“It was the coldest race of my life. At some factors, I used to be pondering that we had been going to die.” Marlen Reusser spoke via waves of shivers as she waited for the rostrum ceremony sitting alongside runner-up Megan Jastrab and third-placed Maike van der Duin behind the staging space after successful her first large Spring Traditional at Gent-Wevelgem.
The chances appeared to be stacked in opposition to Reusser virtually from the start. At a race like Gent-Wevelgem, which is well-suited to the sprinters. SD Worx had one of many strongest groups and lots of playing cards to play, however even Reusser had anticipated a dash this 12 months.
“In all of the [previous] editions, our aim was to not have a dash, but it surely was by no means potential as a result of it’s so arduous to get away and keep away on this race,” Reusser mentioned. “This 12 months, I used to be not anticipating that it will occur. I used to be anticipating that we might dash with Lorena [Wiebes]. Given the parcour, and it isn’t my favorite race. But it surely was completely different this 12 months.”
This 12 months’s race was held beneath abysmal climate circumstances that had been chilly and rain-soaked right through the 162.5km race between Ypres and Wevelgem.
The rain triggered the cobbled ascents to change into slippery and Reusser was compelled to stroll on the primary time up the Baneberg. A number of mass crashes triggered race-deciding splits among the many peloton, too.Â
Fortunately, Reusser mentioned, her SD Work teammates managed to make it via a lot of the accidents unscathed, a minimum of for a lot of the race. Nonetheless, a crash within the closing 10km, whereas Reusser was off the entrance, triggered Lorena Wiebes, Lotte Kopecky and Elena Cecchini to go down.
“At present was particular, first, as a result of the circumstances had been so unhealthy. I can let you know that we had been all frozen. It was actually chilly. It was the coldest race and expertise on the bike, after which there have been crashes, a crash that made a small choice [mid-race], and we had been fortunate to have the entire crew up entrance,” Reusser mentioned.
“I believe this modified the dynamics of the race lots. I additionally suppose that I might not have stayed away for 45km if my crew was not so sturdy or if we did not have the numbers behind. So, thanks, SD Worx.”
Reusser rode away from the sector on the second ascent of the Baneberg, with roughly 45km to go, when groups had been nonetheless organising themselves after a mass crash.Â
The Swiss rider slowly picked up the tempo, including extra strain to her effort, and when trying again was shocked to understand that she had created a niche.
“I did not assault. I believed perhaps we might choose or a small group, however there was nobody on my wheel, and I believed, ‘let’s attempt’. I used to be very shocked. I put in a bit increased tempo, and it was a choice that they [rival teams] simply didn’t journey that quick. I saved the tempo to see what would occur. I instantly bought time, so I believed, ‘we’ve 5 different playing cards to play, I am the primary to play,’ so I went,” she mentioned.
“It was not a tough resolution to proceed. I do know I am a superb time triallist, and typically, I want being within the time trial slightly than having to make arduous choices. After I heard over the radio that the crew was supporting my motion, it was good.”
The Swiss rider constructed her lead out to almost three minutes, however with restricted radio contact, she wasn’t assured in her benefit. A fallacious flip inside the ultimate 5 kilometres was trigger for some preliminary concern, however in the long run, the error made virtually no distinction to her lead, and she or he gained by 2:42 over the group dash.
“I’ve to look at it again myself. The race [course] went slightly bit to the proper, I went straight, so perhaps they might have proven me higher, or perhaps I might have been extra attentive as a result of I simply went straight. I understood that I went to fallacious approach as a result of [I heard] everybody saying ‘no, no, no’ after I turned. I used to be not pleased,” Reusser mentioned.
“I used to be not so assured about my hole. There are completely different dynamics. My legs are going slowly, and I do know that if riders dash behind, they’ll drive the tempo up, so I used to be not assured that it will actually occur. I used to be not pleased to lose further seconds there [in the wrong turn].”
Reusser mentioned it wasn’t till one kilometre to go that she started to really feel assured that she would win Gent-Wevelgem.Â
Though she had not anticipated her victory forward of the race, she admitted that she had her podium bag ready, simply in case. “I might not have thought that I might win it immediately, but in addition, I might not have mentioned I might not win it, both,” she mentioned.
