The short version
- Marlen Reusser defended her world time-trial crown in Montreal, finishing 40.11 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s Zoe Backstedt.
- Backstedt, who opted to race at the elite level rather than defend her under-23 title, set the fastest early times on a course nearly double the standard length.
- Germany’s Franziska Koch took bronze, while reigning European road race champion Demi Vollering finished eighth in a disappointing performance.
Marlen Reusser retained her world time-trial championship title on Sunday in Montreal, overcoming a formidable challenge from Great Britain’s Zoe Backstedt to secure her second consecutive victory in the discipline. The Swiss rider, competing on her 35th birthday, finished with a winning time of 50 minutes and 24.44 seconds, beating the 21-year-old British cyclist by just over 40 seconds. The result cements Reusser’s status as the dominant force in women’s time-trial cycling, adding to her previous triumph in Rwanda last year and extending a recent run of near-invincibility against the clock.
Backstedt produced a performance that marked a significant milestone for British cycling, earning the nation its first medal in the women’s elite time trial since Emma Pooley won bronze in 2011. The Welsh rider had the option to defend her under-23 world title, which she won in 2025, but chose instead to step up to the elite category. Her decision paid off as she set the fastest times at the first two intermediate checkpoints on the 39.2-kilometer course, a distance nearly double that of typical time trials and significantly longer than any Backstedt had previously raced.
The race unfolded in two distinct phases, highlighting the contrasting strengths of the top contenders. Backstedt launched a powerful start, establishing an early lead that suggested a potential upset. She maintained her advantage through the first half of the course, prompting Reusser to adopt a cautious pacing strategy. The Swiss champion was more than 10 seconds behind at the initial checkpoint but gradually closed the gap in the second half, demonstrating superior endurance on the winding and technical route. Backstedt acknowledged Reusser’s strength, noting that she anticipated the Swiss rider would recover significant time given her powerful engine.
Reusser’s victory came despite her own admission of nervousness regarding the unusual course length. The four-time European champion is accustomed to shorter races, typically around 20 kilometers, and expressed uncertainty about how to pace herself on a route nearly twice that distance. However, she managed her effort effectively, powering away in the final stages to secure a comfortable margin over Backstedt. Reusser described the win as a fitting birthday present, emphasizing her focus on pacing and coping with the specific challenges of the Montreal course rather than relying solely on raw speed.
Germany’s Franziska Koch claimed the bronze medal, finishing 5.43 seconds behind Backstedt. The result extends a highly successful season for Koch, who also won Paris-Roubaix earlier in the year. Her performance provided a third-place finish that underscored the depth of talent in the field, even as the top two spots were dominated by Reusser and Backstedt. Meanwhile, Demi Vollering, the reigning European road race champion, struggled to find her rhythm on the time-trial course, finishing eighth and well outside the medal contention.
The significance of Backstedt’s silver medal extends beyond the individual achievement, signaling a new era for British women’s cycling. Teammates and observers praised her maturity in managing the long distance, noting that she avoided the common pitfall of starting too aggressively and fading late in the race. Her ability to hold second place despite Reusser’s strong finish suggests she has successfully transitioned from junior and under-23 categories to the elite level. Backstedt’s performance was described as a mature race that proved her readiness to compete with the world’s best.
Looking ahead, the focus shifts to the women’s elite road race scheduled for Saturday, September 26. Backstedt is expected to participate, carrying momentum from her time-trial success into the mass-start event. The road race will offer another opportunity for British riders to contend on the world stage, with Anna Morris also competing after finishing 16th in the time trial. The upcoming events will test whether the form displayed in the time trial can translate to the tactical complexities of the road race.
In related news from the championships, Mathieu van der Poel demonstrated his continued dominance in men’s cycling by winning the final stage of the Tour of Luxembourg with a long-range solo break. The Dutch star broke clear early and held on for more than a minute, securing overall victory and positioning himself as a favorite for the world road race title in Montreal. With reigning champion Tadej Pogacar absent due to injury, Van der Poel’s form adds another layer of anticipation to the upcoming events in Canada.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC Sport↗GB's Backstedt wins world time-trial silver
- The Guardian US↗Marlen Reusser holds off Zoe Backstedt to retain world time-trial cycling title
