Irresistible Lars Forster completes Mountain Bike double for Switzerland

Forster had to see off a strong challenge to eventually take the title at Cathkin Braes.

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Lars Forster (SUI) powered away on the final lap to win the men's Mountain Bike gold medal and complete the double for Switzerland after Jolanda Neff's victory in the women's race at Cathkin Braes on Tuesday.

Forster finally broke the challenge of Italy's Luca Braidot on the final lap of the 33km race to win by 24 seconds.

Spain's David Valero Serrano worked his way through the field, from 28th place on the first of the six laps, to take bronze. Forster said,

I always thought it was possible [to win] but it it was unbelievable to achieve it,

"The other Swiss guys were behind me and I was pushed for a long time by Luca so the team had to do a little bit more work, but that's racing and we are a strong unit. That's also important."

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The Swiss, even without Olympic Champion Nino Schurter, who missed the Championships to focus on this weekend's World Cup meeting in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, were intent on dominating the race and had five of the top six riders on the opening lap. They included defending Champion Florian Vogel, who eventually finished 11th.

Forster and Braidot, seventh at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, eventually broke clear of the front group and could barely be separated over the tricky course for two laps before the Swiss broke away to seal victory.