In some ways, Marlene Reusser She is the woman of the moment. Almost surprisingly winner of the Return to Burgos and then the home race, the Tour of Switzerland giving a demonstration of strength in the final stage also to that Demi Vollering which had been the brightest of all so far. A demonstration that takes on greater effect if we consider that we are on the eve of the two Grand Tours, to which the Swiss Movistar will take part with renewed ambitions.
Until now, Reusser was known above all as an extraordinary time trial specialist, three-time European champion, also brilliant in some classics (hers was the 2023 Ghent-Wevelgem), first in some short stage races, but she had never reached such a level. But perhaps this leap in quality has roots that prevail over the purely technical ones and that involve the human aspect., the desire for revenge after a 2024 that was almost entirely lost – including the Olympics – due to the after-effects of Covid, which had devastating effects on her.
For this reason after his victories, Marlen is very eager to talk and after her victory in Switzerland she even agreed to go online for a chat which went beyond the pure meaning of victory.
How important was it for you, especially considering the home win, to win the Vuelta a Burgos after everything that happened last year?
It's hard to say, because Everything I've been through has taught me to look at victories, races, and my business with a different eye. Responsible to my team, but perhaps more disillusioned.I think after everything that happened last year, it doesn't matter if I win or not. It's a huge gift for me to be back and earn my own money, have a life, and be healthy. Having put a really dark period behind me, which is also difficult for me to talk about. Winning a race is incredibly exciting, that's for sure. But I don't want to judge it based on what I've been through; what matters is having a normal life again. Much more than winning, perhaps.
You started the season with a win on the second day in Spain. How did you feel about that victory, even though it wasn't a major race?
The experience in Mallorca was fantastic. I mean, not only did I come back after a very, very difficult year, but it was also the first time with my new team.. Having that immediate success was special, beyond its significance. It was as if I felt at home again, in my own world, welcomed back. A new adventure with Team Movistar and my new life had begun.
Was having to give up the 2024 Olympics a wound for you?
It's a complicated matter. Of course, having to give up the Olympics and even the World Championships in Switzerland and my job last year was tough. But to be honest it helped, it was one step at a time, becoming more and more aware of how sick I was.. In the end, it didn't matter which race I did or didn't do. It wasn't about cycling races anymore. It was more about being healthy and getting back to living a normal life.It was much more important, that's why I didn't think twice about stopping. It no longer mattered whether I could participate in a certain cycling race or not. I'm truly grateful that they got me healthy again. And yes, this wound has healed and it was never this serious because, like, it was in the shadow of a much larger wound.
Burgos is your fourth stage race win in your career: is that your ideal dimension?
I think so. Not only have I had a 14-year career, but I've also given up a lot of podiums, even important ones, to help the team. I wasn't racing for myself, even though I was still very strong. So I think I should always be at that level, I think it's a goal that we aim for a lot and that we work hard for.I think I can still do very well in the classics, and I'm still strong in time trials, quite versatile. I'll never be just a specialist in one thing.
You already won the Tour of Switzerland in 2023: do you think you're a different cyclist and a different woman than you were then, especially after what happened last year?
Definitely, I think life changes you a lot. In some ways I'm also a Marlen 2.0 now… I think the Tour de Suisse is the right race to understand what kind of general classification rider I am. In 2023, it was one of the few races where I could really give my all. And in theory, I had the support of the team. Maybe not much, so I was really eager to win this race. It was really nice, different from this year's victory, but I think I'm more or less the same cyclist, technically speaking..
Between the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, which race do you think is better suited to your chances of victory?
Looking at the routes, I would have to say the Giro, especially because of the time trial, which is quite tough at the beginning, introducing a series of really tough stages in the Alps. I honestly don't understand why there wasn't a time trial before, just as I don't understand why it isn't included in the Tour. Overall, though, the French route seems more varied to me, with more opportunities to stand out even for those who aren't strictly climbers, and for this reason I think I'd choose the Tour. And as a team, that's also what we're aiming for.
