Marlen Reusser in yellow at the Tour de France Femmes - "We said it was the Dijon project, playing with the mustard and the yellow"
Cycling
Marlen Reusser enjoyed an unforgettable day at the Tour de France Femmes 2026. The Swiss rider from Movistar Team won stage 4, a 21-kilometre time trial with a fast run-in, and pulled on the yellow jersey, sealing a plan the team had been shaping even before the race began.
A decisive victory that puts Reusser in the yellow jersey
After stepping off the bike, Reusser admitted her ride wasn’t flawless, but it was enough to beat all her rivals. “I’m super happy. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough. I started well, climbed well, but had some issues with the bike and the wind. In recon it was different and I’d planned it differently, but in the end it was a good TT, I’m super, super happy.”
Despite the setbacks on course, the world time trial champion managed her effort to stop the clock at 27:30 and edge Lieke Nooijen by just four seconds. It was a ride that confirmed her status as the top favourite in a discipline where she once again showed her class.
Beyond the win, Reusser explained the team’s goal had always been to reach Dijon with a shot at yellow. In fact, the plan even had a name. “It’s the first time I’ve approached a Tour like this, as a team leader from the start, knowing it. I knew we were starting in Switzerland on the national day, I knew stage four was a TT in Dijon, and we said it was the Dijon project, playing with the mustard and the yellow. We thought we could do it and it worked, I’m very happy.”
Marlen Reusser finishing her winning time trial
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So far a perfect Tour de France Femmes for Reusser
The Swiss rider admitted this edition of the Tour poses a different challenge in her career. For the first time she assumed the role of outright leader from day one, a responsibility she and Movistar Team had prepared for meticulously over months.
The so‑called 'Dijon Project' ultimately became reality. The nod to the city’s famous mustard and the yellow of the leader’s jersey captured an ambition that seemed bold before the race, but which Reusser made tangible with a commanding ride against the clock.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
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