The Tour de France Femmes saw Marlen Reusser dominate the stage four time trial, seizing the yellow jersey with a commanding performance. The reigning world champion clocked 27min 30sec over the 21km course, overturning the general classification to lead Demi Vollering by 14 seconds.
Reusser's Decisive Time Trial Victory
Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, riding for Movistar, delivered a flawless ride from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon. Her power and aerodynamics were unmatched, as she beat former champion Demi Vollering by a significant margin. Reusser called the win a long-term project, stating, "It’s the first Tour of France that I really saw as my goal of the year."
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How the Stage Unfolded
The individual time trial reshuffled the standings dramatically. Kasia Niewiadoma, the 2024 winner, rode a strong race, finishing sixth overall, while Sigrid Haugset, who started the day in yellow, lost over three minutes and dropped to fourth. The top ten now features several key contenders within two minutes of the lead.
| 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'' |
Key Takeaways from Stage Four
- Reusser's dominance in time trials continues, cementing her as the favorite for the overall win.
- Vollering's resilience keeps her within striking distance, setting up a thrilling battle in the mountains.
- Niewiadoma's improvement shows her dedication to skill development, making her a dark horse.
- The general classification is now wide open with just under a minute separating the top three.
What's Next for the Riders?
With the time trial behind them, the peloton faces hilly and mountainous stages that will test climbing abilities. Reusser must defend her lead against stronger climbers like Vollering and Longo Borghini. The next stages will likely see attacks from those who lost time today.
Reactions from the Podium
Reusser expressed immense joy, saying, "I’m super, super happy. This was kind of the idea that we had since a long time." Niewiadoma was equally pleased: "I felt that I found my flow. As you can see, if you believe in something and you put good amount of work, anything is possible."
