It is Team USA that sets the pace in the team relay right from the start. The Swiss starting rider, junior Luke Wiedmann, comes back second last. However, Wiedmann was the only junior who had to contest the start lap against elite and U23 riders - Swiss Cycling's tactic. Thomas Litscher was somewhat surprised: "I didn't expect to be almost last on the lap. But it's in my strengths to ride a fast lap. However, two women on the singletrail prevented me from riding clear."

The elite rider was still able to make up a lot of ground and put the team back on course for the podium in the second round, with Spain and the host nation Austria hot on the Swiss riders' heels.
In round three, the tide turns again at the top, the USA falls back and France now leads thanks to Leona Lecomte. Junior Lukas Hatz has also pushed the Austrians forward.

Now the Swiss U23 rider Noelle Buri is in fifth place, just behind the USA and around 30 seconds off the podium. It's not the end yet, as it's U23 rider Alexandre Balmer who completes the final lap for the Swiss team. This should be a big advantage over the Spaniards and Austrians in particular, who are sending both juniors on the final lap.However, the race is still running, France, on the other hand, is unlikely to be caught, as the Grande Nation is sending elite rider Jordan Sarrou on the last lap.
The positions change again. Italy has pushed ahead and Slovenia is now in third place - the Swiss are closing the gap but losing two more positions. However, there are still two laps to ride, and junior Elisa Alvarez is now doing her best for Switzerland.

And indeed, Alvarez makes up two places again, but Austria also knows how to improve and surprises with the lead in the team relay at the start of the last lap, 44 seconds ahead of the French, who send Sarrou on the chase. Alexandre Balmer goes into the final lap around 45 seconds behind the podium - it's going to be exciting!

The first split time on the last lap shows just how little 44 seconds is, with France already back in the lead. And it's likely to stay that way. Austria and Italy are a good 50 behind, Balmer has moved up to fourth position. Will he still be able to catch the Austrian junior Cornelia Holland? Or even the Italian Juri Zanotti?

France wins the World Champion title in the Team Relay, the Italians take the silver medal 1:35 minutes behind. Defending champions Switzerland won the bronze medal and were rightly delighted with their performance. Although final rider Alexandre Balmer catches up with Italy's strong U23 final rider Zanotti, he is out of reach.
"The rain made the conditions on the course really difficult. The risk of a defect here was very high, so I'm very pleased that we were able to ride through the race without any problems and win a medal," said a delighted Balmer, while Sina Frei added: "I tried as hard as I could to get down the slippery descents safely. So I'm happy with my performance, but more so with that of my colleagues, they did a great job! Third place is a nice reward and a good start to the World Championship week."

Ranking list World Championship Team Relay

1. France
2. Italy
3. Switzerland
4. USA
5. England
6. Austria
7. Czech Republic
8. Germany
9. Denmark
10. Spain