Marlen Reusser became the European time trial champion on Wednesday in the Drôme. Barely a week and a half after her World Championship success in Rwanda, the Swiss rider proved dominant once again at the European Championships. Mischa Bredewold seemed to miss out on the podium by just four hundredths of a second but was awarded the bronze medal after a time adjustment.
In the Drôme department, the riders tackled a slightly rolling course of approximately 24.1 kilometers during the European Championships' time trial on Wednesday afternoon. The time trial was not very technical, featuring many straight, fast roads towards the finish in Étoile-sur-Rhône. The total elevation gain was 176 meters, so this course mainly favourered powerful riders. The spotlight was on strong time trialists like Marlen Reusser, as well as Mischa Bredewold and Lieke Nooijen, who upheld Dutch honor in France.
In the opening phase of the time trial, all eyes were on the British Anna Henderson, who started early in this European Championship event. Henderson, who finished eighth in last week’s World Championships time trial, set an initial benchmark time of 31 minutes and 9 seconds.
Next, attention shifted to Lieke Nooijen and Juliette Labous, and secretly to Mie Bjørndal Ottestad, who matched the Dutch and French riders at the intermediate points and was faster on course than Henderson at each stage. Ottestad recorded the best time at the finish, nine seconds ahead of Nooijen and fifteen seconds ahead of Labous. Was she on her way to a surprise victory?
Reusser dispatches her rivals quickly
However, top riders like Aalerud, Bredewold, and especially Reusser still had most of their time trial to complete. By the second intermediate time check, the Swiss world champion had already distanced herself from her rivals, although it should be noted that the Norwegian Aalerud had been competitive with her at the first checkpoint.
In the latter part of the time trial, Reusser further extended her lead. At the third intermediate point, she was already fifty seconds ahead of the rest, making it clear she would become European champion after already being world champion. At the finish line, her advantage was close to a minute.
photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
Bredewold takes bronze after time correction
Behind the new European champion, Aalerud, Ottestad, and Bredewold were locked in a fierce battle for silver and bronze. At times it looked like Bredewold was heading for silver, then Aalerud, and finally Ottestad who secured silver after a strong final climb.
And Bredewold? She finished last among the three podium contenders behind Reusser. Gradually, the clock ticked against her. Ultimately, the rider from Amersfoort was two seconds short of silver and four hundredths of a second shy of bronze. Or so it seemed. After a time correction, Bredewold was awarded the bronze medal and placed on the podium.
UEC Road European Championships TT| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33:06 | |
| 2 | + 50 | |
| 3 | + 51 | |
| 4 | + 52 | |
| 5 | + 59 | |
| 6 | + 01:05 | |
| 7 | " | |
| 8 | + 01:31 | |
| 9 | + 01:51 | |
| 10 | + 02:07 |
