Australia pip France to retain Worlds mixed relay crown

Australia fended off a spirited challenge from France to retain their title in the mixed relay individual team trial at the World Championships in Kigali.

Brodie Chapman and Amanda Spratt crossed the line with just five seconds to spare to seal the rainbow jerseys for Australia ahead of France. 

A strong Switzerland team took third at 10 seconds, but they will rue the enforced bike change for Marlen Reusser that well might have cost them the world title. Italy placed fourth at 1:14, with Germany, last year’s runner-up, taking fifth.

Australia’s men’s trio of Michael Matthews, Luke Plapp and Jay Vine teed up the victory by posting the quickest time at the changeover, 33 seconds up on the French men’s squad of Bruno Armirail, Paul Seixas and Pavel Sivakov.

Maeva Squiban, Juliette Labous and Cédrine Kerbaol sparked a stirring French fightback on the second leg of the relay, but Chapman, Spratt and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden had enough in the tank to hold them off and retain the title.

There were just fifteen participants in this, the sixth edition of the mixed relay, an event that has yet to fire the imagination since its addition to the Worlds programme in 2019. A glance at the start list, however, showed that some federations place an emphasis on the event, and although Australia were without the retired Grace Brown – key to their 2024 triumph – their well-balanced sextet looked like the team to beat.

China were the early pace-setters among the first wave of starters before Spain put down the day’s first serious marker to take over the hot seat. Their effort would eventually be enough for sixth, 1:55 down.

Once the last wave of teams set off, however, it was soon apparent that this would be a three-way tussle between Australia, France and Switzerland.

The Swiss men could rely on Stefan Küng on the flat sections before Mauro Schmid and Jan Christen brought them home on the cobbled climb that led towards the finish. They would clock the third-best time on their 20.9km lap, 34 seconds down on Australia. With Reusser anchoring their women’s trio, they looked well placed to land a third world title.

Indeed, by the first check, the Swiss women had overhauled their deficit to Australia, leading by three seconds, but a mechanical problem for Reusser would ruin their challenge for the rainbow jersey. Although the individual time trial world champion got a swift bike change, her teammates Noemi Rüegg and Jasmin Liechti, had to pause to wait for her, and the lost momentum proved crucial.

Switzerland were 28 seconds down on Australia by the next check, and a towering late showing from Reusser couldn’t quite haul them back into contention, and they had to settle for third.

Come the finale, France had emerged as Australia’s closest challenger, with Squiban and Labous performing strongly as the road climbed. 

The defending champions, however, were always going to be difficult to unseat. Chapman, who was a key part of last year’s squad, produced a clutch performance here, guiding Spratt up the final climb to ensure Australia took the rainbow jerseys.