GENT-WEVELGEM
Marlen Reusser rides into Ghent-Wevelgem history books with majestic 45-kilometre solo
"I'm overjoyed, I hadn't dared hope to arrive solo"
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Marlen Reusser drove herself into the history books by successfully completing a 45-kilometre solo in a soggy Gent-Wevelgem. "Team SD Worx is so strong. It's special when you feel the full confidence of your team and can win in such a way," said winner Marlen Reusser.
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In a rained-out Gent-Wevelgem, Marlen Reusser was the first to take the initiative. However, she had already finished a chase after she crashed before the Baneberg. "That crash was quite stupid, I slipped in the mud. I couldn't click back in. So I had no choice but to change bikes just before the Kemmelberg. In the end, I was back quickly. Then, as a team, we continuously stayed in front because we knew there might be crashes to follow. Luckily that meant we all escaped the crash in which a pack of riders went down."
After which Reusser increased the pace at 45 kilometres from the line. "It wasn't an attack. I just accelerated, but I had a gap right away. So I kept the same pace to see what would happen. My lead increased quickly, after which I decided to go full speed ahead. That was not a difficult decision. I was the first card to play, behind me we had five other cards in the fire. I also immediately got the signal from the team car that they supported my action and that my teammates were stopping the chase. Then it's special to finish it as well."
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Stoppers on duty were Christine Majerus, Lorena Wiebes, Lotte Kopecky and Elena Cecchini, until Wiebes went down and took Elena Cecchini with her in her fall. Cecchini did not suffer consequences of the crash. Also Lorena Wiebes is okay at first sight, but considering the high impact of the crash, we leave nothing to chance and will further evaluate the situation in the coming days.
It changed nothing to the course of the race, as Marlen Reusser triumphed with the biggest lead ever in Gent-Wevelgem: 2'42". "I hadn't dared to hope to arrive solo. I had expected to sprint with Lorena Wiebes. So I had absolutely not planned this solo. Lorena's arrival allows us to race more freely. So I just tried. I'm a good time trialist, so I went all-in. The fact that I could ride alone in front for 45 kilometres was also only possible because Team SD Worx was so strongly represented at the back. So thank you Team SD Worx. I'm already looking forward to the Tour of Flanders."
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Anna van der Breggen: "A 45-kilometre solo, not many riders did it before Marlen"
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Sports director Anna van der Breggen calls Ghent-Wevelgem's win one of the best of Marlen Reusser's career. "The way she wins here is a stellar performance. Not many riders did it before her: a solo of 45 kilometres and arriving solo with 2'42" lead. We fully supported her action, Marlen is the type of rider who can bring this to a successful conclusion."
"Our plan was to be at the front of the hill zone on every climb. In this weather you know there will be crashes. As a result, we just escaped the big crash. Marlen accelerated at 45 kilometres from the finish and immediately created a gap. The signal for us to defend the lead and stop at the back. Marlen doesn't win frequently, so it is very nice that she created and seized such an opportunity. Besides her solo win in the Tour de France Femmes, this is one of the biggest wins of her career."
"The whole team was there. Elena Cecchini rode a very strong race after a hard crash in Ronde van Drenthe. Christine Majerus was also super strong. For Marlen Reusser, it was her first race after an altitude training, where she was a bit sick in the beginning and she is in good shape right away. This is the perfect start to the season with 7 nice victories. This gives a lot of confidence for the classics coming up."
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