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Follow us on GoogleMarlen Reusser has won the time trial at the World Cycling Championships. The Swiss rider appeared to face competition from Zoe Bäckstedt for a long time, but ultimately left the Briton far behind. Bäckstedt took silver, ahead of Germany's Franziska Koch. The Dutch women failed to impress: Demi Vollering was overtaken by Reusser and finished eighth.
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The wait is finally over: the World Championships are here! The women’s time trial kicks things off, with a unique course. While Switzerland and Rwanda each featured a challenging loop with significant elevation gain, the course in Montréal was designed for true specialists. Flat and winding: the best sprinter would win here—that much is certain.
We had to wait a while for the real big names, but Taylor Knibb was an interesting one. The American finished 19th in the Olympic time trial two years ago, but she is normally a triathlete. The three-time Ironman world champion was doing well and went more than six minutes faster than Tang's time, but Lotte Claes (Belgium) was nine seconds quicker at the finish line.
Read more below the video!
Surprises after the first and second split times
She clocked a time of 52.34 minutes. Meanwhile, we saw more and more favourites set off, including Lieke Nooijen. The Dutchwoman started as a real outsider for the medals, but had already lost a fair bit of time by the first split. Once everyone had set off, the picture became increasingly clear. Zoe Bäckstedt had got off to a good start.
The British rider was just a touch faster than Cédrine Kerbaol (France) and Franziska Koch (Germany). How would the top favourites fare? The answer was a surprise. After eleven kilometres, Vollering had already lost 34 seconds, whilst defending champion Reusser was ten seconds behind. It wasn’t the names one would have expected that were leading the way in Montréal.
Bäckstedt was also the fastest at the second intermediate point and looked set to claim the world title. The young Briton had become world champion in the U23 category last year and had a chance to win the rainbow jersey straight away in the elite category. But Reusser made it a contest once again. The Swiss rider had upped the pace and closed the gap to just three seconds at the second intermediate point.
Read more under the photo
Reusser overtakes Vollering
The Swiss rider had clearly paced her time trial perfectly. Bäckstedt was well on her way, but Reusser took the lead in the second half of the time trial. At the third intermediate point, she was faster for the first time – by thirteen seconds. She caught sight of Vollering, and in the final stretch of the time trial she overtook the Dutch rider.
Meanwhile, Koch had clocked the fastest time at the finish. The German was four tenths of a second faster than Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), whilst Lotte Kopecky rode a creditable time trial but was a minute behind the FDJ-SUEZ rider. Nooijen was further back still, trailing by 1 minute 30 seconds. But the world champion was, in fact, already a clear winner.
Because Reusser was on a roll. Bäckstedt was the first to cross the line, narrowly beating Koch by five seconds. It proved not enough for the world title. Reusser had to tackle the final kilometres on slightly damp tarmac, but was still well faster than Bäckstedt: at the finish, the gap was a full 40 seconds. The Swiss rider gave herself the perfect birthday present. Vollering then crossed the line in eighth place.
Result, 2026 World Championships Time Trial - Elite Women
1. Marlen Reusser
2. Zoe Bäckstedt
3. Franziska Koch
4. Elisa Longo Borghini
5. Cédrine Kerbaol
6. Lotte Kopecky
7. Antonio Niedermaier
8. Demi Vollering
9. Dominika Wlodarczyk
Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026
