Australia pip Germany to cycling mixed relay world title

Olympic and world champion Grace Brown led Australia to a razor's edge triumph over Germany in the mixed relay time trial world title race on Wednesday with a winning margin of less than a second after a rolling 53.7km course.

Retiring at the end of the season despite her time trial domination this year, Brown was one of three women alongside Brodie Chapman and Ruby Roseman-Gannon, and the three men were Ben O'Connor, Michael Matthews and Jay Vine.

The mixed team relay opened with the three men completing the 26km circuit and the Australians were ahead after their 26.85km effort when Vine and O'Connor crossed.

"We wanted to keep Mike with us as long as possible for all the climbs," said Vine, who came fifth in the men's time trial despite a nasty crash at the weekend.

Australia timed 1hr 12min 52.85sec leaving Germany's team, consisting of 21-year-old Antonia Niedermaier, Franziska Koch, Liane Lippert, Marco Brenner, Miguel Heidemann and Maximilian Schachmann, just 0.85sec adrift in second.

Italy were left with regrets too in third at just 8.25sec for Elisa Longo Borghini, Soraya Paladin, Gaia Realini, Edoardo Affini, Mattia Cattaneo and Filippo Ganna.

It was a tricky course around Zurich with lots of climbing and descending with certain sections at 15 per cent incline starting and finishing at the Sechselaeutenplatz town square.

The Mongolian team were the first down the ramp followed by Rwanda, who play host to the 2025 world championships.

"It's difficult but we are here representing our nation and our families and we gained good experience here from this race," said Diane Ingabire, the lead Rwandan rider.