Boosted by world title, Marlen Reusser aims for a Vuelta-Tour double in 2026!
CyclingWednesday, 04 February 2026 at 09:00
Marlen Reusser approaches 2026 as one of the defining years of her career. The Swiss rider from Movistar Team arrives in peak form with a clear goal: win a Grand Tour - in fact, two. La Vuelta Femenina and the Tour de France Femmes are the guiding lights of a meticulously planned season, without giving up the prestige of the classics or the week-long stage races where she already looks almost untouchable.
After coming very close at the Giro d’Italia last year and cementing her status as one of the peloton’s most complete riders - dominant in time trials, reliable in the mountains, and increasingly dangerous on demanding finishes - Reusser now aims for the definitive assault on the Grande Boucle. This time, there’s no hiding: she is going for yellow.
The campaign opens at the UAE Tour Women, an ideal race to test legs in the early stages of the year with a demanding mountain stage up Jebel Hafeet (10.7 km at 6.9%) on the final day of the race. March brings Strade Bianche Women, where her power and resilience on rough terrain make her a natural podium contender.
April will be an exciting month fulfilled with action for Reusser. The Swisswoman will take on Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, and then head to the Ardennes two weeks later to compete for a victory at La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. A Monument is a clear goal as Reusser is yet to win one in her career.
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The main block
Then comes Reusser's first big goal of 2026; La Vuelta Femenina. The 31-year-old finished runner-up in Spain last year, and will be most certainly motivated to end her wait for a Grand Tour victory on Movistar's home roads.
Itzulia Basque Country - a race Reusser has already won in 2023 - will then come in a quick succession. The first two summer months will see Reusser mainly prepare for the Tour de France Femmes, but she won't disappear from the action entirely with the Tour de Suisse Women on her agenda for the second half of June, followed by National Championships where Reusser defends a time-trial title.
For the first time in her career, Reusser became elite World Champion in Rwanda
The big goal: the Tour de France Femmes
And on August 1st, the D-day comes for Reusser with a Grand Départ of Tour de France Femmes 2026. With first two stages located entirely in Switzerland, Reusser will be enormously motivated to get off to a good start. And who knows, maybe even pick up the yellow jersey in the first stage with an uphill finish in Lausanne.
The year will close in September with the Tour de Romandie Women, almost at home, as the finishing touch to a season that could be historic.
Reusser’s career highlights:
- 2× Overall winner, Tour de Suisse Women (2023, 2025)
- Overall winner, Vuelta a Burgos Féminas (2025)
- Winner, Gent–Wevelgem (2023)
- Overall winner, Itzulia Women (2023)
- World Time Trial Champion (2025)
- Winner, Setmana Ciclista Valenciana (2024)
- 4× European Time Trial Champion (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)
- 2 Tour de France Femmes stage wins (2022, 2023)
- 2× World Time Trial silver medallist (2020, 2021)
- 2× 2nd overall, Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta (2021, 2025)
Marlen Reusser’s 2026 calendar:
| Date | Race |
| 05–08.02.2026 | UAE Tour Women |
| 07.03.2026 | Strade Bianche Women |
| 01.04.2026 | Dwars door Vlaanderen |
| 05.04.2026 | Tour of Flanders |
| 22.04.2026 | La Flèche Wallonne |
| 26.04.2026 | Liège–Bastogne–Liège |
| 03–10.05.2026 | La Vuelta Femenina |
| 15–17.05.2026 | Itzulia Women (Basque Country) |
| 17–21.06.2026 | Tour de Suisse Women |
| 01–09.08.2026 | Tour de France Femmes |
| 04–06.09.2026 | Tour de Romandie Women |
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