Switzerland wins Team Mixed Relay 2023 World Championship

Switzerland is proclaimed Team Mixed Relay 2023 World Champion. The Swiss team lined up Lillo-Halter-Indergand-Blochlinger-Hutter-Schurter. The predictions were fulfilled and they fought for the victory with France, who came second, 9 seconds behind. Denmark took the bronze after a tight duel in the last relay with Canada.

Switzerland takes the gold at the Team Mixed Relay 2023 World Championship

Clouds covered the sky as the riders took the start in Glentress Forest. The first minutes of the race served to mark the first differences, with Aldridge (United Kingdom) asserting his local status and commanding the race. Boichis (France) and Lillo (Switzerland), two of the best names of this first round and the two teams favored to win gold, were behind him, although the Swiss lost some steam.

Aldridge made it to the relay as the race leader and handed over to junior Greensil. France was just three seconds behind and Switzerland was 20 seconds behind before Hemos and Halter - both junior women - started their laps.

Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and Canada formed a pack about 20 seconds behind the UK, while France remained in no one's land just 8 seconds off the lead. Denmark's Philipsen moved to the front of the pack and set his sights on the two teams ahead of him.

Philipsen pushed on the last part of the lap, caught and overtook France to move within 7 seconds of the lead. Austria withstood the onslaught and hiked away with the Dane, while Canada and Switzerland stayed behind.

Philpsen's sensational performance, which dominated the lap with an iron fist, was spoiled by a crash just in the last corner before taking over. An incident that lost his team 11 seconds.

The next lap shook the race from top to bottom. Austria, led by Hammerle, took flight and opened a 16-second gap to France. The Canadians took third place ahead of the United Kingdom, Denmark and Switzerland.

Next relay. The number 4 on the lists began to take part in the race as their teammates arrived at the relay zone. The differences were not very significant, because although Austria was leading with a 42-second cushion, the favorite teams were still keeping their best cards.

Switzerland, which had fallen to fourth place in the third round with Indergand - 1 minute 25 seconds off the lead - upped the pace with Blochlinger, overtook Canada and began to cut time. Meanwhile, France, still in second place behind Lecomte, did the same with Burquier and was closing in on Austria.

So it was only a matter of time before France took the first position, while Switzerland was 33 seconds behind. The race progressed and the grid was adopting the expected order.

Penultimate relay. Turn for the junior women of France -Moulin- and Switzerland -Hutter-, as well as Austria -Herzog-. Denmark's strategy was to line up Bohe, so it was time for the Danes to try to reduce the gap, fourth at 1 minute 15 seconds.

Austria overtook France and went back in front. Switzerland continued its task of cutting back and was 20 seconds behind.

Moments of tension in the Austrian and Swiss teams as they passed through one of the technical zones. The hesitation did not escalate and there were no crashes. Switzerland ended up chasing France at a time when both were approaching Austria, 6 seconds behind.

The race was fought with the head set on the last relay, in which Switzerland and France would bring out their best pieces. Austria, who lost the lead to the Swiss, had already used up that card.

Last relay. Schurter started first, 8 seconds ahead of Austria and 13 seconds ahead of France, who put their hopes in Sarrou's legs. The victory would be decided between these two teams, while the podium was open between Austria -Wiedmann, U23 woman-, Canada -Ackert, junior man- and Fini -men's elite-.

Schurter tightened his quads to maintain the lead, which he was even able to increase to 17 seconds at the first time checkpoint. Austria dropped to fifth, while Canada held on to the podium with a 10-second margin over Denmark.

Sarrou cut a second off Schurter and Fini overtook Canada's brilliant pawn Ackert.

Schurter withstood the onslaught of France, who pulled chaste to cut differences, and crossed the finish line in first place. Switzerland was crowned the 2023 Team Mixed Relay World Champion. Sarrou came within 9 seconds and France had to settle for second place.

Denmark beat Canada in a head to head battle that lasted until the end. Fini held off a feisty Ackert, who put in an outstanding performance, but the medal went to the Danes.

Results Team Mixed Relay World Championship 2023

1. Switzerland 1h 05' 42"
2. France +9"
3. Denmark +41"
4. Canada +42"
5. Italy +2'01"
6. UK +2'30"
7. Germany +2'36"
8. USA +2'39"
9. Austria +3'07"
10. Belgium +3'18"