Zoe Cuthbert is the first Australian mountain biker to win silver at the Commonwealth Games.

In her Games debut, the 21-year-old rode superbly to snare second place in the latter stages of Wednesday’s race at Cannock Chase Forest, north of Birmingham.

England’s Evie Richards won in one hour 34 minutes 59 seconds and Cuthbert announced herself as a new star of Australian cycling with her silver, 47 seconds behind.

South African Candice Lill took bronze, 1:13 behind Richards.

Australian mountain bikers previously had won three bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games and no medals at the Olympics.

Dan O’Connell was one of those bronze medallists and he has handed over to Australian mountain biking’s new guard with seventh at his third and final Commonwealth Games.

The 36-year-old finished six seconds behind 21-year-old compatriot Sam Fox, who is making his Games debut and will also ride as a domestique on Sunday in the road race.

New Zealander Sam Gaze broke clear of compatriot Ben Oliver on the fifth of eight 4.8 km laps at Cannock Chase Forest north of Birmingham to win in one hour 10 minutes 45 seconds.

Gaze also won the gold medal four years ago and silver at Glasgow 2014.

Oliver was 31 seconds behind for silver and Namibian Alex Miller was third at 2:01.

Fox recovered from a flat tyre on the first lap to ride with McConnell for much of the race and finish 3:01 behind Gaze.

“It’s quite an accomplishment, I guess, but that’s some reward for all the hard work,” the four-time Olympian said.

“Obviously I’m pretty disappointed not to come away with a medal today, that was the goal.

“It was a big focus of mine for the last 12 months. It didn’t pan out today, but not much I can do about it.”

It is a time of great change for McConnell and Australian mountain biking.

Apart from this being his last Commonwealth Games, McConnell would normally have wife Bec competing in the women’s race.

She has been in career-best form this year and would have been the gold medal favourite, but is concentrating on the World Cup circuit.

McConnell also revealed after his race that he and Bec have separated.

While his life and career take new turns, he is rapt that Fox is seizing his chance.

“It’s really cool to see some young guys coming through who are actually performing at World Cups and world championships,” he said .

“This is really good for him, to come here and have a pretty good race ... not a lot of pressure on him.

Fox was similarly full of praise for McConnell.

“Dan is one of, if not the, most talented mountain bike athletes to come out of Australia,” he said.

“He’s done it the hard way ... he didn’t have a lot of support until he went professional.

“He’s that real image of an Aussie battler who’s succeeded at the highest level.”