'There is a little bit of pressure' - Elisa Longo Borghini expected to shine on home debut with UAE Team ADQ
The Italian names her rivals for overall victory
Elisa Longo Borghini is a favourite for overall victory at the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:UAE Tour Women as she makes her debut for home team 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:UAE Team ADQ.
The Italian national ✱champion has quickly adapted to her new team and is expected to lead frꦯom the front.
"There is a little bit of pressure because we have UAE standing alongside us and we bring the name of the country around, so they want us to do well," 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Longo Borghini told Cyclingnews.
"But the main thing is tha✨t we can just promise a good fight and not victories.
"There are other people here that want to win. I will give 110% and then꧂ whate🐲ver the outcome will be, it's going to be the best."
Longo Bor꧟ghini has already identified her biggest rivals.
"There are actually quite a few riders that people ma𝄹ybe underestimate, especially on Jebel Hafeet," said Longo Borghini.
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"I think Marion Bunel is a very stron🐲g French climber from Visma. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is here and 📖if she's here it's because she's strong and not because she just wants to participate in a race. Canyon has a very good roster and Juliette Labous also is very strong.
"I think in the end the winner will be a good all-rounder and the one that can serve ꦉalso verꦦy well in the wind.
"For me, I don't mind the🦩 wind especially if you have a good team around you ꦡand I'm very lucky to have a good team with me."
Longo Borghini has some simple but effective pꦐre-race rituals🦩.
"I always clean my shoes before every single race and every single training, 🍸and I always make sure that my glasses 🤪are shiny and that's it," she said.
She is not a music fan.
"Not r🔴eally, I'm really into the flow wh⛄en I have to race."
Run by Giro d’Iౠtalia organiser 𝔉RCS Sport on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the UAE Tour Women is the only UCI women's WorldTour race in the Middle East.
Now in its third year, the race is seen as a focal point to help women's cycling🌞 grow in t🐻he region.
"I hope to have fans on the road, but not only for myself and my team, but for everyone here, for the entire pelಌoton," said Longo Borghini.
"I really hope there will be people cheering for us because we are bringing with us a message for women, for wellbeing and for health in💮 general."
Emma Cole is a gold-standard NCTJ journalist who loves anything to do with adventure, sport and 🙈sustainability. Alongside writing about these passions for Cyclingnews, her work has also featured in Cycling Weekly, Outdoors Magic and Cyclist Magazine - where she previously held the role of Features Writer for over two years. Emma hosts her own podcast, The Passion Stories Podcast and has a first-class degree in French and Politics.