TakeWorlds3 weeks ago
A mechanical on Georgia Baker's bike during the women's leg ended Australia's two-year reign atop the mixed relay. The men's trio of Michael Matthews, Cameron Rogers and Conor Leahy had them sitting third at the handover — close enough that the failure, not the field, decided fourth place over bronze.
Australia arrived already missing Jay Vine, out sick, and Brodie Chapman, who opted out for personal reasons — half of last year's winning lineup gone. They still ran a podium-shape race until Baker's bike failed. Italy took the title outright, eight seconds clear of France, while Switzerland's Stefan Küng also punctured and still salvaged bronze. Australia got neither the depth nor the luck, and walked away with nothing.
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