From ‚Project Dijon‘ to ‚Project Nice‘ – New Tour de France Femmes leader Marlen Reusser ready to defend yellow to the end following time trial triumph

World time trial champion Marlen Reusser traded her rainbow jersey for a yellow one on stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes as ‚Mission Dijon‘ changed into ‚Mission Good‘.

The Swiss rider held off a powerful problem from Dutch time trial champion Lieke Nooijen to win by 4 seconds in France’s mustard capital. Extra importantly, nevertheless, she put 17 seconds into Demi Vollering, a minute into Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, and two minutes into defending Tour champion, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.

With one among her ‚initiatives‘ already a hit, the following problem for Reusser and Movistar shall be to defend yellow by means of the Ardéche, over Mont Ventoux, and all that strategy to Good.

„My crew may be very, very motivated and was very on board for this Mission Dijon, how we name it,“ Reusser informed Cyclingnews within the post-stage press convention on Tuesday.

„Really, we by no means known as one thing ‚Mission Good‘, however I feel we’ve got ‚Mission Good‘. We do all the pieces we are able to to do this. However, as was the case with ‚Mission Dijon‘, you simply cannot understand how all the pieces goes to prove.

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„As I mentioned, I am tremendous blissful that I am right here in yellow. If I stand in Good in yellow, I am even happier, however you do not know. We have seen it in so many stage races – so many issues can occur; it will possibly change. I am under no circumstances like, ‚I’ve yellow, I’ve bought to have it in Good,‘ however I feel it is potential.“

Reusser now holds a 14-second benefit over Vollering, whereas Ferrand-Prévot has a deficit of two:13 to recoup throughout the remaining 5 levels if she’s to retain her title. Considerably ominously, the reigning champion mentioned she was wanting ahead to the problem of preventing her manner again to the highest of the standings.

Nonetheless, Reusser would not anticipate the French girl and her Visma-Lease a Bike crew to begin the attacking within the shorter hills that litter the 2 upcoming levels to Belleville-en-Beaujolais and Tournon-sur-Rhône, nevertheless.

„Not essentially Visma is predicted to do this, as a result of I feel Pauline – I do not know what form she actually is in – her high quality final yr was on the lengthy climbs, so I’d extra anticipate her to attempt on Mont Ventoux,“ she mentioned.

„However I do not know what’s their plan. As of late she did not look tremendous punchy, so I do not assume it is perhaps one of the best stage tomorrow for her, however I am able to see what occurs.“

What to learn subsequent

Reusser’s Movistar crew seems, on the face of it, a contact underpowered by comparability with these of a number of rivals, notably Vollering’s all-star FDJ United-SUEZ squad. Liane Lippert and Arlenis Sierra determine to be her prime lieutenants within the face of the upcoming onslaught.

Nonetheless, as she mentioned earlier than the Grand Départ, she’s greater than used to the underdog label – even when it wasn’t deserved earlier than and positively is not acceptable this week.

„Everyone says, ‚Now that you simply’re good, what made you alter that?‘ I feel I confirmed already these years that I can climb very quick, however typically I needed to work in between or at first, after which it is so exhausting to climb,“ she mentioned.

„I used to be like, why ought to I now, for place seven or 5 or no matter, kill myself when I’ve this position? So I used to be actually wanting ahead to having my chief position, saving my legs, after which making an attempt my finest climbing and exhibiting what I can do. That is what we do now.“

Reusser’s legs will definitely be examined once more within the coming days, as, even when Ferrand-Prévot might effectively maintain hearth, a bunch of different, punchier riders, together with Vollering, Niewiadoma-Phinney, Elisa Longo Borghini, Paula Blasi, and Anna van der Breggen, all lie inside 1:20 of her maillot jaune.

Nonetheless, whether or not she holds the lead for a single day or all the way in which to the Côte d’Azur, successful her first stage because the closing Pau time trial three years in the past and sporting the well-known jersey is actually motive for celebration.

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