For Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), racing the UAE Tour Women is special in more than just wearing bib number 1 as the 2023 winner. The Middle Eastern race also marks her comeback to the peloton after a long period with illness and injuries, having had to abandon the last three races she started – Giro d’Italia Donne, Tour de France Femmes, and Tour de Romandie.
With just over 50 kilometres to go, the Italian champion hit the deck in a crash. But unlike last year, she was lucky and escaped with only a small cut on her arm, easily chasing back to the peloton.
