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Tour de France Femmes: Time Trial Stage Poses Major Challenge for Defending Champion

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • The fourth stage of the Tour de France Femmes features a crucial individual time trial, a discipline that presents a significant challenge for defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.
  • Ferrand-Prévot, currently 10th overall, aims to minimize time losses in the 21km uphill time trial, acknowledging it as a new challenge she is eager to improve upon.
  • Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, a favorite for the stage, is set to start at 17:08, while Ferrand-Prévot's start is scheduled for 17:10.

The Tour de France Femmes enters a pivotal stage with its fourth day, featuring an individual time trial that holds significant implications for the overall standings, particularly for defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. This 21km uphill race against the clock marks a return to a discipline Ferrand-Prévot has not contested since the French championships in 2021, presenting a unique challenge for the rider who is not a time trial specialist.

A grand Tour must include a time trial and I'm not saying that because it's my favorite discipline, I promise!

— Marlen ReusserThe Swiss rider expressed her enthusiasm for the time trial format.

Ferrand-Prévot, currently sitting 10th overall and trailing the leader by 2 minutes and 10 seconds, has stated her primary goal is to "lose as little time as possible." Despite the inherent difficulty, she expressed enthusiasm for the challenge, viewing it as an opportunity for growth. "I love it because it's true that it's a new challenge for me. I love being bad at something and improving because you see that you progress quickly," she remarked before the stage.

The stage is also anticipated to be a strong showing for Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, the reigning world and European time trial champion. Reusser, who had a minor setback with a crash in the first stage but still finished 10th, expressed her excitement about the time trial format. Her start is scheduled for 17:08, while Ferrand-Prévot is set to depart at 17:10. The riders will contend with expected high temperatures in Dijon, reaching 32 degrees Celsius, and a notable climb towards Marsannay-la-Côte with a gradient of 6.9% over 1.8km.

The goal is to lose as little time as possible.

— Jacco VerhaerenThe performance director of Visma-Lease a Bike commented on Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's objective for the stage.

Earlier in the day, Belgian rider Sandrine Tas posted a time of 28 minutes and 49 seconds, narrowly beating the French champion Célia Le Mouel, who finished in 28 minutes and 50 seconds. The stage began with Mexican rider Romina Hinojosa as the first to officially start the race.

I love it because it's true that it's a new challenge for me. I love being bad at something and improving because you see that you progress quickly.

— Pauline Ferrand-PrévotThe defending champion shared her perspective on tackling the time trial.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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