Marlen Reusser has emphatically put to bed any ghosts of Glasgow World Championships disappointment as the Swiss rider thundered to yet another European Championships individual time-trial title.
The course of the individual time-trial will be extremely simple. With 29 kilometers in distance it isn't a long effort, but one where the best will stand out. Pan-flat roads and very long straightforward sectors will see the specialists have a day tailored to them, with start and finish in the town of Emmen.
First rider across the finish line was Germany's Katharina Fox but realistically, her chances of overall victory looked slim.
It didn't take long for her time to be beaten, Eugenia Bujak of Slovenia crossing the line 18 seconds quicker than Fox with her effort of 37:02.
Audrey Cordon-Ragot was next to improve upon the best time with a brilliant ride being clocked at 36:41, 21 seconds faster than Bujak.
Great Britain's Anna Henderson then edged in front of Cordon-Ragot, who looked visibly frustrated as the camera panned to her reaction in the hotseat.
The next rider over the line, Christina Schweinberger came within a second of Henderson but could not defeat the Brit.
After Lotte Kopecky also missed out Henderson must have been feeling confident but the very last rider on the road, the reigning European Champion, Marlen Reusser had other ideas.
Crossing the line over half a minute clear of Henderson, Reusser emphatically put to bed any ghosts of Glasgow World Championships disappointment to defend her title.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Marlen Reusser (32 ans) est championne d'Europe du contre la montre pour la troisième année de suite ! La Suissesse a repoussé la Britannique Anna Henderson à 43" et l'Autrichienne Christina Schweinberger à 44". 4e, Audrey Cordon-Ragot est à 3" du podium. #EuroRoad23
