"A dream come true" - Marlen Reusser reacts to world championships time trial victory in Rwanda

Swiss rider Marlen Reusser has finally been crowned world champion in the women’s time trial, delivering a commanding victory on the 31-kilometre course in Kigali. The Movistar Team specialist stopped the clock at 43:09.34, averaging 43.3 km/h, a pace no rival could come close to matching. After years of near misses, she confirmed her status as favourite and claimed the rainbow jersey that had eluded her until now.

Two of the Netherlands’ biggest names completed the podium. Anna van der Breggen secured silver in 44:01.23, finishing 51 seconds behind Reusser with an average speed of 42.5 km/h. Demi Vollering, who matched the Swiss rider’s time at the first checkpoint, faded on the final climbs and had to settle for bronze in 44:14.07, more than a minute off the winning mark. Spain’s Mireia Benito produced one of the best rides of her career to finish tenth. Her time of 45:41.39, at an average of 40.9 km/h, left her 2:32 down but inside the top ten of a world championship for the first time.

The race itself quickly developed into a show of Reusser’s authority. By the second intermediate split she was already 28 seconds clear of Vollering, and by the third she had extended her advantage to 23 seconds over Van der Breggen. On the punishing closing kilometres, which included the steep ascent of Nyanza and the cobbled wall of Kimihurura, she showed her trademark power to shut the door on her rivals and finally secure gold. The victory comes after a season in which she was denied at the Giro d’Italia due to health problems, making her triumph in Kigali even sweeter.

After crossing the line and realising she had finally become world champion, Reusser struggled to contain her emotions. "I still can't believe it. I've tried so many times that it seems like a dream come true. It's been a huge effort and I'm still taking it in. It has been very hard, but I have achieved it and I am immensely happy. I have to thank all the people who have supported me along the way.

"There have been many years of passion and affection, and this victory is also for them. It makes me happy for myself and for all the people who have always been by my side."

For Reusser, the long wait for the rainbow jersey is finally over. On the streets of Kigali, she delivered a performance that confirmed her reputation as the best in the discipline and sealed one of the most important victories of her career.