Marlen Reusser’s hopes of World Championships success in the elite women’s time trial ended mid-race after she eased up and then stopped her ride.
The Swiss rider, arguably the favourite for the world title, was timed at 33 seconds slower than eventual winner Chloé Dygert of the USA at the first intermediate time check after 12.6km. She did not reach the second time check at the 23.1km point in the 36.2km race.
During her ride, Reusser suddenly eased up, shook her head as she slowed and appeared to try to stretch her back. She then stopped, turned her bike around and sat on the grass at the side of the road in apparent disbelief. Swiss national coach Edi Telser gave her a hug, but she appeared inconsolable.
Reusser won the Team Time Trial Mixed Relay with her Swiss teammates on Tuesday but crashed in the final of the race after touching the road with a pedal in a fast corner. She started the women’s time trial with a bandage on her left elbow, but made it clear it was not the cause of her DNF.
"I had to give up... It wasn't a mechanical problem, it was just me," Reusser said after Chloé Dygert collected her rainbow jersey, according to DirectVelo.
"It's a special situation. I've been cycling for a long time. This is my seventh World Championship. Since I've been cycling, I've always raced with passion. My life revolves around cycling. I love what I do, I love this lifestyle and I find a lot of positives in it. But it also costs me a lot of energy.
"Last year was very difficult for me. I was ill and didn't feel well for a long time. I cut two weeks off during the winter break, but then it started up again very quickly. 2023 has been a great year for me so far. But from the Tour de Suisse onwards, it just wasn't the same. Even though I won the race, I immediately had to refocus on the Tour de France. I didn't have time to catch my breath. Then I had to do the Tour and the World Championship in quick succession. I didn't even have time to enjoy the various victories.
"Since the Tour, I feel I need time to breathe and rediscover my desire to go out and win. It's a bit like preparing for an exam. There's all the preparation, the stress of D-Day, and when it's done, you relax. And I need that moment of relaxation.
But instead, I feel like I'm caught up in a never-ending downward spiral. I had this feeling for the first time four weeks ago. But with the support of Swiss Cycling, the sponsors and so on, I just had to keep going. That's why I came to the Worlds, even though I knew it wasn't going to work out. I tried to get my head back on straight, but it wasn't going well today, just as it hasn't been going well since the start of this World Championship.
"On this individual time trial, as soon as I tried to put it right, I felt that it wasn't possible. I couldn't accelerate. So I decided to stop. I wasn't ready to race that time trial. I had no desire to do it. The moment I put my foot down, I told myself it probably wasn't a good idea... But I wanted to do it. I know it's not cool for Eddy, my trainer, for everyone, all those who have put so much energy into me. But I accept this decision. I need a break. I'm not a machine. Cycling has so many great things to offer, so many great races, so many Classics."
