UCI MTB World Championships: France secures Mixed Team Relay title in back-and-forth battle with runner-up Italy

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.

The home team was looking for a victory, starting with men's U23 rider Finn Treudler, who won the silver medal in the XCC contest, on the opening lap and closed with 10-time world champion Nino Schurter. After Switzerland took the lead to begin the second of six laps, the battle at the front formed between France and Italy the rest of the way.

Two of the top three teams had their elite men closing down the final lap of the relay event, Joshua Dubau for France and Schurter for Switzerland, while Italian hopes were on the shoulders, and legs, of men's junior Ettore Fabbro. It was Dubau who closed down a four-second final-lap lead by Italy and took charge to give France the title.

Dubau was joined by Loana Lecomte, Olivia Onesti, Adrien Boichis, Lise Revol and Lucas Teste on the podium.

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 rider Ramona Forchini bridged to fellow elite star Loana Lecomte of France on the third lap, with Italy retaining the lead. Behind, Team USA made a move with women's elite rider Haley Batten to take over sixth position, just ahead of Denmark.

France then moved into the lead on lap four, women's U23 talent Olivia Onesti taking the reins in front of women's junior rider Elisa Ferri of Italy. Czechia moved behind Canada into the top five.

The duel between France and Italy moved back with a slight advantage to Italy mid-way on the fifth lap with women's U23 Valentina Corvi taking a turn against France's junior Lise Revol, who managed to keep squad within four seconds for the start of the final circuit.

Joshua Dubau went straight to work for France and moved ahead of the junior Italian Fabbro halfway through the final circuit to give France the victory.

After the XCR event, six rainbow jerseys will be decided in XCO divisions for juniors competing Friday, men U23 and women elite on Saturday and women U23 and men elite on Sunday.

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