Switzerland power to team time trial mixed relay gold at World Championships
Australia take yet another medal, finishing third, as Italy come second
Switzerland raced to rainbow jersey glory in the mixed relay team time trial at the World Championships on Wednesday, becoming the third different winners in the three editions of the event.
The male Swiss trio of Stefan Küng, Mauro Schmid, and Stefan Bissegger was the fastest of the men's squads on the course in Wollongong, Australia, with Elise Chabbey, Marlen Reusser, and Nicole Koller following with another good time. They pipped Italy by just three seconds, with Australia coming in third.
Switzerland set a time of 33-47 over the 28.2km course, at an average speed of 50.084km/h, with Italy three seconds behind, and Australia a further 35 seconds behind that.
The Netherlands, heavy favourites after winning in 2019 and coming second in 2021, and with Annemiek van Vleuten and Mathieu van der Poel in the team, could only manage fifth, 52 seconds down. Bauke Mollema had a mechanical early on and then Van Vleuten crashed heavily, which left them with two riders - Riejanne Markus and Ellen van Dijk - on the female leg.
Each team competed over the 14.1km course, with the three men racing first in a team time trial, followed by the three women.
The first team down the start ramp was Tahiti, with the UCI World Cycling Centre and Ukraine going faster, before Australia set a fastest time, 34-25, that would stick around for most of the event.
Luke Plapp, Luke Durbridge, and Michael Matthews went fastest for the male trio, before Alexandra Manly, Sarah Roy, and Georgia Baker went fastest for the women too, which left them four minutes faster than Ukraine.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The course clearly favoured those teams which were stacked full of rouleurs, with the Swiss men all riders that have done well in time trials recently; both Küng and Bissegger finished in the top five of the elite time trial on Sunday. Meanwhile, Reusser has finished on the podium of the individual time trial three times in her short career so far, including third on Sunday.
It was Küng and Reusser who set the pace for their respective gender trios, while allowing the group to remain intact through the ride, a key part of TTTs.
“Our strategy was to start strong and finish strong,” Reusser explained. “We wanted to go only so hard so that we could all finish together.”
Italy, the Netherlands and defending champions Germany were still to come, but failed to quite pip the Swiss to the rainbow stripes.
Filippo Ganna, Edoardo Affini, and Matteo Sobrero put in a solid effort for the men's half of the Azzuri's effort, but it was Vittoria Guazzini, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Elena Cecchini who took the race close with a storming ride, but it was not enough.
The Netherlands' ride was full of drama, first with Mollema having a mechanical, and then Van Vleuten crashed heavily just after leaving the start ramp. While Markus and Van Dijk put in a brave ride, one woman down, it was not enough to challenge the podium. Germany came last, and shorn of the recently-retired Lisa Brennauer, did not look the same power as last year, so victory went to their southern neighbours.
“It’s amazing to win,” Küng said. “We are a small country, but we’re a big nation in time trials. We knew we were going to be good, but it’s amazing to see that it worked out.”
Results
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022 - Mixed relay team time trial (28.2km)
1. Switzerland (Stefan Küng, Stefan Bissegger, Mauro Schmid, Marlen Reusser, Nicole Koller, Elise Chabbey), in 33-47
2. Italy (Filippo Ganna, Edoardo Affini, Matteo Sobrero, Elisa Longo Borghini, Vittoria Guazzini, Elena Cecchini), at 3s
3. Australia (Luke Plapp, Luke Durbridge, Michael Matthews, Sarah Roy, Georgia Baker, Alex Manly), at 38s
4. Germany (Nikias Arndt, Miguel Heidemann, Jannik Steimle, Liane Lippert, Romy Kasper, Mieke Kröger), at 46s
5. Netherlands (Daan Hoole, Bauke Mollema, Mathieu van der Poel, Annemiek van Vleuten, Riejanne Markus, Ellen van Dijk) at 52s
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
Egan Bernal says he has regained his pre-crash form, but others have improved
Colombian, who suffered traumatic training accident in 2022, aiming for return to Tour de France
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Lotte Kopecky to miss Tour de France Femmes with Olympics the main goal
World Champion set to ride Tour of Britain Women and Giro d'Italia Donne before Paris games
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I knew I was the favourite’ - Lotte Kopecky delivers on World Championships pressure to win rainbow jersey
The Belgian powered away from her rivals to land road world title in the streets of Glasgow
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lizzie Deignan ‘optimistic’ after impressive World Championships performance
Brit says she felt the efforts of early breakaway in closing stages of ‘relentless’ race
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock overcomes mechanical issues to win cross-country MTB gold at World Championships
Yorkshireman says his gears were ‘jumping on every climb’ on final lap of Glentress Forest course
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel crashes out of World Championships cross-country mountain bike race
Dutch rider abandons inside three minutes of the event starting
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Evie Richards looks to inspire next generation after World Championships mountain bike success
26-year-old grabbed bronze in the elite-women’s short track final before sixth placed finish in the Olympic cross-country race
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel hopes transfer speculation 'calms down' after winning time trial gold at World Championships
Belgian beat Filippo Ganna of Italy and 19-year-old Josh Tarling to elite world title in Stirling
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I’ve backed up the hype’ - Ben Wiggins wins World Championships silver medal in junior time trial
18-year-old says he is unfazed by increased attention that comes with being Bradley Wiggins’ son
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I hope I get a cow’ - Josh Tarling aiming for the top prize at World Championships
Welshman competing in elite men’s individual time trial on Friday afternoon
By Tom Thewlis Published