Reusser Ahead of Dijon Time Trial: 21 Kilometres for a Major Shake-Up

Gevrey-Chambertin – 04.08.2026: The vineyards of the Côte-d’Or will provide the backdrop this Tuesday for the first major race against the clock. The fourth stage of the Tour de France Femmes is a 21-kilometre individual time trial from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon. After three days of racing, the riders face a course that immediately exposes weaknesses: alone on the road, in an aerodynamic position, with every lost second measurable.

The official timetable sets the first start for 2:34 p.m.; the final rider is expected to reach Dijon at around 5:55 p.m. The route initially climbs via Brochon, Fixin and Couchey. Its tactical heart lies at the Lacets de Marsannay, reached after 9.7 kilometres. This is followed by a descent and a fast, largely flat section to the finish.

Marlen Reusser has the ideal credentials for this profile. The Swiss rider from Movistar Team won the 23.7-kilometre time trial at the Tour de Suisse Women in Aarburg on 20 June in 29:36 minutes. Zoe Bäckstedt, in second place, lost 11 seconds, while third-placed Loes Adegeest was 54 seconds behind. With that victory, Reusser also took the overall lead in the stage race.

In Burgundy, however, the course demands more than pure power output. The climb to Marsannay is short enough to be ridden at high speed, but steep enough to punish poor pacing. Anyone who pushes too hard too early there is likely to lose time on the fast final section. On the straight sections, big gears, a still upper body and a stable aero position will be crucial.

For the contenders for the overall victory, the time trial follows a different logic than it does for established specialists. Reusser and Bäckstedt can target the stage win. Riders such as Demi Vollering, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Elisa Longo Borghini and Kasia Niewiadoma primarily need to limit the gaps to their direct rivals. The stage race is unlikely to be decided over 21 kilometres, but the hierarchy could shift significantly ahead of the more mountainous stages.

The individual time trial returns to the Tour de France Femmes programme after two editions without such a test. The organisers have selected a compact route with 255 metres of elevation gain, few corners and long sections for high speeds. Reusser therefore enters the race not as a certain winner, but as the benchmark: anyone who wants to beat her in Dijon must negotiate the climb, descent and final section almost flawlessly.