Australia’s cycling team successfully defended their Mixed Relay Team Time Trial (TTT) world title at the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, narrowly beating France on a challenging 41.8km course.
The Australian squad: Michael Matthews, Luke Plapp, Jay Vine, Brodie Chapman, Amanda Spratt, and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden , completed the course in 54 minutes 30.47 seconds, taking the rainbow jerseys by just five seconds.
Australia successfully defended their Mixed Relay TTT world title at the UCI Road World Championships, beating France in a tense finish on the hilly 41.8km course in Kigali.
France (Bruno Armirail, Paul Seixas, Pavel Sivakov, Cédrine Kerbaol, Juliette Labous, Maëva Sciban) finished second in 54:35.71, while Switzerland claimed bronze with 54:58.89.
“It was just hell on that cobbled climb, but we pushed through,” said Spratt, reflecting on her first nation’s team time trial. “We knew it was close, but it’s just so special. It’s incredible to pull it off with the team.”
The Mixed Relay TTT features three men and three women per team, with the combined times determining the final results. The race was held in three groupings of five teams, each separated by around 40 minutes.
China set the fastest early time, completing the course in 1:01:08.72, ahead of Ethiopia and host nation Rwanda. European teams such as Spain, Belgium, and Ukraine later challenged the early times, with Spain breaking the hour barrier at 56:25.99, boosted by WorldTour riders Iván Romeo and Mireia Benito.
The last group included Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, and Australia. Switzerland led at the halfway mark with a strong men’s trio effort, posting 25:23.40, 27 seconds ahead of Spain. France’s women then produced the fastest segment of the day — 12 seconds quicker than anyone else — temporarily taking the hot seat.
Australia’s women held their composure during the final stretch, ensuring the team stayed ahead to secure gold. Italy finished fourth in 55:45.03, followed by Germany in 56:04.05.
The race highlighted the importance of coordination between male and female riders, with split-second differences deciding medal positions. Australia’s narrow win marked a second consecutive world title, showcasing the depth and resilience of their squad.
The championships will resume today Thursday September 25, 2025 with the Women U23 Road Race (8 x Local circuit) covering a distance 119.3km starting from Kigali Convention and finishing in the same place.
