Marlen Reusser claims European time trial title in Munich

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Marlen Reusser claimed the women's time trial title for the second year running at the European Championships held in Fürstenfeldbruck. The Swiss time trial specialist covered the 24km course in a winning time of 31:00. 

She also beat world champion Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands) for the second year in a row, by six seconds with Riejanne Markus (Netherlands) finishing with the bronze medal at 28 second back.

"This new European title really is a team performance. We refined every detail and worked hard on aerodynamics," said Reusser after winning the event. "I am happy that I can extend the title. I changed to Team SD Worx and got a super fast bike with the Specialized Shiv TT Disc. Together with the staff of Team SD Worx and Swiss Cycling we fine-tuned every detail. So this title really is a team performance."

The women raced along a 24km undulating circuit in Fürstenfeldbruck. After leaving the starting ramp, the riders raced over the Gelbenholzen uphill at the 1km mark. They then crossed through Schöngeising at the 14km to go mark. An intermediate time check was positioned at 15.2km in Wallfahrtskirche St Williball and then the riders worked their way back toward the finish line in Fürstenfeldbruck.

Reusser and van Dijk were the obvious favourites for the time trial while Markus has shown her strengths this season with a victory in the road race and second in the time trial at the Dutch Championships in June.

Rounding out the top-10 were Audrey Cordon-Ragot (France) in fourth at 53 seconds back, Anna Kiesenhoffer (Austria) fifth at 1:01 back, Juliette Labous (France) sixth, Julie van de Velde (Belgium) at seventh at 1:31 back, Christina Schweinberger (Austria) eighth at 1:33 back, Elena Hartmann (Switzerland) ninth at 1:38 and Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka (Poland) in tenth at 1:51.

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