UCI Road World Championships women’s elite ITT RESULT - Marlen Reusser wins rainbow stripes after beating Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering

Marlen Reusser finally clinched the UCI Road World Championships women’s elite individual time trial crown after three previous podiums.

The 34-year-old finished runner-up in both 2020 and 2021 and third three years ago.

Despite not being in the final pack of seeded starters Reusser set a formidable tempo and went quickest through every split.

Anna van der Breggen won the event five years ago and following her return to the sport made a bid for the rainbow jersey.

The 35-year-old set a blistering early time, only to see her benchmark bettered by Reusser’s 43’09" for the 31.2-kilometre course.

All eyes were then on final starter and last year’s silver medallist Demi Vollering.

Despite matching the time of Reusser through the first split Vollering lost ground on the climbs and had to settle for bronze 1’04" behind.

The Norwegian provided a somewhat surprise as she finished fifth and just 1’24" behind the winner.

She told TNT Sports: "I’m really happy with my final result.

The 2025 UCI Road World Championships will be held in Rwanda, with all the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Tour de France champions Tadej Pogacar and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot headline the action, while Remco Evenepoel, Tom Pidcock, Demi Vollering and Anna Henderson are among the stars competing.

The Road World Championships will be held over eight days in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Reusser celebrated her first UCI Road World Championships after finishing on the time trial podium on three occasions.

She told TNT Sports: "I can almost not believe it.

A perfectly paced ride by Reusser earns her the rainbow stripes for the first time. Van Der Breggen held her form throughout to finish second and Vollering has to settle for third.

Vollering stops the clock in 28’35" which is good enough for bronze medal. Van Der Breggen will be happy with her bronze medal in her first world championships in four year.

British rider Henderson lost considerable time in the final split. She currently sits in seventh position after finishing +1’37" behind the time of Reusser.

Chloé Dygert can only finish eighth and +2’25" behind the leading time.

Marlen Reusser is in prime position to take the rainbow stripes following the third intermediate split.

Third split timings
1 Marlen Reusser 35’21"
2 Anna Van Der Breggen +0’23"
3 Demi Vollering +0’36’
4 Katrine Aalerud +0’38.04"
5 Anna Henderson +0’38.3

An impressive finish for the Australian whose time of 44’30" is good enough to move her into third. She moves ahead of Aalerud in the finishing order by just three seconds.

Henderson is also in the medal fight and is approaching the final three kilometres.

A massive ride for three-time European champion Reusser who sets an impressive time of 43’09" which is 0’51" faster than Van Der Breggen.

An incredible finish for Reusser who gained 28 seconds over her Dutch rival in the final split.

The Swiss rider is starting to feel the pressure as they hit the hardest section of this course.

Reusser is fastest through the third sector in 35’21" but has seen her advantage reduced from 0’28" to 0’23".

Meanwhile, at the finish Katrine Aalerud moves into second position after stopping the clock in 44’33" and 0’32" behind Van Der Breggen.

The Dutch woman is the final rider on the course and sends it through the first split just six tenths of a second behind Reusser.

First split timings

The Swiss rider has finished runner-up in the UCI Road World Championships women’s elite time trial on two occasions. The 34-year-old leads at the first split and goes through the second time split 28 seconds faster than Van Der Breggen.

Henderson comes through the first split 12 seconds behind Reusser.

Anna Henderson is the only rider representing Great Britain in the elite women category. Henderson finished seventh last season and will want to improve that performance and target a medal.

Britain won’t be represented in next week’s road race.

Italian Monica Trinca Colonel finished strongly and moves into second position at the finish in a time of 46’11".

However, with a host of the world’s best riders on the course she is likely to be pushed out of medal contention eventually.

Last year’s silver medallist Demi Vollering is the final rider on the course to start her effort. Meanwhile, Norwegian rider Katrine Aalerud and Marlen Reusser have bettered the time of Van Der Breggen at the first check point.

Reusser currently has the first time in the first split of 16’34".

The 35-year-old has led at every split in her first world championship since retiring four years ago.

Van Der Breggen gave that everything as she powered to the finish in 44’01". The two-time road race world champion won the time trial in 2020.

She beats the time of previous leader Haugset by 2'23"

The action is well and truly underway in Kigali. Brody Chapman has got her effort underway.

Meanwhile, Niewiadoma and Mireia Benito are just 40 seconds behind Van Der Breggen at the opening time check. There are still five riders ready to start their championship ride.

The Norwegian has given everything during this time trial. Haugset sets a new fastest time at the finish of 46"24’ which is likely to stand until Van Der Breggen finishes.

The two-time road race and one time trial world champion is storming around this powerful course. Van Der Breggen has the quickest time through the opening two splits.

Through the second split the Dutch rider’s time of 28’35" was 1’31" quicker than those who started before her.