Swiss cyclist Marlen Reusser secured the yellow jersey after winning the fourth stage time trial at the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, extending her lead over Demi Vollering and setting up a tense general classification battle as the race enters its mountain stages.
Marlen Reusser’s 21-kilometre time trial from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon on Tuesday solidified her position at the top of the general classification, with the Swiss rider finishing 14 seconds ahead of Dutch rival Demi Vollering. Reusser, the world time trial champion, clocked 27 minutes and 30 seconds, outpacing Netherlands’ Lieke Nooijen by four seconds and edging out Vollering by 17 seconds. The victory marked her first yellow jersey of her career, a milestone she described as super, super happy
.
Reusser’s Time Trial Dominance
The stage, described as a spicy spectacle
by Escapecollective, featured a challenging hill in the middle of the route, which tested even the strongest riders. Reusser’s performance was particularly notable given the 30°C temperatures in eastern France, which exacerbated the physical demands of the course. Her time of 27:30 was four seconds faster than Nooijen’s provisional benchmark, a result that underscored her dominance. Vollering, the 2023 Tour de France Femmes champion, finished third but closed the gap to 17 seconds, positioning herself as a key contender for the overall title.
Reusser’s victory was not just a personal triumph but a strategic one. She revealed that her team had been targeting the stage for months, referring to it as “Project Dijon.” We’ve been talking about it for a long time,
she said, to win the time trial and maybe take yellow. It worked out.
The reference to Dijon’s yellow mustard—a nod to the city’s local identity—added a whimsical touch to her celebration, reflecting the blend of sport and culture that defines the race.
GC Implications and Rivalry
The time trial reshuffled the general classification, with Reusser leading by 14 seconds over Vollering, who now holds second place. Cédrine Kerbaol moved into third, 54 seconds behind Reusser, while Norway’s Sigrid Haugset, the overnight leader, dropped to fourth after finishing three minutes behind the Swiss rider. Reusser’s lead was further extended by the struggles of defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who lost over two minutes to her, placing her 14th overall.
The French rider now faces an uphill battle to reclaim the yellow jersey. Meanwhile, Reusser’s Movistar team appears poised to capitalize on her time trial expertise, with the Swiss rider’s confidence bolstered by her pre-race preparation. Of course, I’m super, super happy,
she said, adding, This was the idea that we had since a long time—my goal of the year.
What’s Next for the Tour?
The race now shifts, with two demanding mountain stages to come in Belleville-en-Beaujolais and Tournon-sur-Rhône, before the highly anticipated summit finish on Mont Ventoux. These stages, described as deux étapes exigeantes
by lapresse.ca, will test the climbers and all-rounders alike. Reusser’s lead is narrow enough that any misstep could open the door for rivals like Vollering or Kerbaol to close the gap. The final stage, a summit finish on Mont Ventoux, remains the ultimate decider, with the yellow jersey likely to be decided in the mountains.
As the peloton prepares for the challenges ahead, the dynamics of the general classification remain fluid. Reusser’s victory in Dijon has not only cemented her status as a favorite but also intensified the rivalry with Vollering, who is expected to mount a strong push in the coming stages. For Ferrand-Prévot, the question is whether she can recover from her time loss and reclaim her position as the dominant force in women’s cycling. The next few days will determine who emerges as the true winner of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes.
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