Marlen Reusser (Movistar) put forth a dominant efficiency on the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas stage 3, profitable solo atop the Picón Blanco and taking the general race lead, factors lead, and mountains classification lead within the course of.
The time trial specialist is now turning her consideration to the 9.4km particular person time trial on stage 4, the place the 33-year-old from Switzerland has a good chance to win the race general after two injury-ridden years.
“It’s my first time trial for nearly two years, so I nearly don’t keep in mind,” Reusser joked in regards to the upcoming ITT.
She tried to make mild of the very long time that has handed since her final outing in opposition to the clock, however the final two years haven’t been form to Reusser: After profitable the 2023 Tour de France Femmes time trial in Pau, Reusser was the massive favorite for the Glasgow World Championships however deserted the race due to psychological exhaustion. She got here again in September 2023 to win the European time trial title.
She suffered a heavy crash on the 2024 Tour of Flanders, fracturing her jaw, breaking eight enamel, and injuring her ear canals. Hopes of a comeback on the Paris Olympics and Zürich World Championships had been dashed when Reusser continued to really feel unwell after the Flanders accidents had healed.
Ultimately, she was recognized with post-COVID syndrome and missed all the second half of the season.
In 2025, Reusser positioned within the high ten of the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, then completed runner-up to Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) within the Vuelta Femenina, being the final rider to be dropped by Vollering on each mountain phases.
And after one other second place on stage 2 of the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas, Reusser may lastly rejoice a victory on the Picón Blanco.
She not solely took the GC lead but in addition moved to the highest of the factors and mountain classifications. When Reusser begins the time trial within the purple chief’s jersey, the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas general victory must be a formality as she enjoys a big buffer over her rivals.
Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) is 1:10 minutes behind, Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Staff ADQ) sits at 1:43 minutes – and in any case Reusser is the strongest time triallist of the three and can need to full her comeback with a person time trial victory.
