Bormio, [February 23, 2025] – The third Mixed Relay race of the season delivered an intense and unpredictable competition, with Spain securing a thrilling victory ahead of France and Switzerland.
After previous wins by Spain in Comapedrosa (Andorra) and Switzerland in Boi Taüll (Spain), all eyes were on the top teams as they lined up on the official Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic track, where the Mixed Relay discipline will make its Olympic debut in less than a year.
With the stakes high, each nation fielded their strongest duos. France, after experimenting with different pairings throughout the season, entered the race with their undefeated World Cup duo, Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet.
Race Summary
The race kicked off at 11:20, local time, with the standard four-loop format: women first, followed by men, and repeated once. The course featured 135m of elevation gain, split between two climbs, with the second climb incorporating a foot section.
Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson, fastest in the women qualifiers, set the early pace, closely followed by Emily Harrop (FRA), Marianne Fatton (SUI), and Ana Alonso Rodriguez (ESP). The trio caught Alexandersson on the descent, arriving at the relay transition neck and neck, setting the stage for an intense battle.
In the second loop, Robin Bussard (SUI), Oriol Cardona Coll (ESP), and Thibault Anselmet (FRA) started with a slight lead. Bussard initially pulled ahead, but Cardona overtook him on the second climb, taking control during the foot section. Anselmet surged past Bussard, securing a gap that Switzerland could not recover.
With victory now a two-team fight between Spain and France, the pressure was on Emily Harrop to close the gap on Ana Alonso Rodriguez in the final women’s loop. Despite an impressive effort, Alonso held her lead, handing over to Oriol Cardona Coll with a crucial advantage. Cardona sealed the win for Spain, crossing the finish line ahead of France in second place and Switzerland in third.
Winners’ Reactions:
“It’s our second victory of the season, and winning at the Olympic test event makes it even more special. Performing well on this track is really important for us. With just one week to go before the World Championships, we’ll see if we can repeat this result.” – Ana Alonso Rodriguez
“It was a really tough battle, but I felt strong throughout the entire race. I’m very happy with both my shape and today’s performance alongside Ana.” – Oriol Cardona Coll
Final Results
1. ANA ALONSO RODRIGUEZ / ORIOL CARDONA COLL (ESP)
2. EMILY HARROP / THIBAULT ANSELMET (FRA)
3. MARIANNE FATTON / ROBIN BUSSARD (SUI)
4. JOHANNA HIEMER / PAUL VERBNJAK (AUT)
5. TATJANA PALLER / FINN HÖSCH (GER)
6. CIDAN YUZHEN / BU LUER (CHI)
7. IDA WALDAL / HANS-INGE KLETTE (NOR)
8. GIULIA MURADA / NICOLO ERNESTO CANCLINI (ITA)
9. TOVE ALEXANDERSSON / JERKER LYSELL (SWE)
10. JESSIE YOUNG / CAMERON SMITH (USA)
11. IWONA JANUSZYK / JAN ELANTKOWSKI (POL)
12. EMMA COOK-CLARKE / AARON ROBSON (CAN)
Looking Ahead
With the Mixed Relay making its Olympic debut in Milano-Cortina 2026, this season’s races offer a preview of the fierce competition to come. Spain’s dominant performance solidifies their status as top contenders, while France and Switzerland remain formidable challengers.
Next Stop: The World Championships in Morgins, Switzerland
We meet again in one week for the major event of the year: the World Championships in Morgins, Switzerland. From March 2 to 8, follow the action live on the ISMF YouTube channel and our different social medias.
