Italy wins gold at the 2024 European Team Relay Championship

Italy takes the victory in the European Team Relay Championship 2024. The Azzurri team has conquered the highest step of the podium ahead of France and Switzerland, which challenged the good start of the Italian team with a great lap by young Anina Hutter.

Italy beats France and Switzerland to win the European Team Relay Championship 2024

The weather gave a break in Cheile Gradistei; the fog and rain that complicated the European XCC Championship during yesterday's day disappeared. The fourteen teams participating in the Team Relay event appeared on a Romanian circuit where, despite the clouds still hiding the sun, the terrain was drier and the weather conditions were much less demanding.

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The relay race started with a frantic pace from two of the favorites for the gold. Italy played its best card in the first leg: Simone Avondetto set an extraordinary lap in less than nine minutes, although France responded with Yannis Musi -U23 male- who matched the time. The move was futile to take the lead of the race alone, but it did open a 25-second gap with Switzerland.

Matteo Siffredi took over from Avondetto and broke the deck by distancing Nicolas Kalanquin (France) by 22 seconds. Meanwhile, the Swiss team managed to shave a few seconds off the French, although Nicolas Halter's lap once again lost time to the leaders.

The third lap was run by Chiara Teocchi (Italy), Olivia Onesti (France) and Ramona Forchini (Switzerland). Although Teocchi seemed to have more chances on paper to extend the Italian lead, a great lap by Onesti countered the apparent favoritism of the Italian rider and the distances remained almost unchanged.

Anina Hutter -junior female- caused a stir with a great fourth lap that managed to cut a minute off Giada Martinoli (Italy) and half a minute off Tatiana Tournout (France). The Swiss rider's performance elevated her team to the first position and handed over to her compatriot Muriel Furrer with a five-second lead over France and another ten over Italy.

Valentina Corvi took on the responsibility of returning the Italians to the front of the race; the quadriceps responded to the demand and crushed the pedals to open a good cushion with Anais Moulin (France) and especially with Muriel, who lost over a minute.

The last lap was the turn for Mattia Stenico (Italy) who had to face two riders of the caliber of Titoun Carod (France) and Thomas Litscher (Switzerland). The Italians' advantage could be insufficient against the quality of their rivals, but Stenico secured the gold with a great turn that nullified the efforts of the French and Swiss. In the end, Stenico pedaled to the finish line to confirm Italy's victory in the European Team Relay Championship 2024.

European Team Relay Championship 2024 Results

1. Italy 1h 01' 56"
2. France +19"
3. Switzerland +55"
4. United Kingdom +1'08"
5. Germany +1'32"
6. Denmark +2'23"
7. Czech Republic +3'08"
8. Spain +5'03"
9. Romania +9'47"
10. Turkey +1 lap