutique attention to detail comes out on top on the trails
NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS
The original Megawatt proved itself almost instantly, winning our inaugural E-Bike of the Year award in 2022.
CALIBRE LINE T3 29
£1,100 (with £5 GO Outdoors card) Cost-effective proper' mountain bike
FIRST RIDES
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS
ROUTES QUICK BLASTS
Facing shorter days and inclement weather, Max finds three satisfying routes that show it doesn't have to be an all-day ride or nothing
GRIME TIME
EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE
TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK
A hand-cut, rider-built bike park, Havok reopened earlier this year at a new site in West Yorkshire and is still expanding
From dust it did rise
Steve Thomas traces the birth of British mountain biking, from 'tracker bikes' to Muddy Fox
THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET
In our final challenge of the series, we see if e-bikes really are as good at climbing as they're cracked up to be, as we tackle Antur Stiniog back to front
THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23
THE BIG REVEAL! You voted in your thousands - now meet our winners...