Intro:

Swiss rider Jolanda Neff, 23, won the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup cross country race in a time of 1:38:00 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on Sunday

Script:

The UCI World Cup cross country season got underway in South Africa on Sunday.

In the women's race, Jolanda Neff chose to ride with the Elite field and took the lead after the first of five laps.

Despite crashing on the second lap, the 23-year-old pre-race favourite lived up to the billing by winning in 1 hour 38.00 minutes.

Finishing 25 seconds behind in second was Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå.

The 2004 Olympic champion recorded a time of 1 hour 38 minutes and 25 seconds to hold off the challenge of Maja Wloszczowska, who claimed third spot with 1 hour 39 minutes.