Marlen Reusser, the reigning world time trial champion, aced the individual time trial in the Tour de France Femmes to win stage four and take the yellow jersey. The Swiss rider finished the 21km course from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon in 27 minutes 30 seconds, beating former champion Demi Vollering by 14 seconds in the general classification.
Reusser's Dominant Performance
Reusser, riding for Movistar, delivered a flawless ride on Tuesday, showcasing her exceptional time trial skills. Her victory was not just a stage win but a statement of intent, as she now leads the overall standings with a 14-second advantage over Vollering. "I'm super, super happy. This was kind of the idea that we had since a long time," Reusser said. "It's the first Tour de France that I really saw as my goal of the year, and that I am here as a leader... we always said it's our project, Dijon."
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Key Rivals and Their Reactions
Demi Vollering, the 2024 runner-up, put in a strong performance but couldn't match Reusser's pace. Meanwhile, Kasia Niewiadoma, the 2024 winner, rode a fine time trial and expressed satisfaction with her effort. "I haven't seen the results yet. I felt that I found my flow," Niewiadoma said. "I definitely spent a huge amount of time working on my skills because as everyone knew, I wasn't the best at it. As you can see, if you believe in something and you put good amount of work, anything is possible."
Stage 4 Results and GC Standings
| Position | Rider | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlen Reusser (Movistar) | 11:47:36 |
| 2 | Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) | +14'' |
| 3 | Cedrine Kerbaol (FEF Education-Oatly) | +54'' |
| 4 | Sigrid Haugset (NUno-X Mobility) | +56'' |
| 5 | Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'Imad) | +1'03'' |
| 6 | Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM) | +1'09'' |
| 7 | Paula Blasi Cairol (UAE Team L'Imad) | +1'12'' |
| 8 | Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) | +1'17'' |
| 9 | Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) | +1'43'' |
| 10 | Femke de Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike) | +1'47'' |
What This Means for the Race
Reusser's victory reshapes the general classification, putting her in pole position as the race heads into the mountain stages. The 14-second lead over Vollering is slim, but Reusser has proven she can hold her own against the best. With riders like Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini lurking, the battle for the yellow jersey is far from over.
Key Takeaways from Stage 4
- Reusser's time trial mastery earned her the stage win and the yellow jersey.
- Vollering remains a serious contender, just 14 seconds behind.
- Niewiadoma's improved time trialing shows her determination to defend her title.
- Sigrid Haugset lost the yellow jersey after conceding over three minutes.
- The upcoming mountain stages will be decisive in determining the overall winner.
FAQ
Who won the Tour de France Femmes stage 4 time trial?
Who took the yellow jersey after stage 4?
What was the time gap between Reusser and Vollering?
