Marlen Reusser claims Women’s UCI Elite ITT title, Rwanda's Nirere finishes 27th

Swiss cyclist Marlen Reusser won her first UCI Women’s Elite Individual Time Trial (ITT) title on Sunday, September 21, at the 2025 UCI RoadWorld Championships in Kigali.

Reusser completed the 31.2-kilometre course in 43 minutes and 9 seconds, topping the podium after years of near misses. The Swiss star finished ahead of Dutch riders Anna van der Breggen, who claimed silver (+52 seconds), and Demi Vollering, the pre-race favourite, who took bronze (+1 minute 5 seconds).

The championships got off to an electrifying start as the elite women contested the ITT on opening day, just ahead of the men’s event.

Reusser’s win adds to her impressive medal collection, which already included two silvers and a bronze in the ITT since 2020.

Meanwhile, local interest centered on Rwandan athletes Xaverine Nirere and Diane Ingabire, who put up an impressive performance in the ITT category.

Nirere, who had the honour of being the first rider to start, launched from inside the BK Arena, marking the first-ever indoor start in ITT history. She clocked 50 minutes and 7 seconds, ultimately finishing 27th, trailing Reusser by 6 minutes and 58 seconds.

Her Rwanda counterpart Ingabire completed the race in 52 minutes and 57 seconds, securing 35th place, 9 minutes and 48 seconds behind the leader.

For a moment, Nirere held the "hot seat" as the race leader until Italy’s Soraya Paladin posted a time of 48:36. Shortly after, China’s Hao Zhang finished in 47:23, followed by Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset of Norway in 46:24.

Top 10 Results – Women’s Elite ITT (31.2km)

Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) – 43'09"

Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands) – +52"

Demi Vollering (Netherlands) – +1'05"

Brodie Chapman (Australia) – +1'21"

Katrine Aalerud (Norway) – +1'24"

Antonia Niedermaier (Germany) – +1'29"

Juliette Labous (France) – +1'33"

Anna Henderson (Great Britain) – +1'38"

Chloe Dygert (USA) – +2'25"

Mireia Benito (Spain) – +2'32"