The Italian Elisa Longo Borghini, who occupied fourth place in the general classification, gave up taking the start of the 7th and penultimate stage of the Tour de France Women, announced her Lidl-Trek team on Saturday at the start in Lannemezan.
Victim of a “skin infection at the top of the left thigh”, the runner had to go to the hospital on Friday after the 6th stage.
“The infection is now under control, but Elisa is still in a lot of pain. In the interests of her long-term health, it has been decided not to race her anymore,” the team said.
Sixth last year, Longo Borghini was in 4th position on Friday evening, 55 seconds behind the leader, the Belgian Lotte Kopecki.
Her compatriot and teammate Elisa Balsamo, “tired”, also gave up competing in the queen stage of this women’s Great Loop which arrives at the top of the Tourmalet after 90 km of racing.
The Dutch Annemiek van Vleuten, defending champion, and Demi Vollering, her runner-up in 2022, are the favorites for the stage victory and the final yellow jersey.
