Marlen Reusser wins first race for Movistar at 2025 Trofeo Palma Femina

Marlen Reusser marked her return to form in emphatic style, securing her first win in Movistar colours at the Trofeo Palma Femina on 26th January. The Swiss rider overcame Mavi Garcia in a head-to-head battle on the challenging ascent to Castell de Bellver in Mallorca, capping off a demanding 129.5km race.

The climactic duel between Reusser and Garcia was set up on the Coll de Sa Creu climb, where the pair surged clear of the depleted peloton with 20km remaining. While Garcia attempted to break away on the descent, Reusser clawed her way back, setting up a final showdown on the uphill finish. The Swiss rider launched her sprint with precision, powering clear of Garcia to claim victory.

Speaking after the race, Reusser reflected on her win, saying, โ€œWe always had the victory in our minds; we knew we could do it, and we arrived in Mallorca with a very strong team. Without a doubt, we had to prove it.โ€ She also acknowledged her challenging 2024 season, adding, โ€œThis victory is very special for me because I had a very difficult 2024. Last year I was ill and had a heavy fall, so to start like this is very nice.โ€

Marlen-Reusser-back-to-her-best-with-victory-at-Trofeo-Palma-Femina-1Photo Credit: Getty

Aggressive racing sets the stage

The race began with a lively start as a large breakaway of 13 riders, including Clara Koppenburg, Maria Giulia Confalonieri, Ocรฉane Mahรฉ, Tota Magalhaes, Francesca Pellegrini, Maggie Coles-Lyster (who was 3rd place yesterday), Nicole Hartychova, Fiona Mangan, Mariana Libano, Clara Koppenburg, Ainara Albert Bosch, Nina Berton, Elisa de Vallier and Renรฉe van Hout, gained over three minutes on the peloton. However, the group began to fragment on the slopes of the Coll Grau, leaving Ocรฉane Mahรฉ as the last rider standing. Her solo effort was ultimately reeled in before the summit, as the peloton, thinned by the climbs, began to assert itself.

With 35km remaining, Mavi Garcia launched an initial attack on the Coll de Sa Creu, pulling away with a group that included Reusser, Thalita de Jong, Silvia Persico, and Katrine Aalerud. Although Canyon-SRAM quickly closed the gap, Garcia and Reusser struck again on the approach to the final summit of the day, breaking free with 20 seconds in hand over their nearest chasers. They marshalled the descent and were comfortably ahead on the final spurt to the finish line. With only two riders contesting it, Garcia needed to try and drop Reusser but couldn’t, and when it came to launch the sprint, Reusser had more than enough left in the tank to lead it from the front to the victory.

Behind the leading duo, Silvia Persico showed off her strength in the reduced bunch, sprinting to third place in a photo finish ahead of Thalita de Jong. Behind them, the remnants of the chase group rolled through with Soraya Paladin ahead of Katrine Aalerud and Karolina Perekitko.

2025 Trofeo Palma Femina result

Results powered by FirstCycling.com

Main photo credit: Challenge Mallorca