Marlen Reusser in yellow at the Tour de France Femmes - "We said it was the Dijon project, playing with the mustard and the yellow"
CyclingTuesday, 04 August 2026 at 18:44
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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- TdF femmes is more exciting to watch than hommes, which thanks to Pogi had became all too predictable.cgmethod04-08-2026
- Come to think of it, if it’s so effective, for my next race I may just buy some really strong hair gel to apply to my chest hair.Mistermaumau04-08-2026
- The Italian stallion cannot stop winning. Stage 21 of the Giro, then the Italian championships, then two stages of the TdP... I think he looks brilliant in that jersey
Rafionain-Glas04-08-2026 - They have been long term team building for 6-7 years, the team are a joke.
Senna196004-08-2026 - (does cutd read comments here to create new content?) Obviously. They want more views, so content that is more popular is clearly what they lean into to do that.Rafionain-Glas04-08-2026
- Mou, it is truly admirable how you manage to make every conversation an exercise in patience - yours and everyone else’s.anonymouscyclist04-08-2026
- Tadej is not (still) the potential G.O.A.T. ... Stop stuttering... He is THE G.O.A.T. - The Greatest Of All Time.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- Hey Jumpyjohn, this is how he should do it: Pogi says "This year I want to do the Giro again, I just love this race and the Italians." He does the Giro, wins, and then goes to the Tour. He talks nothing about the Vuelta, if asked he says "No, I'm not doing the Vuelta, I will focus on the WC." After winning the Tour he never mentions the Vuelta. Pogi and his trainer see if Pogi is feeling good and strong, if he still has good legs, then they decide. If they think he can do it... LET'S GO, POGI IS DOING THE VUELTA. OMG!!! Pogi will say "I love the Spaniards!!!" Everyone is going crazy. But if Pogi isn't feeling the best, no one says anything, he just won't go, skip the Vuelta, prepare for the WC and win it. It's a win-win situation.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- When it comes to winning a Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, Maurizio Fondriest is sending a warning to Pogačar!?!? First of all, who is Fondriest to send "warnings"? Pogi doesn't know or care about him. Pogi and his trainers will be the ones to decide if he will take on all three GT's in one season. No one knows what will happen because it's never been tried before. I have the feeling that many former BS cyclists and commentators are smarter then Pogi and his team of cycling specialists.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- You're wrong, it's not too late. This is how it's done: Pogi says "This year I want to do the Giro again, I just love this race." He does the Giro, wins, and then goes to the Tour. He talks nothing about the Vuelta, if asked he says "No, I'm not doing the Vuelta, I will focus on the WC." After winning the Tour he never mentions the Vuelta. Pogi and his trainer see if Pogi is feeling good and strong, if he still has good legs, then they decide. If they think he can do it, LET'S GO, POGI IS DOING THE VUELTA. OMG!!! Everyone is going crazy. But if Pogi isn't feeling the best, no one says anything, he just won't go, skip the Vuelta and once again win the WC. Capish?PogiSloFans04-08-2026
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