Today the track came alive under bright sunshine and perfect conditions. Everyone was expecting a strong race, as it was the final test of the Mixed Relay before Milano Cortina and the second mixed relay race of the season. This made it especially interesting because, in Solitude, some of the top athletes did not travel, giving everyone else the opportunity to measure their efforts and form.
The course was perfectly prepared. It started with the first uphill, featuring two demanding sections, followed by a skiing part to reach the first platform. The second uphill was a zigzag track with fresh snow on top. The cold conditions made it very technical, requiring athletes to put on skis and poles properly to ensure good progression. This foot section was steeper than yesterday, forcing athletes to push hard while still saving energy for the final downhill.
The last descent included a few turns and a bumpy zone, adding to the challenge. The finish line came after an uphill skiing section of about 15 meters, making endurance a key factor right to the end.
Mixed Relay Race
The race started at a very high pace, with Emily Harrop immediately setting a strong tempo in the opening meters. She quickly created a gap on the first uphill, while a fierce battle developed behind her for second, third, and fourth positions.
Spain was part of the chasing pack, sitting behind of the pack as the teams reached the first handover. Oriol Cardona then took over for Spain and delivered an outstanding performance, catching all the main contenders through both the first and second uphill sections. His strong leg brought Spain back into contention, handing over to Ana Alonso in second position.
Behind them, Switzerland and Austria were pushing hard, overtaking the Spanish team at moments, but all three teams remained close together. Out front, the French team stayed in control, leading without major difficulty.
The final handover followed a similar pattern. Oriol once again produced a very strong leg, catching rivals and securing first position after the foot sections. The main fight then focused on Switzerland and Austria, battling for the remaining podium spots.
In the end, France claimed victory, followed by Spain in second place and Switzerland in third. The team showed an excellent overall performance and confirmed they are ready to deliver a highly competitive race at the Milano Cortina Olympic Games.
Final Results – Mixed Relay (Final A)
- France (FRA) – Emily Harrop / Thibault Anselmet
Time: 27:47.5 - Spain (ESP) – Ana Alonso Rodríguez / Oriol Cardona Coll
Time: 28:04.4 (+16.9) - Switzerland (SUI) – Marianne Fatton / Jon Kistler
Time: 28:17.4 (+29.9) - Austria (AUT) – Johanna Hiemer / Paul Verbnjak
Time: 28:21.9 (+34.4) - Italy (ITA) – Alba De Silvestro / Michele Boscacci
Time: 28:42.1 (+54.6)
February has already started.
In the coming two weeks, we will see the first two Youth World Cups in Germany and Norway, ahead of the big moments for the ISMF, ski mountaineering, and the athletes on the road to the Olympic Games.
Stay tuned on our social media channels and website for all the updates.