As it happened: Tour de France Femmes stage 4 time trial sparks big time gaps and creates a new GC battle

Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of the Tour de France Femmes time trial.

As always, we will have full live coverage of all the action from the 21km individual time trial to Dijon.

We are expecting some great individual performances but also a GC battle as every second counts.

Read our special TT preview for details of the 21km course and the riders in action.

Tour de France Femmes 2026 stage 4 preview - 21km individual time trial with one mid-race climb 'super hard to predict'

Riders face extra pre-race checks by race judges after suspicions that some riders are looking for an extra marginal gains.

Extra clothing checks at Tour de France Femmes after reports riders may be padding bras for aero gains

This is the map of the 21km time trial from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon through the Côte d’Or vineyards on central France.

Romina Hinojosa (Lotto Intermarché Ladies) is the first of the 139 riders to start the TT.

She rolls down the start ramp at 14:51CEST local time.

The Cyclingnews live coverage includes a Race Situation box with all the start times, the intermediate times and the finish time.

Our live updates will give you all the inside information on the TT, with details and analysis of the performances and what the time gians and time losses mean for the GC battle.

Early today, the riders were allowed to train and recon the course for a final time, to have a final look at the key corners and sectors.

This is the technical start to the TT. Precious seconds can be lost here.

Matilda Price and Dani Ostanek are on the ground in France, gathering all the best TDFF news, reaction and producing some great analysis.

Matilda wrote this special feature on the Tour starting in Switzerland and what that means for the race and for Swiss cycling. It's a fascinating read as we wait for the TT to begin.

A very Swiss start to the Tour de France Femmes, but what next for women's cycling in Switzerland?

We're loving the bidon hunting vibes at the TDFF.

It's 10 minutes to the start of the time trial and many riders are already warming up near their buses.

The fans and ice vests are out in the shade of the team buses because it is 34C on the ground in central France.

That heat adds an extra difficulty to the stage alongside the need to push at 100%, bike handling and those huge aero helmets.

Time trials are a test of many skills and that's why they're so fascinating.

tick, tock, tick, tock. It's almost time for the TT to begin.

There are 138 riders left in the race and they will start at 1-minutew intervals, with the last 20 riders starting at 2-minute intervals.

Allez les Femmes!

These are some key rider start times.

OFFICIAL START

Here we go!

Romina Hinojosa (Lotto Intermarché Ladies) starts her ride. She is the first rider off.

Who is your pick for the race against the clock?

Have your say and take part in our poll at the top of our live coverage.

I voted for Zoe Bäckstedt because I'm sure she is motivated, strong and ready to a few risks, all while performing at her very best.

Enjoying our live race coverage?

Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go!

This is the moment Romina Hinojosa (Lotto Intermarché Ladies) started her ride.

She is the last rider on GC after staying with her teammate Dina Boels finish stage 2.

The Belgian team experienced one of their hardest days on the Tour de France Femmes, losing 3 riders. Dina and Romina fought together for 60 kilometres to finish within time limit and they made it.

Sadly she abandoned the day after but can be proud of her fight.

Lotto Intermarché Ladies only have 3 riders left in the Tour but they will race on.

We have highlighted how the TT is vital for the TDFF GC battle. Today's stage will create the first significant time gaps and so shape how riders will have race in the days to come - on the attack or defence.

The podium of the most recent World Championships time trial gives us an simple indication. There Marlen Reusser (Movistar), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) and Demi Vollering (FDJ) showed they can gain time on their rivals.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won the 2025 Tour in the mountains. She has worked hard on her time trialing skills and bike position but admits she is riding into the unknown today.

The time trial will be a race of truth for the French rider.

Read Simone Giuliani's special story.

'So far, everything is going according to plan' – Pauline Ferrand-Prévot on track after first three Tour de France Femmes stages but now it's time to head into the great unknown

Back to the racing and 30 riders have started, with ten passing the time check at Lacets de Marsannay, with 11.3 km race, so near half distance of the 21km TT.

Célia Le Mouël (Ma Petite Entreprise) is fastest so far, with 15:49.

That is the first benchmark.

Célia Le Mouël (Ma Petite Entreprise) is the French TT champion, so is racing in the iconic red, white and blue colours.

Early fast time

Romina Hinojosa (Lotto Intermarché Ladies) finishes with a time of 31:24. She is soon beaten by Noémie Abgrall (Ma Petite Entreprise) who sets 30:33.

Célia Le Mouël (Ma Petite Entreprise) beats that and goes into the hot seat with a hot time of 28:50.

Here is Célia Le Mouël (Ma Petite Entreprise) in action.

Our photographers are out along the course to get the best shots.

We love these early pics from the vines of the Côte d’Or. This is Elena Cecchini at speed.

This is Charlotte Kool.

Enjoying our live race coverage?

Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go!

New best time

Sandrine Tas (Lotto Intermarché Ladies) has pulled off a surprise.

She was 10 seconds slower than Célia Le Mouël (Ma Petite Entreprise) at the time check but finished fast and set a new fastest time of 28:49.39, that's just 0.96 second faster than Le Mouël.

Wow!

Dutch journalist and former rider Thijs Zonneveld rode the TT earlier and highlights the impact of the tail wind, especially off the mid-stage rise.

The time checks show the difference in speed on the different parts of the course.

Zonneveld wrote: "Did a lap of the time trial course. What a racetrack. Wind coming diagonally from behind; after the climb, it goes so fast that you need a parachute to brake on the way down."

60 riders have started the TT, with around 80 still to start.

Check out our interactive times to see who is closest to Sandrine Tas (Lotto Intermarché Ladies). For now she is in the hot seat.

The first kilometre in Gevrey-Chambertin is testing in the town centre streets, with cobbles and road gullies.

It will be important to start fast and perhaps take a few risks.

Daniek Hengeveld (Visma) is the Dutch TT champion and she sets the third-fastest time of 28:59. She is only 9 seconds slower than Sandrine Tas (Lotto Intermarché Ladies).

Lotte Claes (Fenix-Premier Tech) sets a new fastest time of 15:44 at the 11.3km time check.

She is one to watch for the finish.

Urška Žigart (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) is underway.

Next off is Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) she is racing in the green points jersey.

We know she is fast and has speed and power but we are not expecting her to go full gas in the TT.

Wiebes is likely to try to safe energy for a shot at another stage or in the intermediate sprints.

Lotte Claes 28:25

Lotte Claes (Fenix-Premier Tech) sets the new fastest time of 28:25.

She was 24 seconds faster than Sandrine Tas.

Britain's Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) is also fast.

She sets 28:38, to take second place for now.

We had a chance to see the fast descent and it is very fast.

Riders are touching 100km/h even as they ride time trial bikes and perhaps in the aero bars.

Let's hope everyone stays safe.

Time trials are are special bike tech days and we created this photo gallery from the opening stages. It's for our Cyclingnews members and so has a special layout.

There are some great bikes and tech innovations in the TDFF peloton.

Tour de France Femmes Tech Gallery: Lightweight parts, custom paint and a host of clever tech tricks

These are the TT start times.

The 21km individual time trial takes place in the Côte d'Or vineyards, hills. Riders are on the hunt for gold at the finish line in Dijon, the ride expected to take 27 minutes.

The course begins in the centre of the village, with a flat opening 7km. The route is punctuated by a 1.8km climb to Marsannay-la-Côte, which averages 6.9%.

Once across the top, there is still another one kilometre at 4% gradient to cover to reach Corcelles-les-Monts. The final 9km roll downhill for the finish in Dijon, for the finish on Avenue du Général-de-Gaulle.

Tour de France Femmes stage 4 time trial start times – Bäckstedt, Reusser, Vollering among second half of starters taking on 21km ITT

Lieke Nooijen 27:36

Lieke Nooijen (Visma) sets a new fast time of 27:36.

She was 50 seconds faster than Lotte Claes and clearly blasted down the descent at high, high speed.

That will be a hard time to beat.

Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon) is underway. We will be watching her ride carefully.

The British champion won the TT and the GC at the recent Baloise Ladies Tour. She also defended her British national TT title.

Bäckstedt will set the benchmark amongst the TT specialist and the GC riders.

Staying cool is important.

Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon) is moving fast. She quickly catches her minute-rider Solène Muller (St Michel - Preference Home-Auber93).

On the climb Bäckstedt also caught Paula Patiño (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi). She is flying!

At the 10km intermediate time check, Bäckstedt is the fastest with a time of 15:30. That is the same time as Lieke Nooijen (Visma).

Bäckstedt went deep on the climb but can now dive down the descent to the finish.

Kirsten Faulkner (EF) sets 28:24.

She was third fastest at the time check and third at the finish.

However Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon) is on the way to the finish.

It's time for the GC battle to begin.

Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx - Protime) starts her time trial.

All her GC rivals will start after her.

This is the TT start times.

Tour de France Femmes stage 4 time trial start times – Bäckstedt, Reusser, Vollering among second half of starters taking on 21km ITT

Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon) lost some precious seconds on the descent and proves that the descewnt is a vital part of the race today.

She sets a time of 27:50. She lost 16 seconds to Lieke Nooijen in 10km on the descent.

All the big-name riders are in the start area for a final bike check and moment of peace.

Once the top 20 take the start ramp, the time between riders will be expanded from one minute to two minutes.

The top pair of contenders in the youth classification will be separated by just one rider, second-placed Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) starting at 17:00 and then best U24 rider Paul Blasi (UAE Team L'IMAD) going off at 17:04.

Reusser will begin her ride at 17:08, followed by defending Tour champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) leading a process of the top 10.

Vollering goes off at 17:24, then Kim le Court-Pienaar at 17:26 and Haugset in the yellow jersey at 17:28.

Lieke Nooijen (Visma) spoke about her ride. In truth she was fast on the descent, as well as the climb.

Dani Ostanek spoke to Puck Pieterse after she took the polka-dot jersey on stage 3. She is about to start her TT and we will discover is she is a GC contender.

'If there are points up for grabs, then I’m not going to let them slip by' – Puck Pieterse remains focussed on original Tour de France Femmes goal despite taking polka dot jersey

In the next 20 minutes all the GC riders will start their rides.

Marlen Reusser starts

Marlen Reusser Movistar is off and now so is Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma)

It'll be vital to start fast but surely the world champion is the favourite today.

Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx) set 16:08 at the 9.7km time check. Remember that time for the GC battle.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot does not look very aero on her TT bike. She is rocking and has a high head and body.

She has worked on her TT position but she is a climber and seems to lack the power and aero position adaption.

It will be fascinating to see how much time she loses to Reusser today and what does that mean.

In comparison, Marlen Reusser has a great position, with a flat back but while also putting out the power.

Marlen Reusser sets 15:10 at the time check.

That is 20 seconds faster than Lieke Nooijen (Visma).

Reusser will still have to ride fast on the descent and take some risks.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot sets 16:31 at the time check.

That is 1:20 down Marlen Reusser and the 10km fast descent and flat road to the finish is still to come.

Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) starts her TT and so all the riders are out on the course.

Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon) is 50 seconds faster than Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and only 30 seconds down on Marlen Reusser.

Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'IMAD) is only 20 seconds slower than Reusser at the time split.

Marlen Reusser (Movistar) stops the clock in 27:30.

She beats Lieke Nooijen (Visma) by just 4 seconds.

She lost some seconds on the descewnt but did enough to surely win the stage.

Now we wait to see how much her GC rivals lose, especially Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who is losing minutes to Reusser.

We will have a very different GC tonight.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot finishes in a time of 29:43 She will not be happy with that ride and time loss.

She lost 2:13 to Reusser.

What does that mean to the GC battle now?

Demi Vollering is on the climb and sets at the time check 15:33, only 22 slower than Reusser.

That's an interesting ride and Vollering is in the GC battle.

Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) is dressed all in yellow.

She's trying to stay aero on the climb but is losing time after her huge ride yesterday. She sets 17:15 and so is 2:05 down on Reusser.

Sadly she will lose the yellow jersey to Reusser.

Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'IMAD) finishes in 28:33. That keeps her in the GC battle.

Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) sets 28:24.

Demi Vollering dives down the descent to Dijon.

She opts not to always use the aero bars to stay a little safer.

She sprints out of the corners to keep her speed close to 60km/h on the flat roads to the finish.

Vollering is set to be the best of the rest of the GC contenders, behind expected stage winner and new race leader Reusser.

Demi Vollering (FDJ) stops the clock in 27:48.

Marlen Reusser set 27:30 and so that is a great ride by Vollering.

She was very fast on the descent, doing a negative split compared to Reusser.

Vollering slumps to rhe road and can hardly breath. She gave her absolute all.

As Vollering finished, she stopped her computer and banged her chest twice in recognition of her good ride.

Vollering has limited her losses on Resusser and gained close to 2:00 to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.

Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) sets 29:53, to slip out of the top five on GC.

Here comes Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility).

She was already 2:00 slower than Reusser with a kilometre to go and sets a final time of 30:36

That's 3:06 slower than Reusser and so she loses yellow.

This is the stage result:

1 Marlen Reusser (Swi) Movistar Team 0:27:30
2 Lieke Nooijen (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike 0:0:04
3 Demi Vollering (Ned) FDJ United-SUEZ 0:0:18
4 Zoe Jane Backstedt (GBr) Canyon-SRAM 0:0:20
5 Mischa Bredewold (Ned) SD Worx-Protime 0:0:45
6 Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF Education-Oatly 0:0:54
7 Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra) EF Education-Oatly 0:0:54
8 Lotte Claes (Bel) Fenix-Premier Tech 0:0:55
9 Riejanne Markus (Ned) Lidl-Trek 0:1:01
10 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) UAE Team L'IMAD 0:1:03

This is the new GC after stage 4.

Look at the time gaps and think about what it means with all the mountain stages still to come.

1 Marlen Reusser (Swi) Movistar Team 11:47:36
2 Demi Vollering (Ned) FDJ United-SUEZ 0:0:14
3 Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra) EF Education-Oatly 0:0:54
4 Sigrid Haugset (Nor) Uno-X Mobility 0:0:56
5 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) UAE Team L'IMAD 0:1:03
6 Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Pol) Canyon-SRAM 0:1:09
7 Paula Blasi Cairol (Spa) UAE Team L'IMAD 0:1:12
8 Anna van der Breggen (Ned) SD Worx-Protime 0:1:17
9 Antonia Niedermaier (Ger) Canyon-SRAM 0:1:43
10 Femke de Vries (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike 0:1:47

14 Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Fra) Visma-Lease a Bike 2:13.

The TT has created a new GC and created a new handicap race for the Ventoux finish.

From stage 5 we will see a new Tour de France Femmes.

We have the first photos of Marlen Reusser.

To understand the details of the TT, read our full stage report.

Tour de France Femmes: Marlen Reusser rockets into yellow jersey with victory in Dijon on stage 4 time trial

Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women's cycling by subscribing to Cyclingnews.

In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women's peloton. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go!

Marlen Reusser savoured her third Tour stage victory and especially pulling on the leader's yellow jersey, even if she is a perfectionist.

"It wasn’t perfect perfect, but it was good," she said.

"I started well, I did a good climb, but I had a little bit of a problem with my bike and the wind."

Reusser increased her gear options for the fast descent.

"During the recon, it felt a bit different, so I had planned it differently. But in the end, I think I did a good time trial," she said.

Reusser described winning the TT and taking yellow as her Project Dijon. It is mission accomplished, as she has the yellow jersey, just like the colour of mustard.

“It’s the first Tour de France that was really my goal of the year," she said.

"We were starting in Switzerland on the Swiss National Day, and on the fourth day a time trial in Dijon. We’ve been talking about it since Christmas, ‘Project Dijon’, for the yellow colour of the mustard, to win the time trial and maybe take yellow.

"It worked out, and I’m really happy."

Matilda Price and Dani Ostanek are in Dijon speaking to riders and teams for news and analysis. They will soon have a full view and multiple stories on what happened in the time trial.

First up is this quick news on Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma) and how she lost 2:13 to Reusser, 1:59 to Demi Vollering and a minute to all her other GC rivals.

On the back foot: defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot suffers major GC setback in Tour de France Femmes time trial

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes continues on Wednesday with stage 5 in the hills of Beaujolais. We're expecting great wines and great racing.

The constantly rolling stage is from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais and includes 2900 metres of elevation gain over 140 kilometres of racing.

The climbing starts immediately with the 9.6km climb of Côte de Cenves, followed by five more classified climbs packed into the opening 75km of the stage.

The final 30km includes Col de Gerbet (4.6 km at 6.5%), it is a climb of two parts, 1.3km of climbing is followed by a flat section before the road pitches up once again for the final 1.4 kilometres, maxing out at 16%.

The bonus second point comes at the bottom of the final climb of the day, Mont Brouilly (3 km at 7.7%), where the final selection will be made. It is just 10 km from the finish line.

Check out full stage preview.

Tour de France Femmes 2026 stage 5 preview

Thanks for joining us for full live coverage of the time trial.

We'll be back on Wednesday with full live coverage of stage 5.

We can't wait. Follow the Femmes!