2026 Tour de France Femmes: Preview of Stage 4: Time trial with weight bonus

​Key information on Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes

• Tuesday, 4 August: Gevrey-Chambertin – Dijon
• 21 kilometres, 255 metres of elevation gain (individual time trial)
• First start: 2.34 pm, Last finish: approx. 5.55 pm
• Live updates and results

The route of the 4th stage of the Tour de France Femmes

Just under 100 kilometres north-west of the finish of Stage 3 in Poligny, the individual time trial of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes will start in Gevrey-Chambertin. The course covers 21 kilometres with 255 metres of climbing. This means it is not a flat time trial, but certainly not a mountain time trial either.

In the second third of the race, there is a climb just under three kilometres long, with an average gradient of almost seven per cent at an altitude of 1,800 metres. At the top, at kilometre 9.7, the day’s only split time is recorded. After that, however, the route is almost entirely downhill all the way to the finish in Dijon. However, it is not steep enough to mean that the riders won’t need to pedal.

The route, which heads north in the first section, then briefly west and then continues north-east, is exposed to various wind directions, which could potentially be a factor. Otherwise, the route to Dijon is not particularly technically demanding. Only in the first few kilometres of the descent are there a few tight bends that require the utmost concentration.

A sporting analysis of Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes

The Tour de France Femmes, in particular, has shown in the past that just a few seconds can make the difference between victory and defeat. But there won’t be much more to gain on the course than that. At least not amongst the general classification contenders. The climb is too short to make up much time, whilst the descent isn’t technical enough to do so.

However, the riders who could benefit there are the heavier ones, who have an advantage on the downhill section. And so one name in particular springs to mind: Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team). The time trial world champion weighs a few kilos more than other strong time trialists such as Demi Vollering (FDJ United – SUEZ) or Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx – Protime). The Swiss rider has proven time and again that she is a force to be reckoned with on the climbs too. For the second part of the race, there’s normally no one stronger than her. Provided she doesn’t lose too many seconds by the intermediate time check, victory can only go to her.