Tour de France Femmes Stage 4: Reusser Wins Time Trial, Takes 2026

The Tour de France Femmes stage 4 time trial delivered a stunning performance as Marlen Reusser sped to victory and claimed the yellow jersey. Reusser, the reigning world time trial champion, dominated the 21km course from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon, finishing in 27 minutes 30 seconds. This victory not only secured her first stage win of the 2025 race but also propelled her to the top of the general classification, overtaking previous leader Sigrid Haugset.

Reusser's Dominant Time Trial Performance

Marlen Reusser's ride was a masterclass in pacing and power. She averaged over 45 km/h on a technical course that demanded both speed and precision. Her time was 14 seconds faster than Demi Vollering, the former champion, who now sits second overall. Reusser's team, Movistar, had planned for this moment, and she executed perfectly.

“I’m super, super happy,” Reusser said after the stage. “This was kind of the idea that we had since a long time. It’s the first Tour of France that I really saw as my goal of the year that I really targeted, and that I am here as a leader… we always said it’s our project, Dijon.”

Key Results from Stage 4

General Classification After Stage 4

The GC battle has tightened significantly. Reusser now leads the overall standings with a 14-second advantage over Vollering. Cedrine Kerbaol moves up to third, while Haugset drops to fourth after losing over three minutes on the stage. Kasia Niewiadoma, the 2024 winner, rode a solid time trial and sits sixth, just over a minute behind.

Niewiadoma expressed satisfaction with her performance: “I haven’t seen the results yet. I felt that I found my flow. I definitely spent a huge amount of time working on my skills because as everyone knew, I was in the best at it. As you can see, if you believe in something and you put good amount of work, anything is possible.”

What This Means for the Race

With the time trial behind them, the race now shifts to the mountains. Reusser will need to defend her lead against stronger climbers like Vollering and Niewiadoma. The next stages will be crucial, and the yellow jersey could change hands multiple times.

• Reusser takes yellow jersey for the first time in her career.
• Vollering remains a strong contender, only 14 seconds back.
• Niewiadoma's climbing skills could threaten Reusser's lead.
• Haugset loses yellow but remains in top five.

Tour de France Femmes Stage 4: Analysis

The time trial was a decisive moment in the race. Reusser's victory demonstrates her exceptional time trial ability, but the upcoming mountain stages will test her endurance. Vollering, known for her climbing prowess, will likely attack on the steep gradients. The battle for the yellow jersey is far from over.

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