WORCESTERSHIRE’S Evie Richards produced a superb performance to win the under 23s women’s title at the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Zolder, Belgium.

The Great Britain cyclist decimated the field in challenging conditions at Circuit Zolder, taking the lead from Italy’s Chiara Teocchi at the end of the first lap and going for a long solo bid for victory.

The 2015 junior cross-country mountain bike world championships silver medallist from Malvern looked composed and in control as the rain continued to fall.

She increased her advantage over Czech rider Nicola Noskova and Maud Kaptheijns of the Netherlands to make cyclo-cross history in the inaugural running of the under 23s world championships event.

Eighteen-year-old Richards’ win is the first British gold medal at a cyclo-cross championships since Roger Hammond's junior win in Leeds in 1992.

“I started quite far at the back,” said a delighted Richards. “I was third row so I didn’t really know where I was to be honest.

"I didn’t realise I was in first and I’m not a fan of riding in a group. I just wanted to make a break and just get away and see how long I could last. I lasted four laps!

“It feels amazing. This is my first cyclo-cross race abroad, so to get a jersey for my first race is incredible and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Malvern had a second rider at the championships as Olympian Liam Killeen represented his country for the first time as an elite cyclo-cross rider.

Killeen’s main goal at the start of the season was to win the national championship title at Shrewsbury.

Having won the crown, the 33-year-old was selected at short notice to travel to Belgium for the world event.

Gridded on the seventh row, he had the cards stacked against him from the off.

Behind so many riders, the significant handicap prevented the British champion from achieving a top-20 finish.

Killeen gallantly worked his way from the back to finish in a respectable 37th place.

Having played such a significant role with coaching Richards, Killeen was trackside to witness Richards' finish.

He said: "Like so many other junior riders at Malvern, Evie has a bright future ahead of her.’’ Both riders are members of Malvern Cycle Sport, where the junior coaches and cyclists provide strong support to all their young members.

It was Richards' last race for T-Mo Racing after securing 13 wins out of 13 races this season for the team run by world enduro champion Tracy Moseley, also from Malvern.

Teenager Richards added: "There are so many people who have helped out in so many different ways. I am so so grateful to everyone.

"I am going to have a couple of days off now before focusing on my first road race in Belgium at the end of the month."