The host nation fielded a strong team in the six-rider event, including reigning men’s elite time trial world champion Filippo Ganna and Elisa Longo Borghini, a five-time national champion in the discipline.

Matteo Sobrero, Alessandro de Marchi, Elena Cecchini and Marta Cavalli completed the Italian team for the event, which was required to feature three male and three female riders from across elite and under-23 levels.

Ganna led the Italian men’s line-up with support from Sobrero, while De Marchi was distanced in the closing stages as they completed their 22.4 kilometres ride.

Cecchini, Cavalli and Longo Borghini remained together throughout the duration of their effort, which helped Italy triumph in a time of 51min 59.01sec.

Italy were crowned winners for the first time in the third staging of the mixed relay at the European Championships.

Germany finished as the silver medallists, with Miguel Heidemann, Justin Wolf, Max Walscheid, Corinna Lechner, Mieke Kroger and Tanja Erath ending 21 seconds adrift of the winners.

Bronze was earned by The Netherlands, with Koen Bouwman, Jos Van Emden, Bauke Mollema, Floortje Mackaij, Amy Pieters and Demi Vollering clocking 52:25.28.

Belgium celebrated a one-two finish in the men’s junior time trial event.

Alec Segaert topped the standings in fine fashion, as he completed the 22.4km course in a winning time of 26:26.61.

His compatriot Cian Uijtdebroeks ended as the runner-up, after finishing 5.09 seconds off the pace.

The two Belgians were the only riders to dip below 27 minutes, with France’s Eddy Le Huitouze rounding off the podium in 27:06.99.

Russia’s Alena Ivanchenko was a clear winner of the women’s junior event.

She achieved a winning time of 29:11.82, ending with a winning margin of 31.78 seconds over second placed Antonia Niedermaier of Germany.

The Netherlands’ Elise Uijen won bronze in 30:05.35.

Elite and under-23 time trial events are due to take place tomorrow.