Australia begins 2022 UCI MTB World Championships campaign with team relay

The first day of the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Les Gets, France started with the cross-country team relay.

Only two of the Australian team had competed in the team relay; four were making their debut.

The Australians rolled the dice sending Under 23 rider Sam Fox off first in the six-person relay and heading out into the first lap he was sitting seventh in the 18 team field with the big guns waiting in the wings.

Swinging into the transition area Fox passed to world championship debutant Jack Ward with the Junior rider second out for the Aussies.

Ward would do his bit and keep the Aussies in the mix.

Commonwealth Games silver medalist Zoe Cuthbert immediately took the team into the top 10 behind the heavyweights of France, Switzerland, United Sates and Italy.

The Canberra rider pushed the team up to sixth before handing over to another debutant in Ruby Dobson who was encountering her first relay and worlds campaign.

Dobson held her spot in the top 10 as Katherine Hosking, who has been based in Switzerland as part of the UCI academy took over on the penultimate leg of the relay.

Hosking handed over to the veteran of the team Dan McConnell.

He would guide the Australian team into finish 14th.

Switzerland would take the gold with Italy and United States filling the minor placings.

The next rainbow jersey up for grabs will be the Junior Men and Women cross-country titles.

Australia’s downhillers got their first taste of the Les Gets course with official practice underway.

Full results link can be found here.

Photo Credit: Matt Rousu Photography / Hixit