Elisa Longo Borghini is about to go away Lidl-Trek on the finish of the season after six years on the American crew, in keeping with a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Italian champion’s contract is because of run out on the finish of 2024 and she or he received’t be renewing, along with her switch to a brand new crew anticipated amid an enormous incoming summer season of change for ladies’s biking.
Team supervisor Luca Guercilena confirmed the information to the Italian newspaper whereas admitting that Lidl-Trek tried to maintain her on their roster.
“Elisa Longo Borghini has made the choice to go away the crew on the finish of the season, regardless of our want to increase her contract with Lidl-Trek. This is a part of the sport,” mentioned Guercilena.
“Together we achieved nice outcomes, because of the assist that the crew and her teammates gave her. Lidl-Trek will proceed to attempt to stay a reference crew for ladies’s biking, engaged on scouting younger cyclists, supporting nice champions and creating the tradition of equity in sport.
“We want Longo Borghini all the very best for the approaching seasons.”
As one of many prime all-around riders on this planet, Longo Borghini’s abilities in each the Classics and Grand Tours will make her one of the vital coveted riders out of contract for 2025 and trying to find a brand new crew.
Far from the one star to vary squads in 2024, others embrace defending Tour de France Femmes winner Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), who’s closely linked to FDJ-Suez after not extending with the Dutch tremendous crew.
Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez) are amongst different well-known riders with their contracts as a consequence of expire and but to have their crew confirmed for 2025.
Longo Borghini will go away Lidl-Trek after an unbelievable comeback season from harm and sickness in 2024, bouncing again with the win on the Tour of Flanders and podium finishes at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Strade Bianche.
The 32-year-old’s time at Lidl-Trek noticed her take 23 wins at among the greatest races throughout a really profitable interval.
Young Italian expertise Gaia Realini would probably take over the crew’s GC ambitions at Grand Tours after her compatriot’s departure, whereas Shirin van Anrooij would be the focus of their cobbled Classics marketing campaign. They are signed on till 2027 and 2026 respectively, highlighting the crew’s concentrate on their younger stars.
Longo Borghini’s schedule for the approaching weeks ought to see her compete on the Tour de Suisse, the revamped Giro d’Italia Women and the Tour de France Femmes.