Roglič Takes European Time Trial Gold at Home as Reusser Sets Women’s Record

Primož Roglič turned a steep, short course into a homecoming victory, while Marlen Reusser extended her hold on the women’s European time trial title. Their wins at the 2026 European Championships in Slovenia came on a 21.8km route shaped by one demanding climb—and produced two very different kinds of dominance.

Roglič, 36, finished in 28:16 to take the men’s title by seven seconds over France’s Bruno Armirail. Reusser beat Demi Vollering by 23 seconds and became the first woman to win the European time trial championship five times. She also has a rare world and European double: she has achieved both titles in the same year twice, this year and in 2025. Anna van der Breggen is the only other rider to have done so, in 2020.

Roglič turns a climbing course into a home win

The Možjanca ascent was the defining feature of the men’s race: 2.1km at an average gradient of 10.4%. That profile rewarded riders able to carry speed uphill. Roglič, a stronger climber than specialist time trialists such as Armirail and Switzerland’s Stefan Küng, had a clear route to make the course work for him.

He opened with a 12.9-second advantage over Armirail at the first time check. Belgium’s Ilan van Wilder was third there, 15.8 seconds behind. Roglič’s margin narrowed to 9.6 seconds at the next check, while 21-year-old Frenchman Maxime Decomble had moved into third. At the finish, Roglič had seven seconds on Armirail; Decomble took bronze, 28 seconds back.

Five-time world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel was absent. After winning the European road race title on Sunday by a narrow margin, the Belgian chose to prepare for Saturday’s Il Lombardia, the final Monument of the year. Roglič’s climbing strength was especially useful on a course without Evenepoel’s challenge.

Roglič said the victory belonged in part to the people who had made the championships in Slovenia possible. He also described an unusual complication: his radio stopped working after the first kilometre, leaving him to race by feel. “We have to review the data, but I certainly left everything on the track,” he told RTVSlo. “Thankfully, that was enough for the title.”

The win is Roglič’s second major international title, following his Olympic time trial gold in Tokyo in 2020. He said he hasn’t often won at home and expects to remember this one for the rest of his life. Asked what decided the race, he joked that he had tried to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible.

He’ll wear the European champion’s jersey next year, although his racing plans are still unsettled. Roglič is leaving Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe at the end of the year and has not signed with another team. He said he might wear the jersey only at home, depending on what comes next, but promised to wear it regardless. A home title gives him a memorable end to the season before that next chapter is clear.

Reusser keeps the title, Vollering close behind

The women’s race set up an expected contest between Reusser and Vollering, the world and European road race champion from the Netherlands. The climb appeared to suit Vollering, widely regarded as one of the strongest climbers in the women’s field. Reusser had other ideas. She led by 11.3 seconds at the first check and increased the gap through the section that included the ascent.

Reusser finished in 31:30, with Vollering second at 23 seconds. France’s Juliette Berthet surprised with third, 1:10 behind the winner and six seconds ahead of Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini. Reusser called it a beautiful day and said she had focused on putting together a good race. She also reflected on a season with strong results alongside some disappointments, saying there was plenty to be proud of.

At 35, Reusser is already looking toward 2027. She wants to change and improve several areas of her work, particularly the team’s processes, with better results as the aim. This season’s wins include the world and European time trial titles, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift time trial.

A Grand Tour overall win remains absent from her record; she has finished second twice at the Vuelta a España Femenina. That leaves another season of high-level competition with Vollering and Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney. Reusser’s fifth European title makes her the rider to beat against the clock, while the close margins and demanding course show why the climbing test can still shape the result.

2026 Elite Men’s European Championship Time Trial

2026 Elite Women’s European Championship Time Trial