Marlen Reusser delivered a commanding performance on 4 August 2026, winning Stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes and taking control of the yellow jersey.
The reigning individual time-trial world champion completed the demanding 21-kilometre course from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon in 27 minutes and 30 seconds. Riding for Movistar Team, Reusser recorded an impressive average speed of 45.82 kilometres per hour.
Dutch cyclist Lieke Nooijen produced an exceptional performance to finish second for Visma–Lease a Bike, only four seconds behind the winner. Demi Vollering of FDJ United-Suez finished third, 18 seconds behind Reusser.
The individual time trial featured three distinct sections. Riders began with approximately seven kilometres of relatively flat roads before entering a challenging five-kilometre section containing several hills. This portion included a 1.8-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 6.9%.
The final nine kilometres consisted of rolling terrain leading into Dijon. Because the riders competed individually against the clock, success depended on careful pacing, aerodynamic efficiency, technical precision and physical strength.
A total of 138 cyclists contested the stage. Nooijen established the first major benchmark by completing the course in 27 minutes and 34 seconds at an average speed of 45.70 kilometres per hour.
Her time placed her comfortably ahead of the earlier starters. Several accomplished riders—including Kristen Faulkner, Mischa Bredewold and Zoe Bäckstedt—were unable to improve on it.
Nooijen remained in the lead until Reusser, wearing the rainbow jersey of the world time-trial champion, reached the finish line.
Although Reusser entered the stage as the favourite, she needed a nearly faultless performance to overcome Nooijen’s impressive time. At the intermediate checkpoint after 9.7 kilometres, the Swiss rider was already 20 seconds ahead.
Nooijen completed a remarkably strong second half of the course and reduced the final difference to only four seconds. Nevertheless, Reusser’s time of 27 minutes and 30 seconds was enough to secure the stage victory and significantly reshape the general classification.
Vollering completed the course in 27 minutes and 48 seconds. Her third-place result helped her remain close to Reusser in the overall standings.
Following the stage, Reusser led the general classification by 14 seconds over Vollering. French cyclist Cédrine Kerbaol moved into third position, 54 seconds behind the new race leader.
Defending Tour de France Femmes champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot endured a difficult afternoon, finishing 2 minutes and 13 seconds behind Reusser.
Elisa Longo Borghini conceded 1 minute and 3 seconds, while Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney finished 1 minute and 9 seconds behind the stage winner. Kim Le Court-Pienaar lost 2 minutes and 23 seconds.
Norwegian cyclist Sigrid Haugset started the stage wearing the yellow jersey after claiming an impressive solo victory during Stage 3. However, she struggled in the time trial and finished 3 minutes and 6 seconds behind Reusser.
The result ended Haugset’s time at the top of the general classification and handed the prestigious yellow jersey to the Swiss world champion.
The Tour de France Femmes will continue on 5 August 2026 with a hilly 140-kilometre stage from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais. Further demanding stages await the riders, including the highly anticipated mountaintop finish on Mont Ventoux.
