Marlen Reusser (Movistar) demonstrated her world-class talent as a time trial specialist on Tuesday, dominating stage 4 at the Tour de France Femmes and securing the yellow leader's jersey. She delivered on expectations.
A day later, the Swiss rider delivered a more unpredictable result, charging across seven categorised climbs and leaving enough in the tank to escape on the eighth and decisive ascent, Mont Brouilly, for the final 11km with rivals Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM).
She was up for the challenge to hold on to yellow, though not able to catch Vollering in the sprint once the Dutch rider pounced from third position in the final 100 metres to win the stage.
"It was a hard stage, and I'm really happy how it went, besides the final I would say," Reusser said in her post-race interview.
"I think Demi was great. She kept trying [to attack]. I think you need courage to do that. Also, I am impressed by Kasia; she had a good shot and tried in a good way.
"I hoped for this. I really felt good the last days and felt that this was possible."
Directly after the stage, Reusser said she was disappointed to have not taken her fourth career stage win at the Tour, a day after her third as she soared into yellow in the Dijon time trial.
"Not so happy about my finish, but about the whole stage I'm happy, and I think we'll see what comes now. Yeah, I think my shape is not too bad, at least," she said.
"It's really an honour to dress like this and to ride like this. And it's a day that maybe didn't suit me the most on paper, so I'm really happy how it went."
The Swiss rider said she had to hit her brakes in the final 200 metres to the finish on stage 5 in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, as Niewiadoma-Phinney moved to her right on a long-range acceleration. The move, Reusser said, gave her a sudden 'wake-up' call during the straight sprint to the line.
"I don't know what I did. I fell asleep. I was really annoyed with myself, but I'm in yellow still," she said.
Shortly after crossing the finish line, broadcasters asked Reusser if the sprint between herself, Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney had formed the trio of riders to watch as the battle for the yellow jersey gets more concentrated on the four remaining days towards Nice.
She didn't give a direct answer, knowing that there was one major summit finish that could give her adversaries the edge.
"I can't say if it's us, the same ones, but it looks like the three of us are doing pretty well. I don't know at all how it will play out," she said, giving a nod to the major challenge at in Provence that comes with a challenging weekend to conclude the race in Nice.
"The climbs today in the finale are very different from Mont Ventoux."
Reusser said she had done a recon of the climb just for the Tour, and the day she rode it was windy, so it made the downhill treacherous.
However, come Friday, there is no descent of the 'Giant of Provence', only a climax atop the storied summit on stage 7.
"It is going to be super hard. If I could choose a hard day, I choose mountains like today, normally," she said.
Stage winner Vollering, who is now just 12 seconds behind the yellow jersey, didn't make predictions either about the next two days filled with 10 category climbs and the looming Mont Ventoux, but hinted the experience between herself and Niewiadoma-Phinney may give them an edge.
"Marlen Reusser seems to be in good form at the moment. The only good news is that I've already won the Tour, just like Kasia. Marlen is the only one who hasn't won it yet, so she's the one who has to work the hardest," she told the media at the finish, as reported by L'Equipe.
"I'm sure it will be a tough battle, because Marlen isn't easy to beat."
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