The high level of the Swiss cross-country elite is particularly evident in the relay races, which are only held at the European and World Championships. Fortunately, Italy is establishing itself as an equal opponent. The squadra prevented the Swiss from defending their title in 2018 and the two neighboring countries also fought it out between themselves at the 2019 European Championships in Brno.

The order in which the individual nations send their junior, U23 and elite riders into the race is decisive for the course of the race. In this year's Swiss relay team, Sina Frei is even stronger as an U23 rider than elite rider Ramona Forchini. Switzerland starts with U23 rider Joel Roth, who hands over to junior Dario Lillo. The latter launches Ramona Forchini, whereupon Sina Frei moves up to third place. The final lap is Andri Frischknecht's job, who starts the race with a small lead over Luca Braidot. He lets the Italian catch up, together they fight their way past Belgium and Austria to take the lead and it comes down to a decision in the final meters.

Tough battle between Frischknecht and Braidot

The two touched at the entrance to a rock garden passage and Frischknecht went off the track. "I had no other choice, otherwise we would both have crashed," said Frischknecht. He returns to the track and because Braidot had to stop, the Swiss rider has taken a five-second lead with him. However, his rear derailleur is so demolished by Braidot's contact that he can only use one gear.
"I think he saw that, but maybe he didn't ride at full speed because he thought we would be disqualified," says Frischknecht.

Frischknecht is the first to ride to the finish line, where the discussions immediately begin. The decisive factor is the statement of the chief marshal who observed the scene. The verdict of the German chief marshal Ulf Luik is: "A normal racing accident in which the Swiss driver did not gain an advantage by leaving the track." Switzerland is the European Team Relay champion for the eighth time.