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Annie Last Takes Silver At Mountain Bike World Championships
Posted September 2 2010
Photography By Gary Perkin
2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Homepage
Annie Last has taken Britain's first medal at the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, finishing second in the under-23 cross country event.
Taking the lead from the gun, Last slotted into third position after the opening start loop, six seconds behind Vivienne Meyer (Switzerland) and Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia).
As the race circuit turned to singletrack, Last clearly wanted an open run and moved in to the lead - a tactic which worked well as a lead of over thirty seconds was built.
At the start of lap two, Last held a lead of forty seconds over Zakelj, but over time Alex Engen (Sweeden) worked to bring Last back making the juntion midway through lap three.
The pair raced together over the final two laps, building a gap of minutes over the chasers for bronze, before Engen took the lead on the final lap.
Building a gap of thirty seconds to the line, Annie Last secured Britain's first World Championship XC medal since David Fletcher won bronze as a Junior in Fort William 2007.
Result:
1. Alexandra Engen (Swe) 1.30.33
2. Annie Last (Gbr) +0.00.43
3. Paula Gorycka (Poland) +0.03.04
4. Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia) +0.03.31
5. Emily Batty (Canada) +0.03.49
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21. Lily Matthews (Gbr) +14.50
