Marlen Reusser crashes after being distanced in Tour Femmes finale

Marlen Reusser (Movistar) crashed while descending the Col d’Èze on the ninth and final stage of the Tour de France Femmes, after being distanced from the yellow jersey group earlier in the stage.

The rider, who started Sunday’s stage third overall, 1:53 ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'IMAD) in fourth, was dropped on the second of four ascents of the Col d’Èze.

Reusser crashed with around 60km remaining as she descended the climb. She was able to remount and was quickly surrounded by four Movistar teammates.

However, by this point, Reusser was no longer on the provisional final podium and appeared to be in discomfort, travelling at a slower speed than before the crash.

Her Movistar team posted to social media confirming that “she continues in the race and rolls along with all her teammates about 5 minutes behind the leader’s group” and that “the fall greatly complicates her chances of a podium finish.”

Reusser powered to victory in the rainbow jersey during the individual time trial on stage 4, her third career Tour stage win, to take the yellow jersey. The 34-year-old defended yellow on stages 5 and 6, before losing the race lead to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon/SRAM) on the slopes of Mont Ventoux on stage 7.

Reusser started stage 9, 1:12 behind new race leader Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez), and 1:04 behind Niewiadoma, on track for her best GC finish at the Tour.