Marlen Reusser wins stage 4 time trial to move into yellow ahead of Demi Vollering at Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

Marlen Reusser (Movistar) took the win on Stage 4 of Tour de Frances Femmes avec Zwift, the specialist doing more than enough to grab the yellow jersey to boot with a sparkling ride into Dijon. 

She said afterwards that this stage had long been a target, with the world time trial champion loving the opportunity to show what she can do in an ITT.

The Swiss now leads Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) by 14 seconds, with the race heading back into the hills on Wednesday. 

There were plenty of winners and losers on Stage 4 with some of the GC contenders losing more time than they would have hoped along the 21km course. 

Lieke Nooijen (Visma-Lease a Bike) impressed, winding up just 4’’ off Reusser’s pace, while Vollering was third on the day, 18’’ back as she leapt up to second overall to strengthen her claims to be favourite heading into the mountains. 

Considering the peloton had raced through exceptionally hot temperatures yesterday, it was no surprise that a fair few struggled out there, and plenty of riders were doused in water after crossing the line on another scorching day.

Sigrid Haugset began the day in yellow for Uno-X Mobility so had the honour of going out last. To remain fourth overall and within a minute of Reusser was a great effort from the Norwegian. 

Cedrine Kerbaol (FEF Education-Oatly) put in a strong ride and is the leading Frenchwoman, with Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma) dropping out of the top 10. Last year’s winner has not ridden an individual time trial for some years and some rustiness showed.

Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'Imad) can count herself a little unlucky as she was forced into a bike change halfway through but she remains solidly in the top 10 along with Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM).

The former winner said afterwards that she was overjoyed with the result considering how hard she has worked to get her time trialing abilities up to scratch. 

The riders can pack away their aerodynamic helmets now, as the race returns to the hills for Wednesday's 140km stage from Macon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais.

Reusser is the only jersey change as she will don yellow tomorrow, with Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) in the polka dots, Paula Blasi (UAE) in white and Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) in green. 

Coverage begins at the slightly earlier time of 12:30 UK time.

Tomorrow's stage is classed as hilly - but it looks more brutal than that classification would suggest.

With temperatures expected to stay high, it is going to be a tough day, and one that could have an impact on the GC yet again.

Ferrand-Prevot is down in 14th in the GC standings now, 2'13'' back.

Le Court is 15th, 2'15'' back.

Pieterse is 26th, 3'38'' back.

Not all surprises, but still - the time gaps could lead to some attacking moves over the next few days, which will be tasty to watch...

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''

"I felt I found my flow, I spent a huge amount of time working on my TT skills as everyone knew I wasn’t very good at it. Today’s aim was to reduce losses to the like of Demi [Vollering] and Anna [van der Breggen]," she explained.

"100% [she'd take the result], I’m super grateful for all the people who were with me along the journey to get to this place. 

"Tomorrow will be a super hard day, but what else can we do except be aggressive and just ride our bikes now."

Niewiadoma finished the stage 13th, 1'09'' back.

And she is now sixth overall, at the same margin.

"Of course I am super, super happy," says Reusser.

"This was kind of the idea, I knew this Tour de France [Femmes] was the first Tour de France I really targeted, as a leader.

"We've been talking about it for a long time, Project Dijon, for the yellow colour of the mustard! To win the time trial and maybe take yellow. It worked out.

"It is always hard, and you know it might not happen, so for it to happen, I am super happy."

1. Marlen Reusser (Movistar) 27'30''
2. Lieke Nooijen (Visma-Lease a Bike) +4''
3. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) +18''
4. Zoe Jane Backstedt (Canyon-SRAM) +20''
5. Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) +45''
6. Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly) +54''
7. Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) +54''
8. Lotte Claes (Fenix-Premier Tech) +55''
9. Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) +1'01''
10. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'Imad) +1'03''

What a ride by Reusser.

She wins the stage with a time of 27'30'', finishing 4'' ahead of Nooijen, and 18'' clear of Vollering.

Haugset put in a very respectable time considering her efforts yesterday. She did the yellow jersey proud.

Le Court finishes 2'23'' down.

And here comes Haugset, who is also already down... Which means the yellow is going to change hands.

Two riders remain out there, but neither look likely to trouble the top of the leader board here.

Nonetheless, Haugset should be enjoying her day in yellow. And she is out here alone, everyone cheering her on - it is quite a moment for the Norwegian national champion.

Vollering is putting everything into this, this is a mega ride from the former Tour de France Femmes champion.

She is 18''down! What an effort.

Third place as it stands, and Vollering is off the bike, on the floor and looks to have given everything to that.

Bottles of water are chucked over her head as she gasps for breath.

It is so, so hot as we keep saying - and so tough for the riders.

Vos loses 3'15'' on that ride, no real surprise - she is not a time trial specialist.

Vollering is going to be next across the line, but she is about to go into the red as the line comes into sight...

Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) goes into sixth, 54'' back.

That is a very decent effort from the home favourite.

Back to the course, and Vollering is looking really good out there, still attacking the descent as she tucks as low as can be.

That check point time for Vollering was 23'' by the way, so she is riding very well out there.

Haugset is 2'15'' back at the same check point. She is suffering, but she is in yellow and her efforts yesterday will live long in the memory.

Niewiadoma crosses the line, and while she loses time, it is not as much as feared.

Grimace on her face, the clock stops at 1'09'' back on Reusser.

She gave that everything, all the GC contenders have to - time gaps today are going to shake things up in the top 10.

Further back, Vollering is down at the check point, as Haugset looks to be struggling in yellow. Not a surprise after her effort yesterday.

Longo Borghini crosses the line, 1'03'' back.

Ferrand-Prevot, last year's winner, ships 2'13'' at the line. She was on the same overall time as Reusser going into today's stage.

Work to do in the mountains for the Frenchwoman then, and she looks shattered as she crosses the line, needing help to get her helmet off as her team surround her, and start getting her to the cooldown area.

So, Reusser goes into first place with 27'30'', 4'' clear of Nooijen and 20'' ahead of Backstedt.

Vollering, Haugset, Le Court, Vos, Reugg, Ferrand-Prevot and Niewiadoma are some of the names still out on the course.

Reusser is heading for the line.

She is still in the green, but she has not put as much time into Nooijen as expected in the second half of the course.

The clock is ticking down and Reusser goes top - by only four seconds.

That is a bit of a surprise, and shows just what a storming ride Nooijen managed out here.