Italy top squad in Falun

Italy captured the women's mixed relay in the Swedish resort of Falun on Sunday morning. The quartet, composed of Sabina Valbusa, Gabriella Paruzzi, Cristina Paluselli and Stefania Belmondo, finished just under 10 seconds clear of Norway and Germany, both second and third respectively.

RESULTS: Women's mixed relay

The Italian 'dream team', which boasted two Olympic champions - Belmondo and Paruzzi – finished 8.3 seconds ahead of Norway's Anita Moen, Marit Bjoergen, Hilde Pedersen and Vibeke Skoftereud and 9.7 seconds ahead of Germany's Manuela Henkel, Viola Bauer, Claudia Kuenzel and Evi Sachenbacher.

The German team was the same quartet that claimed Olympic relay gold in Salt Lake City ahead of Norway. Yet it was the Italians' day and their victory was a sweet redemption after their Olympic disappointment, where they finished far off the podium. Thanks to a blazing anchor leg by Belmondo on the Swedish trails, success was for Italy to savour.