The Marlen Reusser crash reshaped the Tour de France Femmes podium on the final stage. The Movistar rider fell from third to 14th overall.
Reusser began the day with a strong hold on a podium place. She held nearly two minutes over Elisa Longo Borghini of UAE Team L’IMAD, who sat fourth overall.
That advantage disappeared on the final stage around Nice. Reusser lost contact with the favourites before falling on the descent of the Col d’Èze with around 60km remaining.
She eventually finished 109th on the stage. She crossed the line 24 minutes and 35 seconds behind stage and race winner Demi Vollering of FDJ United-Suez.
Marlen Reusser crash changes final GC
Reusser had enjoyed one of the race’s defining early moments. She won the stage 4 time trial and also spent time in the yellow jersey.
She entered the finale with a clear chance to finish on the overall podium. Instead, Longo Borghini moved into third overall behind Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney.
The final stage used a circuit around Nice. It included four ascents of the Col d’Èze, a climb that quickly changed the general classification fight.
Reusser initially looked well supported by Movistar team-mates. But near the summit of the second ascent, she became isolated among the favourites.
Zoe Bäckstedt then drove a hard pace for Canyon-SRAM leader Niewiadoma-Phinney. The acceleration reduced the leading group and put Reusser under pressure.
With 67km to race, Reusser slipped off the back of that group. She then chased over the summit and onto the descent, trying to regain contact.
While pushing to close the gap, she went down through a right-hand corner. Her podium hopes effectively ended at that moment.
Movistar support Reusser to the finish
Movistar sports director Kelvin Dekker said Reusser appeared physically okay after the fall. He said it was not a high-speed crash.
Dekker said she took the corner strangely and appeared to hit a small bump in the road. He said her main reaction was emotional rather than physical.
He said Reusser realised while on the ground that the podium was gone. Dekker described her as “really sad and disappointed” after the incident.
Reusser remounted and continued near the back of the race. Five Movistar team-mates rode with her as she completed the final stage.
After the finish on the Promenade des Anglais, Reusser stopped in front of Movistar staff. She began to cry as her team-mates took turns consoling her.
Dekker said Movistar had started and finished as a team. He said the squad stayed around Reusser to support her mentally and bring her home.
The result marked a painful end to a race that had previously lifted Reusser into yellow. It also underlined how sharply the Col d’Èze finale shaped the Tour de France Femmes standings.
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