The Mixed Team Relay discipline kicks off the competition weekend at the World Championships in Crans-Montana with sunshine and perfect conditions. Thirteen nations are at the start, each team with six riders from the elite, U23 and junior categories. Each of them will complete a 3.8-kilometre lap with 160 meters of climbing.

Canadian Carter Woods takes the lead right from the start, together with Juri Zanotti (Italy/Elite). Adrien Boichis (France/U23) and Finn Treudler (Switzerland/U23), who had already fought a duel for gold and silver in the U23 short track on Tuesday, rode directly behind them. Treudler shone with a lap time of 9:36 minutes, giving Switzerland an eight-second lead over Italy at the first transition. France and Canada are close behind.

Tactics immediately play a role. Italy switches to Elian Paccagnella (U23), while Switzerland (Lewin Iten), France (Lucas Teste) and Canada (Ethan Wood) use their juniors. Paccagnella extends his lead, Switzerland and France follow, Canada holds fourth place.

In round three, the elite women take command. Italy's Martina Berta starts 20 seconds ahead of Loana Lecomte (France), followed four seconds behind by Ramona Forchini (Switzerland). Canada's U23 world champion Isabella Holmgren loses time to the elite riders, while Argentina's Gonzalo Martin Bellantig (U23) catches up bit by bit.

In the second half of the race, Elisa Ferri (Italy/junior) takes over with a lead of 25 seconds over Fiona Schibler (Switzerland/junior). However, France's U23 rider Olivia Onesti, part of the 2024 silver team, closes the gap and takes the lead. She hands over to Lise Revol (junior), who takes a lead of 16 seconds, a clear target for Italy's in-form U23 rider Valentina Corvi. Meanwhile, Swiss junior Anja Grossmann struggles to keep the gap to Canada's Jennifer Jackson (elite).

For the final lap, Corvi hands over first to Ettore Fabbro (Italy/junior) with a four-second lead. But he comes up against France's elite rider Joshua Dubau and Swiss legend Nino Schurter. Schurter goes into the final lap in fourth place, eight seconds behind Canada's Cole Punchard (U23).

Dubau rides a merciless pace and takes France to the world title with a total time of 1:05:14 hours (20.97 km/h average). Italy followed with +34 seconds to silver and Schurter secured bronze for Switzerland with a narrow one-second lead over Canada to great jubilation. 

Podium Mixed Team Relay
Gold: France with Adrien Boichis (men U23), Lucas Teste (juniors), Loana Lecomte (women elite), Olivia Onesti (women U23), Lise Revol (juniors), Joshua Dubau (men elite)
Silver: Italy with Juri ZanottiI (men's elite), Elian Paccagnella (men's U23), Martina Berta (women's elite), Elisa Ferri (juniors), Valentina Corvi (women's U23), Ettore Fabro (juniors)
Bronze: Switzerland with Finn Treudler (men U23), Lewin Iten (juniors), Ramona Forchini (women elite), Fiona Schibler (women U23), Anja Grossmann (juniors), Nino Schurter (men elite)

Complete ranking list