The 2022 Commonwealth Games cross country mtb race took place among a sell-out crowd in Cannock Chase Forest today and provided a thrill for the spectators despite the very dry and smooth conditions.

The race course in the Staffordshire forest was a very fast one for the Commonwealth racers, with only a few technical parts thrown in. The men took on the course first, followed by the smaller, eight-rider-strong women’s race.

2022 Commonwealth Games Sam Gaze and Ben Oliver NZ
Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com (Image Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

In the men’s race, the reigning Commonwealth champion, New Zealand’s Sam Gaze, dominated the field from the start and was followed by his compatriot Ben Oliver. Namibia’s 21-year-old Alexander Miller came into contention on the very last lap and got himself on the podium for the bronze medal.

Overall it was a clean and fast race with Scotland’s Charlie Aldridge being the only rider with a serious mechanical. The Scotsman peeled off his rear derailleur after sliding off in a corner, and this cost him a bronze medal. 

2022 Commonwealth Games women's cross country
Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com (Image Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

The women’s race was dominated by the 2021 World Champion Evie Richards from the start. Scotland’s Isla Short tried to stick to Richards’ pace but failed to match the power of the English rider. Richards held her lead strongly lap after lap, despite the fatigue making her have a little stumble on a corner with two laps to go. Richards entered the race as the favourite, despite the fact she’s still recovering from back issues and a COVID-19 infection from last month. 

Australia’s Zoe Cuthbert battled for silver, finishing 47 seconds after Evie Richards. She made a proper comeback after being shortly dropped by Isla Short and Candice Lill, and blasted past them for the medal. 

South Africa’s Candice Lill took the bronze, as Scotland’s Isla Short, who rode strongly in the chasing group,  just missed out on the podium in fourth.

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