The relay was the only event to take place on the opening day of the Championships in Australia.

Racing took place under a new format, as a junior or under-23 woman was required to feature in the five strong teams.

They joined an elite man, an elite woman, an under-23 and a junior man.

New Zealand were the first team to hit the front during the race, with Sam Gaze setting the pace during the opening leg of the relay.

The lead would change hands during the next two legs, with Italy and then Canada looking to take control.

Canada held a lead of over one minute heading into the final section of the relay competition, but Switzerland’s Nino Schurter set off in pursuit.

The Olympic champion, who won all six races on this season’s UCI World Cup circuit, closed the gap and eventually took the lead.

Schurter guided his team to victory in a time of 1hr, 5min and 8sec.

The team included Filippo Colombo, Joel Roth, Sina Frei and Jolanda Neff.

"We have always gone with a fast starter, with Filippo doing the start for us here and myself going last,” Schurter said, following Switzerland’s first triumph in the event since 2010.

“Adding this fifth rider makes the strong nations even stronger, because it is hard for the small nations to have a good rider in every category.

“So the new team relay is even better for us."

Denmark would come through to take the silver medal, as they edged out France in a sprint finish.

Both countries finished in a time of 1:05.32, but Denmark were able to celebrate the silver medal.

Junior races will take place over the next two days.

Both male and female cross-country races - the only mountain biking events on the Olympic programme - will take place on Saturday (September 9).

Downhill races for men and women will take place on Sunday (September 10).