“We struggled for several years”: Filippo Ganna celebrates Italy’s long-awaited Worlds mixed relay triumph
Cycling
Filippo Ganna admitted Italy had endured several frustrating attempts before finally getting the result they wanted in the Mixed Relay Team Time Trial at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montréal.
Ganna, Mattia Cattaneo and Matteo Sobrero produced the fastest men's section before Vittoria Guazzini, Elisa Longo Borghini and Monica Trinca Colonel completed the job in the women's half. Italy stopped the clock in 51:32.28 to beat France by 8.59 seconds and take the rainbow jerseys.
The victory came one day after Ganna had finished second to Remco Evenepoel in the individual time trial, where the Belgian successfully defended his world title. The mixed relay therefore gave Ganna an immediate opportunity to return to the top step of the podium in Montréal.
Italy had led from the second men's checkpoint and continued to extend its advantage during the women's section. France mounted a late challenge, but Italy held on for its first gold medal of these World Championships.
“We struggled for several years, for several editions, but in the end we did it and can wear the rainbow jersey. I'm very proud of the guys; we believed so much in this event, and in the end we did it,” Ganna said after the race.
Filippo Ganna at the 2026 World Championships
Experience makes the difference
The Italian team had gone into the event with considerable experience of team time trials through the WorldTour, and Ganna said that knowledge proved important when preparing for the race.
“For many of them, it's their first time in this jersey, so when they stepped on the podium, they were almost scared, wondering what they had to do. I said, ‘No stress, enjoy the moment.’ It was really nice,” he said.
The men's trio had established Italy's advantage before the riders handed over to the women's team. Switzerland had initially set the fastest time at the opening checkpoint, but a mechanical problem for Stefan Küng disrupted their challenge and allowed Italy to move ahead.
Ganna explained that the Italian squad had spent time working out the details before taking to the course. “As World Tour teams, we certainly have a lot of experience in team time trials. We tried to share our experience in this type of event,” he said.
“We had a half-hour meeting yesterday to determine when to hand off, how much and where to push, and things like that, and in the end, everything went perfectly.”
France ultimately provided the closest challenge. Bruno Armirail, Rémi Cavagna and Jordan Labrosse kept their team within reach during the men's section, while Juliette Berthet, Marion Borras and Cédrine Kerbaol reduced the deficit during the closing kilometers. Their 51:40.87 was enough for silver, while Switzerland took bronze.
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A last-minute helmet problem
Despite the careful preparation, Ganna revealed that one part of his equipment plan had gone wrong before the start. “The only thing that didn't work was that this morning I forgot my time trial helmet,” he said. “Luckily for us, we were at the hotel with Kwiatkowski, and they brought it to me. They saved us.
The incident did little to disrupt Italy's performance once the race began. Ganna, Cattaneo and Sobrero completed the fastest men's leg in 24:23.86, giving their teammates an 11.30-second advantage over France and a 12.21-second lead over defending champions Australia.
Italy then continued to build its advantage through the women's section. Australia eventually fell out of medal contention and finished fourth, while Germany took fifth and Spain sixth.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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