Only two stages have been raced in the Tour de France Femmes, but just as many favorites have already abandoned. After Marlen Reusser, Elisa Longo Borghini has also left the race. The UAE Team ADQ leader will not start on day three due to a gastrointestinal infection.
Longo Borghini recently won the Giro d'Italia Women, but in the first stages of the Tour de France Femmes, she immediately lost a lot of time. After two days, she was 39th, two minutes and 52 seconds behind yellow jersey holder Kimberly Le Court.
The Italian champion had already shown symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection in recent days, her team UAE Team ADQ now reports. "She did everything to get through the first two stages, despite feeling very weak. However, her condition has worsened in the past hours and after consultation with the team's medical staff, the difficult decision has been made to withdraw her from the race," the press release states.
Longo Borghini herself is very disappointed by her forced abandonment. “After my victory in the Giro d’Italia Women I felt really good and came to the Tour with great ambition, determined to achieve something special here as well," she says. "Unfortunately, I suddenly developed symptoms of this virus, which has drained my energy day by day. I am extremely disappointed and saddened to have to leave the Tour de France Femmes early again, but at this moment this is the best decision.”
