Marlen Reusser monsters to stage and overall victory at the Tour de Suisse Women

Stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse Women delivered a brutal finale, with more than 3,000 metres of climbing packed into a 100 kilometre route starting and finishing in Villars-sur-Ollon.

The action began almost immediately. Marlen Reusser (Movistar), Kim Le Court (AG Insurance - Soudal), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM), Maeva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) and several others launched early attacks.

By the Col de la Croix, a group of 14 riders had moved to the front. Reusser, Liane Lippert (Movistar), Sara Martin (Movistar), Le Court, Tess Moerman (AG Insurance - Soudal), Niewiadoma, Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education Oatly), Julitette Berthet (FDJ United - Suez), Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Premier Tech), Megan Arens (Picnic PostNL), Steffi Häberlin (SD Worx - Protime), Femke De Vries, Sarah Van Dam (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), were the riders at the front.

The group worked together on the descent, but began to fracture on the final climb. With seven kilometres remaining, Reusser and Niewiadoma broke clear as riders became scattered across the mountain.

Behind them, Kerbaol, Le Court and De Vries fought to close the gap.

Reusser increased the pace with three kilometres to go. Niewiadoma initially struggled to respond, but managed to regain the Swiss rider’s wheel. Kerbaol continued to make ground and reduced the deficit to just 10 seconds as the race entered its final two kilometres.

Kerbaol caught the leading pair beneath the flamme rouge, while Le Court remained only a few seconds behind. The stage appeared set for a three rider battle for victory.

With 700 metres remaining, Reusser launched a powerful seated acceleration. She immediately opened a gap over Niewiadoma and Kerbaol, then maintained her advantage all the way to the finish.

The victory secured both the stage win and the overall classification for Reusser. Kerbaol finished second, with Niewiadoma taking third.