Reigning Italian Champion Elisa Longo Borghini and former world Champion Elisa Balsamo have each departed the Tour de France Femmes forward of stage 7 of the race, leaving Lidl-Trek with out two of the group’s strongest riders.
In an announcement on Saturday morning, Lidl-Trek mentioned, “Elisa Balsamo gained’t begin Stage 7 as a consequence of fatigue. She was making her return to racing at TDFF after her crash at RideLondon Classique and so it’s been determined to overlook the final two phases with an eye fixed on making ready for the World Championships in Glasgow.”
Balsamo gained the rainbow stripes on the World Championships in Leuven in 2021, and was beforehand junior world champion in 2016. She approaches the 2023 World Championships in Glasgow as a significant favorite.
Whereas her departure will not be shocking in that context, Longo Borghini’s exit from the race is much less anticipated given she is presently fourth within the common classification and on the identical time as Annemiek van Vleuten.
“Sadly Elisa Longo Borghini has additionally needed to withdraw from the Tour de France Femmes forward of in the present day’s Col du Tourmalet stage, one which she was trying ahead to,” the assertion continued. ”The Italian champion has a pores and skin an infection on the high of the left thigh, which required hospital therapy after Stage 6 however is now beneath management. Nonetheless, she remains to be in a substantial quantity of ache and within the curiosity of her long-term well being, the choice was made that she is not going to race any additional.”
Longo Borghini was compelled to desert the Giro d’Italia Donne earlier this month following a crash on the ultimate descent of stage 5 – she had been second general within the common classification on the time.
“Fortunately the implications of my fall weren’t as dangerous as we assumed on the first check-up,” she mentioned firstly of the Tour de France Femmes. “So now I simply have some sore ribs and I am able to go. I believe nothing actually modified by way of my situation due to the crash. I will be right here attempting to find phases and searching round for the GC. I’ll simply take it day-to-day and see what the ultimate outcome will likely be,” Longo Borghini added.
Following Longo Borghini and Balsamo’s departure, Lidl-Trek will proceed with 5 riders, together with Lizzie Deignan. Amanda Spratt is now the best positioned within the common classification in twelfth place.