In a shocking turn of events, Marlen Reusser, a contender for the general classification at the UAE Tour Women, has been forced to withdraw following a devastating crash during the second stage that left her bike in ruins and resulted in injuries requiring stitches.
Reusser, who was anticipated to be among the favorites for the overall title, experienced a high-speed fall as she approached the finish line during a chaotic sprint on Friday. Although she managed to complete the stage despite suffering cuts on her knee and hand, medical evaluations led to the tough decision to pull her from the competition for the following day.
Interestingly, Reusser noted that the aftermath of the crash was relatively mild compared to what could have happened, as all riders finished stage 2, with only two others—Auke De Buysser from EF Education-Oatly and Irma Siri of Top Girls Fassa Bortolo—not starting stage 3 due to their own injuries. "I now need to focus on healing my wounds before I can resume training," Reusser stated, expressing determination to aim for the Strade Bianche event scheduled in a month's time.
Before the race, Reusser had conveyed some concerns about whether the UAE's demanding general classification would come too early in her season. Nonetheless, she was still viewed as a strong competitor. Now, without her, the Movistar team has lost a key climber for the upcoming stages but will rely on Floortje Mackaij and Arlenis Sierra to pursue solid results in her absence.
This development could potentially benefit defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini from UAE Team ADQ, who is looking to secure her third title in the UAE this week, as the elimination of Reusser creates a less competitive field.
The UAE Tour Women will proceed with another anticipated sprint stage on Saturday, leading up to the crucial general classification finale at Jebel Hafeet on Sunday.
Matilda, an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in the UK, joined Cyclingnews in March 2025. Previously, she served as the Racing News Editor at GCN and has freelanced for numerous cycling publications including Cycling Weekly, Velo, Rouleur, Escape Collective, and Red Bull. Her extensive reporting experience includes major events like the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France Femmes, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix, with a particular focus on women's cycling and sports. Matilda holds a degree in modern languages and sports journalism.
