Britain's Last aiming to be first among equals in women's mountain biking

British mountain biker Annie Last is aiming to come first at the Glasgow 2018 European Championships at Cathkin Braes, but fears a bout of illness could scupper her dream of winning gold on home soil.

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British mountain biker Annie Last is aiming to come first at the Glasgow 2018 European Championships at Cathkin Braes, but fears a bout of illness could scupper her dream of winning gold on home soil.

As the silver medallist from 2017's world championships in Cairns, Australia, and having won the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games title in April, the 27-year-old is one of the favourites for the women's race on Tuesday 7 August.

"I had a really good season last year and got some good results, and this year I won the Commonwealth Games which was great," Last said. "Unfortunately, in the past couple of months I've not quite been able to do the training I'd have liked to have done.

"I had a bit of illness so I'm not in the form or shape I would like. To be in great form and flying at a home European championships would be amazing, but unfortunately it doesn't always go to plan.

"In the past couple of weeks, though, I feel I am moving forward and going fast again so I'm going to give it everything I've got in the race and hopefully it will give me a good result. Having the home crowd support will help me bring something together."

Switzerland's Jolanda Neff will line up as favourite, having won the world title last year. She is also a two-time European champion, but Poland's Maja Wloszczowska, France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevotand Norway's Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa will also harbour gold-medal hopes.

"Jolanda is the world champion and has been doing well at the world cups this year, so she will be up there," Last said. "But different courses suit different people, and people have different goals throughout the season.

"There is a world cup this weekend, so some people are already out in Canada [for that]. It is going to be an interesting race as you don't know what everyone's got until you're on the start line.

"I really like the course. There are some good technical sections, but it's got a real physicality to it. You can have fun riding it and it gives a really good race."

In the men's race later on Tuesday, reigning Olympic and six-time world champion Nino Schurter of Switzerland will be missing as he focuses on this weekend's world cup meeting in Canada.

But compatriot Florian Vogel is in Scotland looking to defend the title he won last year in Darfo, Italy.

His Swiss team-mate Lars Forster, Dutch multi-discipline prospect Mathieu Van Der Poel and Jaroslav Kulhavy, the London 2012 Olympic champion from the Czech Republic, will also be contenders.