Olympic and world champion Grace Brown spearheaded Australia's thrilling victory over Germany in the mixed relay time trial at the world championships on Wednesday, clinching the title by a mere fraction of a second after a challenging 53.7-kilometer course. Despite her dominance in time trials this year, Brown has announced her retirement at the end of the season. She was part of a strong Australian team that included Brodie Chapman and Ruby Roseman-Gannon among the three women, and Ben O'Connor, Michael Matthews, and Jay Vine as the men.
The relay began with the male competitors tackling a 26-kilometer circuit, where the Australian team established an early lead thanks to solid performances from Vine and O'Connor. Vine, who had faced a tough weekend after a significant crash, expressed the team's strategy, stating, "We wanted to keep Mike with us as long as possible for all the climbs," showcasing the collaboration and tactics that contributed to their success.
Australia completed the event with a time of 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 52.85 seconds, narrowly edging out Germany, which consisted of young talents like 21-year-old Antonia Niedermaier and seasoned riders like Maximilian Schachmann. The German team finished just 0.85 seconds behind, while Italy secured third place, finishing 8.25 seconds off the pace with a formidable lineup that included Elisa Longo Borghini and Filippo Ganna.
The course in Zurich proved to be challenging, featuring significant climbs and descents, with some sections reaching a steep 15 percent incline, starting and ending at Sechselaeutenplatz town square. The first teams to tackle the course included those from Mongolia and Rwanda, the latter preparing to host the world championships in 2025. Diane Ingabire, the lead rider for Rwanda, reflected on the experience, emphasizing the pride of representing their nation and the valuable lessons gained from competing in such a prestigious event.
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