Italy conquers the European title in the Junior mixed relay thanks to Enrico Balliana, Brandon Fedrizzi, Patrik Pezzo Rosola, Azzurra Ballan, Elisa Bianchi and Matilde Rossignoli: the Italian boys and girls completed the 44-kilometer course in 1h.07m.22, beating the Polish team by 23" and the Swiss team by 30".

The Italians immediately set a good pace in the race, recording the best time at the first intermediate point. The Swiss girls subsequently made up ground and took the lead at the 30-kilometer intermediate, then came the Italian national team's new overtake and the advantage maintained until the finish line.

There were no shortage of difficulties. Elisa Bianchi had a problem with the gear shift, which prevented her from using the last gear precisely in the most demanding section of the climb. Rossignoli and Ballan therefore continued, carrying out a decisive acceleration for the victory.

"It was a beautiful European Championship. We are happy for the team, for the boys and for the girls. It is another sign of the good work we are doing in all sectors, together with the club teams: these young riders arrive here competitive also thanks to the excellent work carried out throughout the season", comments CT Marco Villa.

On the management of the race, Villa adds: "Yesterday, in the meeting, we had discussed the need to manage the first section well to arrive at the climb all together. From the corner where Remco crashed, at the intermediate point, the false flat began and from there on we needed to make the difference. I tried to wait for Elisa up to a certain point, then, on the steeper final section, we saw that with that gear she couldn't keep up with her teammates. We therefore told Rossignoli and Ballan to continue. We also had a problem with the radio, but in the end they realized the situation and carried on. They made a nice acceleration to the finish, securing an important victory".

For Italy it is the fourth medal of the continental championship, after the silver of Giulio Ciccone, the bronze of Christian Scaroni and the gold of Azzurra Ballan.

"It is another sign of the good work we are doing in all sectors", emphasizes Villa, already looking ahead to the Elite race this afternoon: "We have Trinca Colonnel who is not feeling very well, so we'll see after the warm-up how she is. However, we are confident that we can put on a good race: the course is demanding and that climb will be the deciding factor".

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FINAL STANDINGS

1 6 ITALY 01:07:22.19 - 39.19

2 1 POLAND 01:07:45.21 +23.01 38.96

3 3 SWITZERLAND 01:07:52.27 +30.08 38.90

4 2 GERMANY 01:08:09.67 +47.47 38.73

5 9 LUXEMBOURG 01:08:57.22 +01:35.02 38.29

6 5 UKRAINE 01:10:01.46 +02:39.27 37.70

7 7 SLOVENIA 01:10:12.31 +02:50.11 37.60

8 8 AUSTRIA 01:10:23.08 +03:00.88 37.51

9 4 LITHUANIA 01:11:15.78 +03:53.58 37.05

10 11 ROMANIA 01:14:24.71 +07:02.51 35.48