The 2022 mountain bike world championships officially begin with the Team Relay (XCR) test which has been held since 1999 (ROLL OF GOLD TEAM RELAY). It consists of a mixed team relay, initially consisting of 1 Elite, 1 U23, 1 Juniores and a female (usually ELITE). From 2017 to 2019 the components have become 5 while, from the 2020 edition, they have been increased to 6, i.e. one athlete for each category (EL, U23, JUN male and female).
HIGHLIGHTS
18 teams at the start (LIST OF ENROLLMENTS) where France is aiming for the trio after winning in 2020 and 2021. Switzerland is always to be feared as any athlete who chooses to include in their team will be a top athlete.
ITALIAN TRAINING
| 4A | BRAIDOT Luke | ME | 1991 |
| 4B | BETTHEO Mark | MJ | 2004 |
| 4C | BERTHA Martina | WE | 1998 |
| 4D | CROWS Valentina | WJ | 2005 |
| 4E | SPECIA Jade | WU | 2000 |
| 4F | AVONDETTO Simone | MU | 2000 |
RACE REPORT
The race starts immediately with Italy in the lead thanks to the 1st fractionist Luca Braidot who had the task of gaining as much margin as possible to make the race less difficult for the other fractionists. Braidot's condition is excellent as he closes 21 ″ ahead of Christopher Blevins (USA), a very explosive athlete who won the Short Track. Excellent signs for Luca in view of the XCO race on Sunday.
During the second round it was the turn of the Juniores Marco Betteo (that we heard a few days ago) but suffered the fantastic lap of the French Alexandre Martins, also Juniore. At the end of the 2nd lap the situation sees France with a 19 second advantage over Denmark and New Zealand. At 24 ”the USA, Italy and Switzerland.
During the third round, many teams field the girls including Italy, with the excellent Martina Berta who manages to recover up to 2nd place, with France in the lead who still gains some margin given the excellent fractionist put in game: Loana Lecomte.
In the 4th lap it seems that France are heading towards their 3rd consecutive title in Team Relay: the young Line Burquier seems to be the new talent of the Women's World Cup. She is only Juniores but she runs with the best Elite times on the flying lap and still earns a precious margin over the other nations with Valentina Corvi, our fourth fractionist, who tries not to lose too much ground.
In the 5th lap France leads with an important gap: Switzerland is second at a minute and a half while Italy is third at 2 'and 10 ”. But now France has its weakest fractionist, namely the junior woman Tatiana Tournut. Switzerland also fielded a junior woman. France loses all the advantage, thanks to a bad performance, it seems also due to a fall, of the Juniors girl. Italy too, with Giada Specia, is no less, and grabs, together with Switzerland, France.
The last lap begins with a very uncertain situation: Switzerland in the lead with 7 "ahead of Italy and 15" over America. France 2 minutes. But there is bad news: Switzerland's latest fractionist is none the less Nino Schurter! Our Simone Avondetto certainly has no easy task.
Simone Avondetto keeps the gap from Schurter unchanged (slowed down by a puncture) and keeps America at a distance by conquering an excellent 2nd place for Italy! Maximum disappointment for France.
RANKING TEAM RELAY
| 1 | SWITZERLAND |  | 1:17:14 |
| 2 | ITALY |  | + 0: 06 |
| 3 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |  | + 0: 14 |
| 4 | DENMARK |  | + 1: 19 |
| 5 | FRANCE |  | + 1: 35 |
| 6 | NETHERLANDS |  | + 2: 13 |
| 7 | CANADA |  | + 2: 28 |
| 8 | GREAT BRITAIN |  | + 2: 45 |
| 9 | CZECH REPUBLIC |  | + 3: 17 |
| 10 | GERMANY |  | + 3: 45 |
ALL THE INFO ON THE 2022 MTB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
