Olympics mountain bike: Julie Bresset wins London 2012 gold

France's Julie Bresset won her country's 10th gold medal of the London 2012 Olympics after sealing victory in the women's mountain biking.

Bresset cruised to victory with a sensational ride finishing ahead of Sabine Spitz of Germany and Georgia Gould of the United States.

Britain's Annie Last led for much of the first lap at Hadleigh Farm in Essex, before fading and eventually finishing eighth.

The men's race will be held on Sunday.

Frenchman Julien Absalon will try to win his third straight gold medal in that race but he will have to beat a field that includes Switzerland's Nino Schurter, his biggest rival on the World Cup circuit.

Bresset took an early lead in her race, then capitalised on a mistake by defending gold medalist Spitz to build a massive lead.

Last, 21, said she was proud of her performance and vowed to come back better at the Rio Games in 2016.

"I wanted to get a good start to make sure I got a clear run," Last told BBC Sport. "I did not smash myself and have to pay for it.

"I came today wanting to get the best out of myself and that is what I did. Julie Bresset is an amazing rider, but the rest of the field are a lot older than me. I am looking forward to moving upwards in the next few years."