Media Information
Alba de Silvestro and Michele Boscacci put Team Italy on top of the podium in Bioi Taull
Boi Taull, 27 January 2024 – Twelve teams, one per nation, made it to the final of the Mixed Relay World Cup in Boi Taull, and it was Team Italy -Alba de Silvestro and Michele Boscacci- who brought home the victory with an impressive display in the icy slopes of the Spanish ski resort. Team Spain crossed the finish line in second place, with Team France grabbing the bronze medal.
Another sunny morning welcomed the athletes competing on the Mixed Relay World Cup, And Johanna Hiemer (AUT) was the first one to take the lead of the race, taking by surprise more experienced athletes on relays like Emily Harrop (FRA), Ana Alonso (ESP), Marianna Jagercikova (SVK) or Alba de Silvestro (ITA) trying to stay in touch. But on the second ascent, Harrop took control of the situation and managed to tag her teammate, Baptiste Hellmenreich in first place.
The first leg of the men’s saw a great display of Oriol Cardona (ESP) to get back in touch on the leading places, seconds ahead of Paul Verbnjak (AUT) while Michele Boscacci (ITA) and Hellmenreich battled for the first two spots.
And these two battles continued for the second leg of each athlete, until the last ascent, that saw Boscacci doing a final push to get ahead of the rest of the field, while Hellmenreich, Cardona and Verbnjak battled for the rest of the spots on the podium.
Boscacci was the first one on the line, while a superb transition just meters before crossing the finish saw Team Spain grabbing the silver medal, while France maintained the bronze ahead of Team Austria.
Team Switzerland, the youngest of the day with both the teammates being U23, Thibe Deseyn and Robin Bussard, finished in fifth place.
“It was a big surprise for us this result. This is our first relay together, but we are really happy about the results. We have come from 11th place here at the world championships last year to win here. Today I felt better, more rested, and that helped a lot”, said De Silvestro after crossing the finish line.