We describe an advanced setup for time-resolved x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy with picosecond temporal resoln. It combines an intense femtosecond laser source synchronized to the x-ray pulses delivered into the microXAS beamline of the Swiss Light Source (SLS). The setup is applied to measure the short-lived high-spin geometric structure of photoexcited aq. Fe(bpy)3 at room temp. [on SciFinder (R)]