She used to be laughed at, now she celebrates victories: Reusser is no longer an outsider

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She was underestimated for a long time and often laughed at: Marlen Reusser (31). The Bernerin of Hindelbank, a trained doctor, yes. But a cyclist? When she bought her first motorcycle license in 2017, she was already 25 years old. Her talent in time trials was obvious, but many thought she wouldn’t compete in road races. “I always thought that wasn’t a very smart opinion,” she says.

Reusser has long proven that she can hold her own not only against the clock, but also in the peloton. She turned pro four years ago and has always worked her way up. That season she won the Belgian classic Gent-Wevelgem, came third in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and took a stage and overall victory in the stage race Itzulia Woman. “First I had to see how road races work. That took time. But you could tell I had a big bike many years ago,” she says.

32 successes – Reusser’s team is almost invincible

Decisive for Reusser’s breakthrough in the world elite in 2022 was the switch to the Dutch top team SD Worx. “That was a big leap, everything became much more professional in one fell swoop, simply better.” Reusser’s team’s outstanding record this year: 32 wins. That is 23 wins more than the second best team FDJ-Suez (9 wins). “I don’t know if anything like this has happened before.”

Reusser has now moved up to second place in the UCI world rankings – only better than her teammate and series winner Demi Vollering (26, Ho), who also lives in Switzerland. How do you keep the team together?

Victory in the Tour de Suisse?

Reusser talks about her first conversations with the team: “The first question was not what goals I have and what I want to gain. No, I was asked how I function in a group.” That is typical of the team leadership. “We get along really well on an interpersonal level, each one wishing the other the success and not above working for them.”

Reusser’s next big target is the Tour de Suisse (June 17-20). The tour has World Tour status for the first time. Reusser is one of the favorites for the overall victory there. “If everything goes well, I can do it!”

Source : Blick