Demi Vollering has once again seen a competitor drop out of the Tour de France Femmes. Giro winner Elisa Longo Borghini withdrew on Monday due to a bowel infection.
The 33-year-old Longo Borghini had already suffered a significant disadvantage in the general classification in the first two Tour stages. Now it appears that, according to her team UAE ADQ, she has been struggling with a bowel infection for days.
According to the team, Longo Borghini’s situation has worsened in the past 24 hours. “As a result, she and the team had to make the difficult decision to withdraw. Unfortunately, she will not start in the third stage.”
With Longo Borghini’s withdrawal, Vollering has lost a second competitor for the overall victory. Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, the number two in the recent Giro, dropped out in the opening stage due to the after-effects of a fall in the previous week.
Vollering is in a good position in the Tour de France Femmes after the first two stages. The overall winner of 2023 is fifth in the general classification, thirteen seconds behind yellow jersey wearer Kimberley Le Court. There are seven stages left. Monday is a flat stage to Angers.
Katarzyna Niewiadoma, the Tour winner of last year, is in an even better position. The Polish rider is fourth in the classification. Niewiadoma won the Tour last year after a thrilling battle with Vollering. The difference in the classification was only four seconds.