BAKU — Switzerland's Jolanda Neff won the first ever European Games gold medal when she triumphed in the women's Mountain Bike event on day one of full competition in Azerbaijan's capital Baku Saturday. In energy-sapping heat and intense winds Neff, 22, dominated the field and completed the-six lap race in one hour, 31 minutes, five seconds — over two minutes ahead of compatriot Kathrin Stirnemann and Poland's Maja Wloszczowska who won silver and bronze respectively. Such was the dominance of World Champion Neff it was apparent as early as the third lap the fiercest battle would be between Stirnemann and Wloszczowska for the silver and the Swiss rider prevailed finishing five seconds clear of her rival in an exciting final two laps. The inaugural European Games, the continent's first multi-sport event, is being held in Baku from June 12-28. The hostile reception given to Azerbaijan's bitter enemies Armenia at the lavish opening ceremony will hopefully not be repeated in the sporting arena, the Games' chief operating officer Simon Clegg said. — Agencies
