Using approximately 100 femtosecond laser pulses we have studied the spectral evolution in time associated with the bond-twisting event in the barrierless isomerization of a cyanine dye molecule in solution. The experimental results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations based on a modified Smoluchowski equation. The results show that the actual bond-twisting event is observed as a delayed onset of ground state recovery and as very fast spectral shifts of stimulated emission and excited state absorption.