It was a sunny day in Shahdag as the competitions continued with the Mixed Relay races, featuring two categories: Youth and Senior.
The course began with a relatively long first uphill section that included a flat segment before transitioning into a steeper slope leading to the third part of the climb. Athletes reached the platform where the first downhill started. This descent did not present major technical difficulties but required good speed and control.
Athletes then entered the second uphill, using the same track as in yesterday’s Sprint race.
The first part was flat, but competitors soon faced a series of kick turns (diamonds), followed by another steep section with additional turns. After this, athletes continued on skins before reaching the boot-packing section, where many pushed hard to create time gaps before the final climb.
The last 70-meter climb, with an average gradient of around 20 degrees, led athletes to the final downhill. This section proved to be a crucial point in the race where important differences were made. After descending, athletes removed their skins and either headed to the handover zone for their teammate or crossed the finish line.
Sprint Results Senior
The Senior Mixed Relay started with a compact group of teams staying together until the first transition, where Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Poland were already at the front. The fight for the leading positions continued during the first three loops, but the Swiss team gradually took control of the race. Marianne Fatton and Thomas Bussard set a strong and consistent pace, creating a gap that the other teams were unable to close.
On the final loop, Thomas Bussard maintained a comfortable lead, allowing the Swiss duo to cross the finish line in 35:55.0 and secure another gold medal for Switzerland at these Championships, with Marianne Fatton adding another victory to her strong performance this week.
The Italian team, Alba De Silvestro and Michele Boscacci, delivered a solid race to take second place, finishing in 36:48.9, while the German pair Tatjana Paller and Finn Hösch completed the podium in 37:12.0.
Behind the podium, the Spanish duo Marta Garcia Farres and Martinez de Albornoz finished fourth in 39:18.0, followed by the Polish team Iwona Januszyk and Jan Elantkowski, who secured fifth place with a time of 40:35.4.
- SUI – Marianne Fatton / Thomas Bussard – 35:55.0
- ITA – Alba De Silvestro / Michele Boscacci – 36:48.9 (+53.9)
- GER – Tatjana Paller / Finn Hösch – 37:12.0 (+1:17.0)
- ESP – Marta Garcia Farres / Martinez de Albornoz – 39:18.0 (+3:23.0)
- POL – Iwona Januszyk / Jan Elantkowski – 40:35.4 (+4:40.4)
Mixed Relay Results Youth
In the Youth Mixed Relay, the German team of Helena Euringer and Moritz Bauregger dominated the entire race. From the start, they set a very strong pace and quickly created a gap that the teams behind were unable to close, maintaining control of the race all the way to the finish to secure the gold medal for Germany.
The Spanish duo Emma Bogonez Martin and Aaron Alvarez del Val delivered a solid performance, holding second place throughout the race. Despite their consistent effort, they could not reduce the gap to the German leaders and finished with the silver medal.
Third place went to the Russians Anastasiia Pshenichnaia and Rustam Elchian, who maintained a steady rhythm during the race and secured the bronze medal.
The Polish team of Antonina Rakus and Stanislaw Matlak finished in fourth place after a strong race effort.
- GER – Helena Euringer / Moritz Bauregger – 40:11.1
- ESP – Emma Bogonez Martin / Aaron Alvarez del Val – +4:55.8
- RUS – Anastasiia Pshenichnaia / Rustam Elchian – 48:38.0
The European Championships continue tomorrow at Shahdag Mountain Resort with the individual race, which will take place at the base of the resort. The race will feature three challenging uphills, where athletes can showcase their skills, and several loops that will test endurance and strategy. Both youth and senior categories will compete, promising more excitement, teamwork, and top-level ski mountaineering action.