Elisa Longo Borghini, double blow in the Emirates
Tappa and jersey for Elisa Longo Borghini
The UAE Women's Tour speaks Italian: in the third and penultimate stage, in fact, Elisa Longo Borghini routed the competition, going on to win the 152-kilometer stage that started from Al Ain Qasr Al Muwaiji to arrive in Jebel Hafeet. It's a victory, by the way, "home" for the Italian champion, who as of this year is racing just for an Emirati team, the UAE Team ADQ.
Longo Borghini completed the stage in 3h 56' 31", ahead of teammate and compatriot Silvia Persico, who was second at the finish line, and Kim Le Court Pienaar of the AG Insurance-Soudal team, who was beaten in a sprint for the place of honor by Persico herself. The stage winner è also jumped into the overall lead, with 2'09" over Silvia Persico and 2'11" over Le Court Pienaar.
"Silvia Persico è was the key to our tactics today – explained, at the end of the stage, Elisa Longo Borghini -, but the whole team did a great job, especially in the initial stage, with the fans. Three kilometers from the finish I felt it was time to go for it, then finding the right rhythm. I am really excited, è an incredible achievement. This è my first race with my new team, We have a whole country behind us and we feel very proud".
Saturday’s è was the first seasonal success for Elisa Longo Borghini, who in 2024 won the Giro Donne, the Italian Championships road race, the Arrow of Brabant and the Tour of Flanders, among other races. The 2025 season è her first in the UAE team ADQ jersey, after six years in the team called first Trek-Segafredo and then Lidl-Trek.
