Marlen Reusser gave herself the best possible gift for her 35th birthday. The Swiss rider dominated the field in the women’s elite individual time trial at the Road World Championships on Sunday in Montreal, retaining her title as the queen of the discipline. Reusser, who was the clear favorite, completed the 39.2-km course in 50:24.44—40 seconds faster than Britain’s Zoe Bäckstedt, who finished second. All smiles on the podium, Reusser was able to once again don her rainbow jersey, which she won for the first time last year in Kigali, Rwanda. She had previously finished second in the event twice, in 2020 and 2021, as well as third in 2022. On Sunday, Reusser saved the best for last. She was 10 seconds behind Bäckstedt at the first split, but by the third timing point, she held a 13-second lead, then gained another 27 seconds on the final straight. Germany’s Franziska Koch took third place, five seconds behind Bäckstedt. Dutch rider Demi Vollering, the favorite for next Saturday’s road race, finished eighth, 1:49 behind Reusser. Canadians Nadia Gontova and Olivia Baril finished 19th and 23rd, respectively, out of the 47 riders who crossed the finish line at the foot of Mount Royal. “I did my best today and I’m happy with my performance,” said Baril, who finished 4:46 behind Reusser. “It was a technical course, but I like that. Last year, the course was a little too repetitive.” Baril raced in the Tour de Gatineau on Thursday, but this was her first race in September. The 28-year-old from Quebec was therefore satisfied with her level of fitness. “It went well under the circumstances,` she explained. `After these two races, I’ll also be competing in the mixed relay (on Tuesday), so that will give me three races to get back into the swing of things before Saturday. That’ll be the big race!” Baril and Gontova will then try to help Quebec’s Magdeleine Vallières Mill defend her world championship title in the elite women’s road race. This afternoon, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel will attempt to follow in Reusser’s footsteps by defending his world championship title in the elite men’s individual time trial. Evenepoel won’t have it easy, however. Italy’s Filippo Ganna, Britain’s Ethan Hayter, and Switzerland’s Stefan Küng, among others, are expected to provide stiff competition. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 20, 2026.
