Elisa Longo Borghini, one of the top contenders for the Tour de France Femmes, has been forced to withdraw from the race after a crash during training. The Italian champion, who recently claimed victory in the Giro d’Italia Women, shared the news on social media, expressing her disappointment.
Longo Borghini revealed that, although she had not suffered any fractures, the injuries were severe enough to prevent her from participating. “I have no fractures, but I’ve lost a lot of skin on the road and can’t ride my bike,” she stated. “I feel gutted not to be alongside my teammates to fight for a great Tour.”
The news comes as a significant blow to the Tour de France Femmes, which is set to begin on Monday in Rotterdam. Longo Borghini was expected to be a key rival for title favourite and defending champion, Demi Vollering, who will start the race on home soil in the Netherlands.
The peloton will make its way from Rotterdam to France, with a brief stop in Belgium along the way. As one of the sport’s leading riders, Longo Borghini’s absence is sure to be felt, particularly by her Lidl-Trek team, who will now have to adjust their strategy without their star rider.
In her message to fans and teammates, Longo Borghini wished the best of luck to her team, saying, “Good luck ladies!”
