France redeemed a runner-up finish from a year ago and won the gold medals in the cross-country mixed team relay at the UCI MTB World Championships in Valais, Switzerland on Thursday.
Most of the race was a see-saw battle between France and Italy, with the Italian squad eventually finishing 34 seconds back in the silver medal position. Switzerland edged a final-lap comeback from Canada by one second for the bronze medals.
Thursday’s mixed team relay, held as the opening day for cross-country races in the Valais region at Crans Montana, featured 13 of 14 national teams, with only Great Britain not taking the start.
Each team was comprised of six riders, each representing women and men from Elite, Under-23 and Junior categories. Riders completed a single lap of a track adjacent to the mighty Matterhorn with a rock garden, forested climbs and straightaway to the finish, and there was no set order for riders.
Switzerland took the early lead with the pace set by Treudler with a six-second advantage over Italy. France began the second lap in third place while defending XCR winners from the USA were in ninth position.
Using a strong ride by men’s U23 talent Elian Paccagnella, Italy took over the lead after the second lap, with France second by 20 seconds and Switzerland another eight seconds back. Canada remained in fourth position, the only other team within a minute of the leaders. Germany moved from 12th to fifth place.
Switzerland’s women’s elite…
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