Grace Brown helped Australia win their first ever Mixed Team Time Trial world title in Zurich. After a close race, Australia narrowly beat Germany to take the win, with Italy finishing in third place. Brown’s victory adds to her incredible Worlds performance, having already won the Individual Time Trial earlier. Australia’s win in the event marked the first time a team outside of Europe has won gold in the Mixed Team Time Trial, which was introduced in 2019. The Australian team, made up of Michael Matthews, Ben O’Connor, Jay Vine, Brown, and Brodie Chapman, put in strong performances to secure the victory.
The race saw Australia’s men take the fastest time on the course, setting the stage for their women’s team to secure the win. Italy finished in second place after the men’s portion of the relay, with Germany coming in third. The pace of the top three women’s teams was intense, with all teams crossing the intermediate point with only a five-second gap separating them. Twenty countries competed in the event, completing the 26.85km course split into two waves of 10 teams each. Ukraine led after the first wave before being overtaken by Canada and then eventually Denmark.
Australia’s win in the Mixed Team Time Trial was a hard-fought victory, with strong performances from both the men’s and women’s teams. Germany put up a fierce fight, but Australia ultimately came out on top by less than a second. The team’s strategy of sticking together and maintaining high speed throughout the race paid off, leading to their well-deserved world title. Brown expressed her excitement and ambition for more rainbow jerseys after the win, highlighting the great vibe of achieving the victory with her fellow Aussie teammates. The win adds to the legacy of Brown’s storied career, with multiple victories at the Worlds.
The event also saw strong performances from other teams, with Italy finishing in third place after an exhilarating ride in the final portion of the race. Switzerland, the two-time defending champions, struggled without key team members and finished in eighth place. The competition was intense, with teams pushing themselves to the limit on the challenging course. Overall, Australia’s victory in the Mixed Team Time Trial marked a historic moment for the team and showcased the talent and determination of all the riders involved. The win adds to Australia’s success in cycling and solidifies their position as a powerhouse in the sport.
