Tour de France Femmes 2023: Elisa Longo Borghini and Elisa Balsamo abandon race in double blow to Lidl-Trek

General classification contender Elisa Longo Borghini and her Lidl-Trek team-mate Elisa Balsamo have abandoned the Tour de France Femmes ahead of Stage 7.

Longo Borghini rode well through the opening six stages, matching the likes of defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) and Demi Vollering (SD Worx) on some lumpy climbs to suggest she was in the hunt for a place on the podium.

However, Litd-Trek released a statement on Saturday morning saying the Italian had been forced to abandon due to an infection in her left leg.

“Unfortunately Elisa Longo Borghini has also had to withdraw from the Tour de France Femmes ahead of today’s Col du Tourmalet stage, one which she was looking forward to,” the statement read.

“The Italian champion has a skin infection at the top of the left thigh, which required hospital treatment after Stage 6 but is now under control.

“However, she is still in a considerable amount of pain and in the interest of her long-term health, the decision was made that she will not race any further.”

In a double blow for Lidl-Trek, Balsamo would not take the start of the queen stage, with a summit finish on the Col du Tourmalet, due to fatigue.

“Elisa Balsamo won’t start Stage 7 due to fatigue,” Lidl-Trek said. “She was making her return to racing at TDFF after her crash at RideLondon Classique and so it’s been decided to miss the last two stages with an eye on preparing for the World Championships in Glasgow.”

Longo Borghini did not finish the Giro d’Italia Donne earlier this month following a crash on the final descent of Stage 5 but passed herself fit for the Tour de France Femmes.

Stage 7 of the Tour is likely to see a shakedown between Van Vleuten and her fellow Dutch rider Vollering on the mighty slopes of the Tourmalet.