Great Britain won mixed team relay gold on the opening day at the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships.

Zoe Backstedt, Milo Wills, Zoe Roche, Oscar Amey, Cat Ferguson and Thomas Mein edged out Italy by two seconds as Britain won the title for the first time.

GB had finished second in the previous two championships but final rider Mein overturned an 11-second deficit to the USA as he lifted the British team from third.

The British team clocked 50 minutes three seconds to pip Italy to gold, with France crossing the line five seconds behind to beat the USA to bronze in a close race.

Mixed relay teams are composed of elite, under-23 and junior riders, with teams allowed to decide their own racing order.

Mein, the only elite rider in the British team, said: “I was feeling a bit nervous as there were quite a lot of elite riders on the last lap, so it wasn’t going to be an easy ride home.

“Heading over the finish line first was an incredible feeling, knowing how hard we worked and how well as a team and to see my dad at the finish line – amazing.”

The UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships 2025 take place in Lievin, northern France, from 31 January to 2 February.