Italy wins team relay opener at mountain bike Worlds

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Gerhard Kerschbaumer takes the team relay win for Italy ahead of Maxime Marotte (France)

Gerhard Kerschbaumer takes th💯e team relay win for Italy ahead of Maxime Marotte (France) (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Canada'sSandra Walter about to be passed by France's Maxime Marotte

Canada'sSandra Walter about to꧙ be passe🌄d by France's Maxime Marotte (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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The Italians celebrate with the coach

The Italians celebrate with the coach (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Markus Schulte-Luenzum takes the lead for Germany followed by Peter Disera (Canada)

Markus Schult♛e-Luenzum takes the lead fℱor Germany followed by Peter Disera (Canada) (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Gioele Bertolini (Italy)

Gioele Bertolini (Italy) (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Riders ready at the hand off stn

Riders ready at the hand off stn (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Derek Zandstra hands off to Mitch Bailey

Derek Zandstra hands off to Mitch Bailey (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Katerina Nash (Czech Republic) heads out

Katerina Nash (Czech Republic) heads out (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Eva Lechner (Italy)

Eva Lechner (Italy) (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Julie Bresset (France)

Julie Bresset (France) (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Canada's Mitch Bailey hands off to Sandra Walter for first place at the end of lap 3

Canada's Mitch Bailey hands off ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚto Sandra Walter for first place at the end of lap 3 (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Italy's Eva Lechner hands off to Gerhard Kerschbaumer at the end of lap 3

Italy's Eva Lechner hands off to G🍬erhard Kerschbaumer at the end of lap 3 (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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France's Julie Bresset hands off to Maxime Marotte

France's Julie Bresset hands off to M𝕴axime Marotte (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Czech Republic's Jaroslav Kulhavy had his lap end after ten metres with a broken chain

Czech Republic's Jaroslav Kulhavy ▨had his 🧸lap end after ten metres with a broken chain (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Kulhavey's chain in hand, Specialized team manager Benno

🍃Kulhavey's chain in hand, Specialized team manager Benno (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Derek Zandstra took Canada to 2nd place after lap 2

Derek Zandstra took Canada to 2nd place a⛦fter lap 2 (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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France and Austria battle on the second lap

France and Austria battle on the second lap (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Gioele Bertolini was the 2nd rider for Italy

Gioele Bertolini was the 2nd rider for Italy (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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The victorious Italian team (from left) Marco Fontana, Gerhard Kerschbaumer, Gioele Bertolini and Eva Lechner after winning the Team Relay

The victorious Italian team (from left) Marco Fontana, Gerhard Kers🀅chbaumer, Gioele Bertolini and Eva Lechner🥀 after winning the Team Relay (Image credit: Darren Goddard / Gameplan Media)
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South Africa's Marisa Strauss in action during the Cross Country Team Relay

South Africa's Marisa Strauss in action during the🦋 Cross Country Team Relay (Image credit: Darren Goddard / Gameplan Media)
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Eva Lechner pushes hard during the third leg of the Italian team's winning effort

Eva Lechner pushes hard du༒ring the third leg of the Italian team's winning effort (Image credit: Darren Goddard / Gameplan Media)
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Jordan Sarrou of France negotiates Rapid Rocks in the Cross Country Team Relay

Jordan Sarrou of France negotiates Rapid Rocks🍒 in the Cross Country Team Relay (Image credit: Darren Goddard / Gameplan Media)
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//www.gameplanmedia.co.za/mtb/2013E3RapidRocksGER100.jpg Markus Schulte-Luenzum of Germany leads Marco Fontana leads into Rapid Rocks on the first lap of the Cross Country Team Relay

//www.gameplanmedia.co.za/mtb/2013E3RapidRocksGER100.jpg Markus Schulte-Luenzum of Germany leads Marco Fontana leads into Rapid Rocks on the first lap of the Cro🔯ss Country Team Relay (Image credit: Darren Goddard / Gameplan Media)
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Gerhard Kerschbaumer celebrates on the finish line after winning the sprint over France's Maxime Marotte in the team relay

Gerhard Kerschbaumer celebrates on the finish line after winning the sprint ove⛄r France's Maxime Marotte in the team relay (Image credit: Darren Goddard / Gameplan Media)
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Jordan Sarrou of France completes his lap and tags a teammate

Jordan S𒁏arrou of France completes his lap and tags a teammate (Image credit: Darren Goddard / Gameplan Media)
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Jordan Sarrou (France)

Jordan Sarrou (France) (Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Giole Bertolini (Italy)

Giole Bertolini (Italy) (Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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Marco Fontana (Italy)

Marco Fontana (Italy) (Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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The start of the team relay at MTB Worlds.

The start of the team relay at MTB Worlds. (Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)
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First riders for top 5 teams at the start line

First riders for top 5 teams at the start line (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Markus Schulte-Luenzum (germany)and Marco Aurelio Fontana (Italy) on lap 1

Markus Schulte-Luenzum (germany)and Marco Aurelio Fontana (Italy) on lap💟 1 (Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Italy's winning relay team: Gioele Bertolini, Eva Lechner, Marco Fontana and Gerhard Kerschbaumer

Italy's winning relay team: Gioele Bertolini, Eva Lechner, Marco Fontana and G🧸erhard Kerschbaumer (Image credit: Tour of Japan)

Italy defended its team relay world championship title at the 2013 UCI Mount🍌ain Bike Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa on Wednesday. France nearly caught Italy on the final lap, but had to settle for silver while Germany rolled in for third in the first medal even🦩t of the competition.

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Italy0:58:12
1AMarco Aurelio Fontana (ME)Row 1 - Cell 2
1BGioele Bertolini (MJ)Row 2 - Cell 2
1CEva Lechner (WE)Row 3 - Cell 2
1DGerhard Kerschbaumer (MU)Row 4 - Cell 2
2FranceRow 5 - Cell 2
2AJordan Sarrou (MU)Row 6 - Cell 2
2BRaphael Gay (MJ)Row 7 - Cell 2
2CJulie Bresset (WE)Row 8 - Cell 2
2DMaxime Marotte (ME)Row 9 - Cell 2
3Germany0:02:21
3AMarkus Schulte-Luenzum (MU)Row 11 - Cell 2
3BGeorg Egger (MJ)Row 12 - Cell 2
3CHanna Klein (WE)Row 13 - Cell 2
3DManuel Fumic (ME)Row 14 - Cell 2
4Canada0:02:32
5APeter Disera (MJ)Row 16 - Cell 2
5BDerek Zandstra (ME)Row 17 - Cell 2
5CMitchell Bailey (MU)Row 18 - Cell 2
5DSandra Walter (WE)Row 19 - Cell 2
5Switzerland0:02:38
4AMarc Stutzmann (MU)Row 21 - Cell 2
4BAndrin Beeli (MJ)Row 22 - Cell 2
4CJolanda Neff (WU)Row 23 - Cell 2
4DRalph Naef (ME)Row 24 - Cell 2
6Austria0:03:27
8AAlexander Gehbauer (ME)Row 26 - Cell 2
8BGregor Raggl (MU)Row 27 - Cell 2
8CElisabeth Osl (WE)Row 28 - Cell 2
8DFelix Ritzinger (MJ)Row 29 - Cell 2
7United States of America0:05:18
7AKerry Werner (MU)Row 31 - Cell 2
7BLea Davison (WE)Row 32 - Cell 2
7CNeilson Powless (MJ)Row 33 - Cell 2
7DStephen Ettinger (ME)Row 34 - Cell 2
8New Zealand0:05:46
11AAnton Cooper (MU)Row 36 - Cell 2
11BDirk Peters (MU)Row 37 - Cell 2
11CKaren Hanlen (WE)Row 38 - Cell 2
11DSamuel Gaze (MJ)Row 39 - Cell 2
9South Africa0:06:46
9APhilip Buys (ME)Row 41 - Cell 2
9BJames Reid (MU)Row 42 - Cell 2
9CMariske Strauss (WU)Row 43 - Cell 2
9DSybrand Strauss (MJ)Row 44 - Cell 2
10Russian Federation0:06:52
12ATimofei Ivanov (ME)Row 46 - Cell 2
12BRuslan Boredskiy (MU)Row 47 - Cell 2
12CEkateryna Anoshina (WU)Row 48 - Cell 2
12DArsenty Vavilov (MJ)Row 49 - Cell 2
11Sweden0:07:11
6AEmil Lindgren (ME)Row 51 - Cell 2
6BMax Wiklund-Hellstadius (MJ)Row 52 - Cell 2
6CAlexandra Engen (WE)Row 53 - Cell 2
6DAxel Lindh (MU)Row 54 - Cell 2
12Namibia0:15:37
13AMartin Freyer (MJ)Row 56 - Cell 2
13BHeinrich Köhne (ME)Row 57 - Cell 2
13CMichael Pretorius (MJ)Row 58 - Cell 2
13DVera Adrian (WU)Row 59 - Cell 2
DNFCzech RepublicRow 60 - Cell 2
10AJan Nesvadba (MU)Row 61 - Cell 2
10BJan Rajchart (MJ)Row 62 - Cell 2
10CKaterina Nash (WE)Row 63 - Cell 2
10DJaroslav Kulhavy (ME)Row 64 - Cell 2

Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews.  She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race co🌠verage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.

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