Nicole Brändli, one of the favourites for the women's road race on Saturday in Stuttgart, is out. The rider who was runner-up in this year's Giro Femminile had to withdraw due to bronchitis. The Team Bigla rider has had multiple top ten finishes in Worlds' road races in the past and won the silver medal in 2002. She also won the Giro Femminile twice, in 2003, 2005. In 2001 she was awarded the win post-race, after the disqualification of Zinaida Stahurskaia.
Brändli will be replaced by Patricia Schwager, a 24 year-old who rides for the Raleigh Lifeforce Creation team.
