Reusser explains 'Project Dijon' after taking yellow at Tour Femmes

Marlen Reusser (Movistar) revealed her long-planned ambition to win the time trial on stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes had been dubbed "Project Dijon" after powering to victory in the race against the clock and taking the yellow jersey. 

The reigning world and European time trial champion stopped the clock in 27:30 on the 21km course from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon to claim her third Tour stage victory. Reusser finished three seconds ahead of Lieke Nooijen (Visma | Lease a Bike), while Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) placed third at 17 seconds and moved into second overall.

Speaking after the stage, Reusser revealed that the stage, which had been long-targeted, had been described as Project Dijon.

"It's actually the first Tour de France that I saw as my goal of the year and that I am here as a leader. I knew that it would start in Switzerland on Swiss National Day and we were going to have the TT today. So we always said it was our 'Project Dijon,'"Reusser said.

"Like the yellow from the mustard. So it was our 'Project Dijon' and it worked out. Always it's hard and not necessarily going to happen, so that it happened like this, I'm super happy."

Reusser set the fastest time at the intermediate checkpoint, 19 seconds quicker than Nooijen, before holding her advantage to the finish, and gaining significant time in the GC contest.

Former race leader Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) was unable to defend the yellow jersey, leaving Reusser to complete "Project Dijon" ahead of a hilly fifth stage on Wednesday. 

Reusser now sits in a commanding position in the GC, 14 seconds ahead of Vollering while Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) sits third at 54 seconds.