Tom Pidcock was one to watch heading into the elite men’s cross-country race following a dominant win in last weekend’s European Championships. The 23-year-old put in a strong performance early on to move up from 53^rd place to 7^th in lap two, eventually leading the race by the third lap.

By the fourth lap, he was settled into the lead group and in fourth position, staying with the group for lap five until a small crash on a tight turn around a tree on lap six cost him time, putting him around 17 seconds behind the leader after a rear wheel swap.

By the final lap, Pidcock had managed to pull back some crucial seconds but another mistake on the same turn in the woods put him out of the running and he crossed the finish line in fourth place. Switzerland’s Nino Schurter took first place, making it his 10^th world title.

Fellow Brit, Cam Orr completed the elite men’s cross-country race in 63^rd place.

The elite women’s cross-country race saw Evie Richards attempt to defend her world title, having won the Commonwealth gold earlier this month after a difficult year of injury and illness. She lined up alongside fellow Brits Annie Last and Isla Short.

However, another world title was not to be and after a hard-fought race which included a shoe issue and change, Richards finished 11^th overall, with French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prevot dominating the field to be crowned world champion in front of a home crowd.

Last was the first British finisher, in 10^th place, while Short came across the line 41^st.

 Elena McGorum was the sole British entrant for the women’s under-23 cross-country race and after an eighth place finish in the cross-country relay earlier in the week, finished 45^th in her final race of the championships.

In the under-23 men’s race, all four British riders fought hard over the six-lap course, with Joe Blackmore finishing highest in 17^th place. Cam Mason finished 21^st, Rory McGuire in 33^rd, Charlie Aldridge 39^th and Corran Carrick-Anderson in 75^th.