Great Britain’s Evie Richards held off Olympic champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot to win the women’s cross-country short track race at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Andorra.

France’s Ferrand-Prevot took the lead on the final climb but Richards, 27, claimed the world title with her power proving too much for her rival.

“I was just hoping that I could take it, but I really didn’t think it would happen,” said Richards. “I just had to keep believing in myself today.”

In the men’s race, Great Britain’s Charlie Aldridge secured the silver medal in his first elite world championship race.

The 23-year-old made a daring move on the final bend past France’s Jordan Sarrou to take second place on the final lap.

Fellow Briton and Olympic gold medallist Tom Pidcock recovered well from an early crash to finish eighth. He will look to defend his world title in Sunday’s cross-country race.