After her remarkable victory at the Giro d’Italia Women, Elisa Longo Borghini has unfortunately been forced to end her journey at the Tour de France Femmes.
The UAE Team ADQ rider will not take the start of Stage 3 today, from La Gacilly to Angers (163.3 km), due to a gastrointestinal infection that has affected her over the past few days.
Since the opening stage on Saturday, Elisa began experiencing symptoms and made every effort to push through the first two stages, despite feeling extremely weak. However, her condition has worsened in the last hours and, in agreement with the team’s medical staff, the difficult decision has been made for her to withdraw from the race.
The Italian champion will now take some time to rest and recover, before shifting her focus to the key goals in the final part of the season.
Elisa Longo Borghini said: “After my victory at the Giro d’Italia Women, I was feeling really good and arrived at the Tour determined to achieve something important here as well. Unfortunately, I suddenly began experiencing symptoms of this virus, which has drained my energy more and more each day. I’m truly devastated and disappointed to have to abandon the Tour de France Femmes prematurely once again, but right now this was the best decision to make.”
(ph. Getty Sport)
