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

The Tour de France Femmes took a dramatic turn as Marlen Reusser aced the stage four time trial to snatch the yellow jersey. The world time-trial champion's dominant performance reshaped the general classification, leaving defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot in a deep deficit and setting up a thrilling battle ahead.

Reusser's Masterclass Against the Clock

Reusser, a 34-year-old Swiss rider, delivered a flawless ride from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon, securing her third career Tour stage win. Her time trial expertise was on full display as she powered through the course, finishing ahead of pre-race favorite Demi Vollering by 14 seconds in the overall standings. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, the 2024 Tour winner, now trails by 1 minute 9 seconds.

“It was our Project Dijon,” Reusser said after pulling on the yellow jersey. “This was the idea that we had for a long time and I saw the Tour as my goal for the year. I really targeted it. I am here as a leader, and I knew the Tour was going to start in Switzerland, on Swiss national day, and we would have a TT on the fourth day.”

Vollering's Strong Response

Vollering, the 2023 champion, finished second on the stage and was pleased with her performance despite losing time to the specialist. “I knew I’d lose time to Marlen, but I’m happy with this time trial because I knew it was really one for the specialists. Keeping the gap so close makes me very happy,” she said. Her consistency keeps her firmly in contention for a second title.

Ferrand-Prévot's Catastrophic Day

In contrast, Ferrand-Prévot struggled from the start, appearing nervous as she clutched an ice cube before rolling off the ramp. She toiled on the climbs and never found her rhythm, finishing 2 minutes 13 seconds behind Reusser. French media labeled her performance “catastrophic,” and she dropped to 14th overall. “There’s nothing I can do,” she said. “I pushed as hard as I could. It was a lot of stress. I’m glad this day is over.”

The defending champion now faces a monumental challenge to reclaim the yellow jersey as the race heads into the mountains.

General Classification After Stage 4

Key Takeaways from Stage 4

• Reusser's time trial dominance gives her a significant GC lead.
• Vollering remains the closest threat, just 14 seconds back.
• Ferrand-Prévot's title defense is in serious jeopardy.
• The upcoming mountain stages will be crucial for GC contenders.

What's Next for the Tour de France Femmes?

With the time trial behind them, the peloton now faces a series of challenging stages, including steep climbs and unpredictable weather. Reusser will need to defend her lead against stronger climbers like Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney. The French rider, Ferrand-Prévot, must regain her form quickly if she hopes to make up over two minutes.

Cycling fans can expect aggressive racing as teams jockey for position. The next few stages will likely see breakaways and attacks, making every second count in the fight for the yellow jersey.

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