This interview was first published in Rouleur Issue 140

Rouleur: If you weren’t a cyclist, what would you be?

Marlen Reusser: The most obvious thing is a medical doctor which is what I worked at before I quit that job and started cycling – that feels like a long time ago now.

R: Where’s your favourite place to ride a bike?

MR: It depends on the time of the year, but if it’s summer in Europe, I really like Switzerland. I don’t think it has fully been discovered yet by the cycling community, but it is so nice because there are perfect roads – small roads everywhere and almost no traffic on them, you can go for hours without seeing cars. You have breathtaking landscapes. Outside of summer, it can be a bit cold though.

R: You recently became world and European time trial champion, can you describe the work that goes into achieving goals like that?

MR: You prepare over many, many years, gaining experience, making mistakes and learning from that. You figure out how to handle yourself to do a good time trial, working on your set-up, aerodynamics, technical skills. In the last months before the event your final shape needs to be there so I did a really good block of altitude training just before the Worlds. Understanding how harsh the conditions were in Kigali was also key because it was so hot and humid – high up with really bad air. We understood I could not push the watts I normally would, so I adapted my pacing strategy and I went by feeling, which I think was one of the key things to winning there.

R: What techniques do you use to deal with the pressure on race day?

MR: I was so nervous in Rwanda but I tried to enjoy that because it’s special being in that strange state, in some ways. I went through so many emotions and I asked myself ‘what’s the worst thing that can happen?’ For me, the answer was that I would be super shit and not win, but it also wouldn’t be that bad in the grand scheme of life, so why should I be afraid?

R: Can you talk about what goes through your head during a time trial, what are you saying to yourself?

MR: That’s a secret. I have my strategies, but I think developing those strategies of how to handle yourself in a time trial is why some riders are better and some are worse – it’s part of the art of time trialling. If I share it all, I’d lose my secret.

R: What’s one thing you are bad at that you wish you could do well?

MR: I think about this often, and it is acrobatics. There are people who seem to not feel gravity, they swirl in the air as they want. I feel gravity a lot and I’m really afraid of moving through the air. I couldn’t do a somersault. I’m really bad at those things. I’m fascinated by people who seemingly have low gravity and just move around as they want. It impresses me.

R: What was your toughest moment on a bike?

MR: That is hard to answer because it’s how you perceive the pain. You can perceive the same pain but with another mindset if you know it is for victory. If you’re on the receiving side of the pain, then it is so different. In Switzerland, we did performance tests every year in the Swiss Olympic test centre. You had to be on a treadmill for different tests, one was five minutes all out with a tube in your mouth to measure Vo2 Max. I experienced a lot of suffering there.

R: You climb and time trial well, do you believe that winning the Tour de France Femmes is possible for you?

MR: I believe that, yes. I won’t say it is going to happen, but I think it is possible.

R: Can you describe how women’s cycling has progressed throughout your career? 

MR: The teams are getting bigger, more professional, you feel that the level is going up. For example, I’m new as a leader in a team riding for general classification. Some years ago, you could perform with the best without the crazy amount of preparation that you need nowadays. Today, if you don’t do altitude training, heat training, or have super good nutrition, you have no chance. This shows we are competing at a higher level – I don’t think it can get much higher at the top, actually. I just think the spread of talent at the top can grow.

R: What are you most thankful for? 

MR: The list is long, really long. I’m thankful for the fact I’ve been given life at all. The people, the nature, the health I can experience in my life, it’s so special.

R: You’ve faced a number of challenges and setbacks in your career, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone coming back to the sport from illness or injury? 

MR: It’s actually the words ‘mental strength’ that are often misunderstood. People think they need to have the mindset of ‘yes, I can do that, I’m so strong in the head’ – it’s like the mentality of a soldier. For me, it’s kind of the opposite. It is about accepting things how they are, even if they, in your perception, are shit. That acceptance can be seen as a weakness, but accepting things I can’t change at the moment is my strength. I just try my best every day.

R: What is one book that you would recommend?

MR: I just finished reading Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat. I think people should read that. If everybody did, we would have a nicer planet, a nicer life, for everybody.

R: What is your ideal way to spend a rest day?

MR: Right now, I wish I could just have a normal rest day. So not in between two races but at home, completely resting. I don’t want to do anything on my rest days, I’m always so done.

R: If you look at the upcoming generation of female cyclists, which talents stand out to you?

MR: So many come to mind. On Movistar we have Paula Ostiz who is the junior world champion. We also have Cat Ferguson and Carys Lloyd, British riders. I also think of Barbara Malcotti who is climbing very well. There are many names, which is a nice thing. At the European Championships on the podium I was surrounded by quite young riders and historically time trialing was a bit for the ‘oldies’. These girls show there are some young talents coming up too, definitely.

R: Do you have any holiday destinations on your bucket list?

MR: Home! No, my thing is that I don’t like to fly around more than necessary. In Europe, in reachable distances, there are a lot of places I’d like to go – the list is endless. In every country you can find beautiful places.

R: Who is your funniest teammate?

MR: I laugh a lot with Floortje Mackaij, she is hilarious. We have a very funny team though in general.

R: If you could learn to play any instrument in two hours, which instrument would you pick?

MR: The clarinet. It’s nice, it’s handy and I haven’t played it yet.

R: Who is your sporting hero? 

MR: Honestly, I couldn’t pick someone specific. Everyone I meet has something special, both when I look around in our sport and also outside of it. Human beings are inspiring to me.