BETH Crumpton could not hide her delight after overcoming the odds to secure the elite women’s title in the British Cycling MTB Cross-country Series.

The Crabbs Cross riding star pulled out all the stops to win the final round in Cannock at the weekend, her first in the series, but it was enough to secure the overall top spot for the second year in a row.

It was the perfect way to end a testing season for the 23-year-old, who struggled for form and fitness early on.

Crumpton, who rides for North West MTB, is also going into the next World Cup round in Vale De Sole in Italy on Saturday in her best shape of the year.

She said: “I felt really strong, so the plan was to go out, get a gap and show people what I could do.

“I know I can win bike races and I showed I can do that.

“It has been good preparation for next week’s trip the Italy for the last World Cup race of the season.”

With Annie Last and Alice Barnes away on international duty with their respective teams, the Cannock line-up made for an interesting race.

Series leader Kerry MacPhee saw her season fall apart before the end of the first lap having to retire from the race, but Crumpton held off a strong challenge from Peeble CC’s Lucy Grant and the Polish U23 Champion Marlena Drozdziok.

A powerful start by her had the race strung out before they left the arena, while Grant was sitting in second with Drozdziok in close contact.

The race went into the forest for some 20 minutes and re-entering the small wooded area before the arena it was the Redditch rider who had already forged ahead by 20 seconds.

She increased her lead over the next lap to just under a minute and forged ahead to lead from the front with none of her rivals able to catch her.

Crumpton added: “I had a bad start to the season, I really wasn’t in a good place at that time but I’ve regrouped and I’m happy riding my bike again.”