The Tour de France Femmes 2025 delivered a dramatic stage 4 individual time trial, where Marlen Reusser stormed to victory and claimed the coveted yellow jersey. The Swiss rider, reigning world time trial champion, covered the 21km course from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon in 27 minutes 30 seconds, overturning the general classification and setting up a thrilling week ahead.
Reusser's Perfect Time Trial Performance
Reusser's ride was a masterclass in pacing and power. She took a 14-second lead over former champion Demi Vollering of the Netherlands in the overall standings. The Movistar rider expressed her joy: "I'm super, super happy. 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."
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The time trial was a decisive moment, reshaping the general classification. Vollering, who was expected to challenge, finished second on the stage, while young French talent Cedrine Kerbaol impressed with a third-place finish, now sitting third overall.
How the Stage Unfolded
The 21km route was technical, with several corners and a slight uphill finish. Early starters set fast times, but it was Reusser who dominated from the mid-point onwards. She held the fastest time at every intermediate check, building a lead that no one could match.
Former winner Kasia Niewiadoma also rode a strong time trial, finishing sixth on the stage and moving up to sixth overall. She commented, "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."

General Classification After Stage 4
Here's the top 10 GC after the time trial:
| Position | Rider | Team | 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'' |
Haugset Loses Yellow
Sigrid Haugset, who had worn yellow since stage 1, struggled on the time trial, losing over three minutes (3'06'') and dropping to fourth overall. The Norwegian rider's brave defense came to an end, but she remains a strong contender for a podium finish.

Key Takeaways from Stage 4
- Reusser's time trial dominance proves her status as world champion and a serious GC threat.
- Vollering's consistent performance keeps her within striking distance, just 14 seconds back.
- Kerbaol's rise to third overall signals a bright future for French cycling.
- The race is far from over; the mountain stages will test the climbers.
- Niewiadoma's improved time trialing shows her dedication to closing her weaknesses.
What's Next for the Tour de France Femmes?
The race now heads into the hilly and mountainous stages, where the pure climbers will look to attack. Reusser will need to defend her lead, but she's proven she can handle pressure. Vollering, a former champion, is likely to target the summit finishes to gain time.
With only 14 seconds separating the top two, every second counts. The next stages will be a battle of strategy, teamwork, and raw power. Fans can expect explosive attacks and dramatic shifts in the general classification.
