Marlen Reusser didn’t leave anything to chance in the third edition of the Tour de Suisse. At 31 years old, the cyclist from Bern secured the overall victory on Tuesday by finishing in 3rd place in the fourth and final stage.

Starting the stage in Ebnat-Kappel wearing the yellow jersey, Reusser knew she was facing stiff competition from Dutch rider Demi Vollering (2nd place, trailing by 9 seconds) and Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini (3rd place, trailing by 18 seconds). However, the surprise came from the 6th-placed rider overall, Polish cyclist Katarzyna Niewiadoma.

Niewiadoma launched an attack on the first ascent of the Schorütistrasse climb – a Category 2 climb that the riders had to conquer three times – 45 kilometers from the finish, causing the peloton to shatter.

Niewiadoma, who started the stage 2 minutes and 7 seconds behind, led the race alongside New Zealand’s Niamh Fisher-Black. They built up a lead of up to 2 minutes and 30 seconds over Reusser and the other top contenders, putting the Polish cyclist in a virtual first place on the podium. It was an unthinkable scenario for Reusser.

With 23 kilometers to go, Marlen Reusser launched her own attack, leaving all the other favorites behind. She rode like the reigning European time trial champion that she is and eventually crossed the finish line 37 seconds behind the stage winner, Fisher-Black, successfully defending her yellow jersey.

Having already secured victories this year at Gand-Wevelgem and the Tour of the Basque Country, Marlen Reusser becomes the first Swiss woman to win the Tour de Suisse in its three-year history. In 2021, she finished third, trailing behind British cyclist Lizzie Deignan and Geneva’s Elise Chabbey.