It was a sizeable lead that Dorian Coninx inherited from Emma Lombardi for the fourth and final leg of Sunday’s Mixed Relay Series Quiberon, and Saturday’s individual champion took up the responsibility and took home the gold in fine style to put France on top of the podium and the LA28 Olympic Mixed Relay Rankings.

Leonie Periault had set things up with a strong opening leg before relative newcomer Yanis Seguin took it on for France and handed to Lombardi narrowly behind USA’s Seth Rider.

'It is really nice to have a bit of a gap and to be comfortable, but it is tricky because at the same time it is dangerous because you don't want to be too comfortable as you don't know what can happen,' said Coninx. 'I tried to keep the gap as it was on the bike and then push as hard as I could. I am really happy because a victory at home always feels great.'

There was plenty of discussion around the long beach run into the water and then up into transition, Britain’s Beth Cook carving out an early lead with Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) and Aspen Anderson (AUS) for company. There was a group of 11 all together with Mariana Vargem just off the back.

Jeanne Lehair was out like a rocket before Gina Sereno ripped to the front, only for Leonie Periault to assume control, delivering a five second cushion for Yanis Seguin to Lucas Cambresy (LUX) and Seth Rider (USA).

That trio then managed to gap the field, putting 35 seconds into the likes of Luke Schofield (AUS), Simon Westermann (SUI), Gonzalez (ESP) and Nicola Azzano (ITA).

Rider tagged Gwen Jorgensen with a 4 second cushion and the American emerged alongside Emma Lombardi from the swim, 20 seconds to Richelle Hill for Australia, Missaglia for Italy and Pintanel for Spain, Sophie Evans for GB and Maria Tomé of Portugal finding themselves over a minute off the front.

There, it was Lombardi digging in and pulling clear into clear air, Jorgensen swallowed up by the chase pack 20 seconds back.

Marta Pintanel and Franka Rust were giving chase as Missaglia moved Italy into striking distance of the medals, followed down into the handover zone by Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL) and Gwen Jorgensen.

Coninx would exit the water with a 25 second lead and never looked like relinquishing it, the battle raging behind for the remaining medals. Vasco Vilaça and Max Stapley then hauled Portugal and Great Britain into contention with a huge bike effort, 11 athletes all together into the final transition to decide the remaining two medals.

And it was Euan de Nigro that was able to hold off Ethan Edo to the silver for Italy and Spain respectively in a titanic battle down the final straight, Callum McClusky surging to fourth for Australia, Vasco Vilaça finding enough reserves to work Portugal into fifth.

Ful results available here.