Full Breakdown
Reusser Seizes Yellow in Stage 4 Time Trial, Ferrand-Prévot Falls Out of Contention
8/5/2026, 12:12:58 AM
The decisive time trial
On Tuesday’s fourth stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, a 21-km individual time trial from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon reshaped the general classification. World time-trial champion Marlen Reusser (Movistar, Switzerland) rode 27 min 30 s, winning the stage and taking the yellow jersey. She finished four seconds ahead of Lieke Nooijen (Visma-Lease a Bike) and 18 seconds ahead of pre-race favourite Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez, Netherlands). Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike, France) was 34th, 2 min 13 s slower, dropping to 14th overall.
Background to the stage
The 2026 route re-introduced an individual time trial after its omission in 2025. Organisers highlighted a mixed profile—a flat opening, a 1.8-km climb (Lacets de Marsannay, 6.9 % avg), a fast descent and flat finish—making it a specialist test. Teams referred to the stage as “Project Dijon,” linking the leader’s jersey to Dijon’s mustard.
Data & statistics
- Winning time: 27 min 30 s (Reusser).
- Time gaps to Reusser: Nooijen +4 s; Vollering +18 s; Cédrine Kerbaol (France) +54 s; Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility, Norway) +3 min 6 s.
- Ferrand-Prévot’s deficit: 2 min 13 s, 34th place.
- Overall after the stage: Reusser leads Vollering by 14 s; Kerbaol third, 54 s back; Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) sixth, 1 min 9 s down; van der Breggen (SD Worx) eighth, 1 min 17 s down.
Official statements & responses
Reusser said the win fulfilled a long-term plan, noting the team had targeted the Dijon time trial from the season’s start and that the race is “far from over.” Vollering expressed satisfaction with limiting her losses, emphasizing the stage suited specialists.
Verbatim quotes
- “It wasn't perfect, but it was good.” — Marlen Reusser
- “It was not a flawless ride, but it went well.” — Marlen Reusser
Conflicting reports & gaps
Sources differ on Vollering’s deficit (17 s vs. 18 s) and Ferrand-Prévot’s loss (2 min 13 s vs. 2 min 14 s). No official clarification has been issued.
What’s next
The race now heads into hilly stages, beginning with a 140-km route from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais featuring eight categorized climbs. The queen stage will be a 21.5-km ascent of Mont Ventoux on day seven, expected to create the largest GC differences of the week. Reusser will aim to defend the yellow jersey against Vollering, Niewiadoma, Longo Borghini and other climbers, while Ferrand-Prévot must recover the two-minute deficit on the forthcoming mountains.
