Early alarms and rainbow wishes – Inside Marlen Reusser’s birthday at the World Championships

On the morning of the individual time trial at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) began her day ahead of schedule, only to be greeted by a barrage of birthday wishes as she made her way to breakfast. Breakfast completed, she settled into the familiar pre-race routine, warming up on the trainer and mentally preparing for the upcoming challenge. Her birthday, the 35th, was marked by a rainbow-themed outfit, a fitting tribute to her two previous world championship victories.

Initially, Great Britain's Zoe Bäckstedt outpaced Reusser in the first and second intermediate time checks. However, the Swiss cyclist turned the tide in the latter stages of the race, crossing the finish line a staggering 40 seconds ahead of her Welsh rival. At the podium, Reusser felt a moment of doubt, questioning whether she had truly won. This was not the first birthday coinciding with the World Championships for Reusser; in Flanders five years ago, she turned 30 and finished second.

Reflecting on her experiences, Reusser recalled the 2021 event and the ambition she harbored for her 30th birthday. However, this time, she secured gold on a course she had grown to appreciate, despite its initial challenges. The route, with its adventurous and technical elements, kept her engaged throughout. While she did not choose it for a world title bid, her birthday wish was ultimately fulfilled. Either way, Reusser knew there was cause for celebration.