Marlen Reusser out of Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift as illness ends bid for yellow on opening stage
By Ben Snowball
Updated 29/07/2025 at 15:38 GMT+1
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A yellow jersey contender is out before the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift even got going. Marlen Reusser, fresh off a podium at the Giro d'Italia Women, was tipped to challenge Demi Vollering and defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, but illness has wrecked her race again. Food poisoning hit her Giro hopes, when she lost the lead on the final day.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Marlen Reusser has abandoned the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift on Stage 1, bringing a sudden end to her yellow jersey ambitions.
The Movistar rider arrived in France as one of the race favourites after finishing second at the Giro d’Italia Women earlier this month. But she revealed on the eve of the Tour that she was still battling illness.
Reusser struggled in the Brittany opener and was dropped from the peloton before stepping off her bike.
The Swiss star endured food poisoning during the Giro as she lost the leader's pink jersey on the final stage. And she suffered similar issues in the lead-up to the Tour.
Speaking ahead of Stage 1, she said: "Maybe I look good, but I don't feel good. We just need to see day by day, you know how it is. Maybe I get better and recover, and suddenly I have my full strength back.
"Also, we don't know what full strength is after this disaster in the Giro. Of course, I took it easy since then and recovered."
Reusser had looked back to her best in June, beating pre-race favourite Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) at the Tour de Suisse and finishing second overall at La Vuelta Femenina.
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