'I missed the moment to go really deep' – Marlen Reusser refuses to blame bike choice for heavy Giro d'Italia Women mountain time trial loss

Marlen Reusser, the reigning world time trial champion, delivered a strong performance on the mountain time trial stage of the Giro d’Italia Women but was unable to match the dominant ride of Anna van der Breggen. The Dutch veteran surged ahead on the Nevegal climb to seize the race lead, finishing over a minute faster than Reusser, who now sits second overall, 1:04 behind. This marked a significant shake-up in the general classification after the initial sprint-focused days of the race. Reusser’s approach to the 12.7km stage was notable for her choice to ride a road bike rather than a time trial bike, a strategy shared by a few other contenders such as Elisa Longo Borghini. While many of her rivals, including Van der Breggen and Demi Vollering, opted for more aerodynamic time trial machines, Reusser declined to attribute her time loss to this decision. Instead, she admitted to missing the opportunity to push harder during the effort, describing the time trial as “too easy” from her perspective and acknowledging that she didn’t fully tap into her potential on the day. Reflecting on the bike choice, Reusser expressed the common post-race doubts that come with losing time in such a critical stage but stopped short of blaming her equipment outright. She suggested that while a time trial bike might have been a smarter option, it would be an oversimplification to say that it would have guaranteed victory. Her candid assessment highlighted the complexity of race tactics and the fine margins that separate the top contenders in mountain time trials. Looking ahead, Reusser and other GC hopefuls like Vollering and Longo Borghini still have opportunities to challenge Van der Breggen’s lead, particularly on the forthcoming queen stage featuring the Colle delle Finestre climb. Despite the setback, Reusser maintained a composed outlook, showing respect for Van der Breggen’s performance and remaining focused on the battles ahead. Her measured response suggests she remains motivated but realistic about the challenges of the mountainous terrain to come.