Marlen Reusser must cope with yet another setback. The Swiss rider, who had already withdrawn from both the Olympic Games and the Tour de France Femmes, continues to struggle with her health and will miss the upcoming World Championships in her home country. The SD Worx-Protime cyclist is dealing with post-COVID syndrome, commonly known as long COVID.
Reusser experienced various upper respiratory infections in the early months of 2024. Just as she began to recover, she suffered a severe fall during the Tour of Flanders, resulting in fractures to her jaw, ear canal, and teeth. This incident marked the start of a prolonged period of suffering, which still isn’t over.
At 32 years old, Reusser is still battling significant fatigue. Although it’s not a severe variant of post-COVID syndrome, she remains confident that she will eventually recover. “It hurts that I also have to skip the upcoming World Championships. It’s really bitter. I would have loved to experience this event in my own country,” Reusser stated on her website. Defending her European Championship title is also off the table.
For now, Reusser is focusing on a complete recovery and return to the peloton. “I still need a lot of time, rest, and patience,” she added.
