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

Marlen Reusser, the world time-trial champion, won the fourth stage of the Tour de France Femmes to snatch the yellow jersey from the defending champion. The 34-year-old Swiss rider delivered a commanding performance on the 22.5km course from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon, finishing ahead of all rivals and taking a significant lead in the general classification.

Reusser's Dominant Time Trial Performance

Reusser, a specialist in racing against the clock, showcased her expertise on the rolling terrain around Dijon. She powered through the course with precision, beating pre-race favourite Demi Vollering by 14 seconds and pushing Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, the 2024 winner, to 1 minute 9 seconds back. The victory marked Reusser's third career stage win in the Tour de France Femmes and her first yellow jersey of the 2025 edition.

“It was our Project Dijon,” Reusser said after the stage. “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. So it was our Project Dijon.”

Vollering Impresses Despite Loss

Demi Vollering, the 2023 champion, finished second on the stage, just 14 seconds behind Reusser. While she expected to lose time to the time-trial specialist, her performance kept her within striking distance. “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. But keeping the gap so close makes me very happy,” Vollering said.

Ferrand-Prévot's Catastrophic Day

In stark contrast, defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot struggled throughout the stage. The French media labelled her performance “catastrophic” as she toiled up the climbs and lacked the power that carried her to victory last summer. She finished 2 minutes 13 seconds behind Reusser, dropping to 14th overall. Ferrand-Prévot had appeared anxious before the start, clutching an ice cube and closing her eyes in concentration. “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.”

General Classification After Stage 4

The time trial reshaped the overall standings, with Reusser now holding a commanding lead over Vollering. Niewiadoma-Phinney sits third, while Ferrand-Prévot faces an uphill battle to defend her title. The peloton now heads into a series of mountain stages that could further shake up the race.

Key Takeaways from Stage 4

• Reusser's time trial mastery gives her a 14-second lead over Vollering.
• Ferrand-Prévot's title defense is in jeopardy after losing over two minutes.
• Niewiadoma-Phinney remains a contender but trails by more than a minute.
• Upcoming mountain stages will test the climbers and could change the GC.

What's Next for the Tour de France Femmes?

With the time trial behind them, the riders now face a demanding sequence of stages in the Jura and Alps. Reusser, known for her strength in flat and rolling terrain, will need to defend her lead against climbers like Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney. Ferrand-Prévot must mount a comeback if she hopes to retain her crown.

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