Swiss rider Marlen Reusser (Movistar) claimed an emphatic overall win at the 2025 Tour de Suisse Women, sealing the title with a dominant solo victory on the final stage. The 33-year-old had led the general classification since her stage 1 triumph and capped off her week by conquering the last stage in Küssnacht with a bold late attack.
Reusser attacked decisively on the descent following the steep Michaelskreuzstrasse climb, launching her winning move with 9.5 kilometers remaining. Riding solo to the finish, she crossed the line with 28 seconds in hand, wrapping up both the stage and her overall GC title in commanding fashion.
Behind her, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) outpaced Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) in a sprint for second place on the stage. Despite finishing third on the day, Vollering secured second overall in the general classification, 36 seconds behind Reusser. Niewiadoma-Phinney rounded out the podium, finishing 1:56 off the winner.
Reusser was beaming at the finish. “It’s incredible—I’m just really, really happy,” she said. After struggling with post-Covid symptoms throughout 2024, she was clearly savoring the moment. “Right now, I’m just fully back. I’m not thinking about last year—I’m living in the now, and I really enjoyed today. The crowd support was amazing; hearing my name from the roadside all over was very moving.”
Her performance has further solidified her as a major rival to Vollering this season. “I think we’re building a great rivalry. I’ve been improving rapidly, and I believe the battles ahead will be exciting,” Reusser added.
Stage Recap: A Tough Route and Fierce Racing
Stage 4’s 129.4-kilometer route featured a mix of punchy climbs and flat lakeside roads. Riders tackled circuits that included the Adligenwilerstrasse and the tough Michaelskreuzstrasse twice, with views of Lakes Zug, Lauerz, and Luzern providing a scenic backdrop.
Marta Lach (SD Worx-Protime) claimed early mountain points on Adligenwilerstrasse, enough to secure the red QOM jersey. A break of five riders formed shortly after, but only Afghan champion Fariba Hashimi (Ceratizit) remained out front by the time the race hit the first ascent of Michaelskreuzstrasse.
After Hashimi was reeled in, a series of attacks reshuffled the race. Mikayla Harvey (SD Worx-Protime) and Neve Bradbury (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) briefly broke clear, while Henrietta Christie (EF Education-Oatly) launched a more promising move with 64km to go. She stretched out a 55-second lead and won both intermediate sprints despite the peloton, led by FDJ-Suez, closing the gap.
Following Christie’s bonus sprint success, Steffi Häberlin (SD Worx-Protime) and Julia Borgström (AG Insurance-Soudal) attacked and joined her at the front. Their trio held a small gap until the race reached the final major climb.
On the decisive Michaelskreuzstrasse, Reusser set a searing pace from the bottom. By halfway up, only a select group remained: Niewiadoma-Phinney, Vollering, and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek). Several riders managed to claw back on near the summit, but a sharp attack by Niewiadoma-Phinney splintered the group once more. Four riders crested the climb together—Reusser, Vollering, Niewiadoma-Phinney, and Fisher-Black.
As the road tilted down, Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney surged ahead, with Vollering holding on while Fisher-Black was dropped. With 11km left, Niewiadoma-Phinney tried to go clear, forcing Vollering to respond. But Reusser played her cards perfectly—launching a brutal counterattack that neither could match.
Powering away alone, Reusser finished 28 seconds clear, celebrating her second stage victory and overall win. She also claimed the black points jersey for her consistent performance throughout the race.
Other jersey winners included Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike), who overtook Eleonora Ciabocco (Picnic PostNL) in the final GC standings to claim the white jersey for best young rider, while Lidl-Trek took home the team classification honors.
HIGHLIGHTS
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