A mechanical seconds before the start turned what should have been a methodical chase for gold into a drama of recovery, grit, and near-miss heartbreak for Switzerland. Marlen Reusser, the team’s engine and veteran time-trialist, was forced into an immediate bike change that disrupted Switzerland’s plan. She returned to the road and delivered one of the day’s most determined performances, hauling her squad back into contention across brutal paving stones and finishing just 10 seconds behind Australia for the gold.
The moment that changed the race
The Team Time Trial is a discipline of rhythm, trust, and split-second timing. Switzerland began with title expectations and a carefully rehearsed order of pulls and rotations. Those plans unraveled when Reusser’s bike malfunctioned in the pre-start zone. The swap cost time, composure, and the tidy execution a world-class TTT requires.
Instead of folding under the setback, Reusser attacked the recovery. She chased down her teammates, rejoined the formation, and assumed heavy turns through the toughest sections. On the final stretch she led the group, physically driving the pace and even aiding Noemi in the last kilometers. Switzerland’s final time — a mere 10 seconds adrift of Australia — is testimony to how much ground she made up and how close the team came to salvaging the gold.
Who is Marlen Reusser
Marlen Reusser is one of the premier time trialists on the women’s circuit. A multiple-time Swiss national time trial champion and Olympic silver medalist in the individual time trial, she combines rare physical power with discipline honed by a late entry to pro cycling after studying medicine. Reusser’s palmarès includes podiums at Grand Tours and major stage races, and she is widely respected for her leadership and unflappable race temperament.
The race in context
Switzerland arrived as a pre-race favorite because of a roster built around sustained power and technical efficiency. Australia executed a near-flawless ride to claim gold, but the Swiss performance marred only by the pre-start incident—showed how fine the margins are in team events. Ten seconds across a course that rewards aerodynamics, pacing, and flawless equipment choices is both agonizingly small and glaringly definitive.
Aftermath and reaction
The team’s response in the minutes and hours after the finish emphasized pride over regret. There was recognition that the mechanical error was an external factor outside the riders’ fitness and preparation, and equal admiration for the way Reusser and her teammates scrambled to recover. For Reusser personally, the ride reinforced her reputation as a teammate who will shoulder the burden when plans go wrong.
What’s next
All eyes turn to Saturday where Reusser faces more personal ambitions. Fresh off a second-place finish in the Giro d’Italia, she will race against elite rivals including Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering. This season has already produced multiple near-misses for Reusser; her form and resilience suggest she will continue to be a central figure in the biggest race finales this week. Whether the podium moves from silver to gold remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Reusser will be at the heart of the fight.
By Rwego Mucyo Raoul
