First-ever Team Time Trial Mixed Relay gets 2019 UCI Road World Championships off to an Historic Start
The Netherlands produced a tactical masterclass to become the first ever winners of the Team Time Trial Mixed Relay at a UCI Road World Championships
The new, innovative format – which sees male and female riders competing together for their nation – produced some thrilling racing on the Harrogate Circuit.
Great Britain were the fourth of 11 teams down the start ramp, with Dan Bigham, John Archibald and Yorkshire’s own Harry Tanfield setting a blistering pace before handing over to Lauren Dolan, Anna Henderson and Joscelin Lowden.
Their time of 39min 18.87sec saw them earn a lengthy spell in the leader’s hot seat, with only the final two nations who started able to better that achievement.
Germany were the first of those, but their riders had barely caught their breath before the Netherlands crossed the finish line with a 22.75sec winning advantage.
That result saw the Netherlands awarded the first rainbow jerseys of the 2019 Championships, with Germany claiming the silver medals and Great Britain earning their first bronzes on home turf.
VIDEO: Team Time Trial Mixed Relay Highlights | 2019 UCI Road World Championships
Great Britain rider Harry Tanfield said: “We knew Germany and the Netherlands were going to be super strong but we executed our plan and everybody gave everything they had. Being in the hot seat in front of the supporters was fun. I’ll be watching the rest of the races as a fan now and it’s great to be here in Yorkshire.”
Netherlands rider Bauke Mollema said: “It's amazing and absolutely fantastic to be crowned world champions here. The course was really hard with the rain, and it was technical too with plenty of ups and downs. I think we did a really good performance and getting to pull on the rainbow jersey was really nice.”
Yorkshire 2019 CEO Andy Hindley said: “It’s been an unbelievable day. It was a bit damp but that didn’t stop anything; the crowds were out in force and spirits were high. The racing was brilliant as well and we were treated to a really exciting finish. I’m so pleased Britain picked up their first medal and obviously, huge congratulations go to the Netherlands as well.
“It’s been a long journey to get here and I’m delighted the Championships have started. My team have done an amazing job working with the UCI to get everything ready – and of course we couldn’t have got the Championships going without the support of our local partners.”
Welcome to Yorkshire Commercial Director Peter Dodd said: “History was made in Yorkshire today. When we first bid to bring the Championships here, our two main goals were to see a para-cycling event organised alongside it, and for men and women to be able to compete together, and we’ve achieved them both. It was fantastic to see tens of thousands of people lining the route again, and Yorkshire is being beamed to millions of people around the world at the moment. People will see what we have to offer – our stunning routes and scenery - and that’s why we push so hard to host these global cycling events.”
1 NETHERLANDS (NED) 38:27.60 +0.00 43,058
1 BRAND Lucinda NED Female
2 MARKUS Riejanne NED Female
3 PIETERS Amy NED Female
4 BOUWMAN Koen NED Male
5 MOLLEMA Bauke NED Male
6 van EMDEN Jos NED Male
2 GERMANY (GER) 38:50.35 +22.75 42,637
11 BRENNAUER Lisa GER Female
12 KLEIN Lisa GER Female
13 KROGER Mieke GER Female
14 MARTIN Tony GER Male
15 POLITT Nils GER Male
16 SUTTERLIN Jasha GER Male
3 GREAT BRITAIN (GBR) 39:18.87 +51.27 42,122
71 DOLAN Lauren GBR Female
72 HENDERSON Anna GBR Female
73 LOWDEN Joscelin GBR Female
74 ARCHIBALD John GBR Male
75 BIGHAM Daniel GBR Male
76 TANFIELD Harry GBR Male
4 ITALY (ITA) 39:23.49 +55.89 42,040
21 CECCHINI Elena ITA Female
22 GUDERZO Tatiana ITA Female
23 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa ITA Female
24 AFFINI Edoardo ITA Male
25 MARTINELLI Davide ITA Male
26 VIVIANI Elia ITA Male
5 FRANCE (FRA) 39:50.64 +1:23.04 41,562
41 BIANNIC Aude FRA Female
42 DEMAY Coralie FRA Female
43 ERAUD Severine FRA Female
44 ARMIRAIL Bruno FRA Male
45 COUSIN Jerome FRA Male
46 SEIGLE Romain FRA Male
About the 2019 UCI Road World Championships
The UCI Road World Championships have only been held in Great Britain on three previous occasions, the most recent of which was at Goodwood in 1982. The 2019 Championships are taking place in Yorkshire until Sunday 29 September.
The celebrations got going on Saturday 21 September when - for the very first time - a UCI-sanctioned, one-day international para-cycling event was held ahead of the Championships. The Yorkshire 2019 Para-Cycling International acted as a qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and welcomed entries from every Paralympic road racing classification.
The Championships commenced with the maiden Mixed Team Time Trial Relay and the programme continues with Individual Time Trials and Road Races for Junior (17/18 years), Under 23 and Elite male and female riders.
Approximately 1,400 riders are set to compete from 90 countries and the action will be beamed to a global TV audience of over 250 million.