Elisa Longo Borghini is a favorite for total victory on the UAE Tour Women as she makes her debut for house group UAE Team ADQ.
The Italian nationwide champion has shortly tailored to her new group and is anticipated to steer from the entrance.
“There is just a little little bit of stress as a result of we now have UAE standing alongside us and we convey the title of the nation round, so they need us to do nicely,” Longo Borghini advised Cyclingnews.
“But the primary factor is that we will simply promise a superb struggle and never victories.
“There are different folks right here that wish to win. I’ll give 110% after which regardless of the final result shall be, it should be the very best.”
Longo Borghini has already recognized her greatest rivals.
“There are literally fairly a number of riders that folks perhaps underestimate, particularly on Jebel Hafeet,” mentioned Longo Borghini.
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“I feel Marion Bunel is a really robust French climber from Visma. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is right here and if she’s right here it is as a result of she’s robust and never as a result of she simply needs to take part in a race. Canyon has an excellent roster and Juliette Labous additionally could be very robust.
“I feel ultimately the winner shall be a superb all-rounder and the one that may serve additionally very nicely within the wind.
“For me, I do not thoughts the wind particularly if in case you have a superb group round you and I’m very fortunate to have a superb group with me.”
Longo Borghini has some easy however efficient pre-race rituals.
“I all the time clear my footwear earlier than each single race and each single coaching, and I all the time ensure that my glasses are shiny and that is it,” she mentioned.
She just isn’t a music fan.
“Not actually, I’m actually into the circulate when I’ve to race.”
Run by Giro d’Italia organiser RCS Sport on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the UAE Tour Women is the one UCI girls’s WorldTour race within the Middle East.
Now in its third yr, the race is seen as a focus to assist girls’s biking develop within the area.
“I hope to have followers on the street, however not just for myself and my group, however for everybody right here, for all the peloton,” mentioned Longo Borghini.
“I actually hope there shall be folks cheering for us as a result of we’re bringing with us a message for ladies, for wellbeing and for well being generally.”