KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini has admitted she enters the 2026 UAE Tour Women with lower levels of preparation than her dominant 2025 campaign, as the world’s elite peloton prepares for the opening stage.
Despite her status as a two-time winner, the UAE Team ADQ leader was candid about her current fitness levels when asked by Aletihad. “Last year, I was way better in condition than I am now,” Longo Borghini admitted.
“For us at UAE Team ADQ, the UAE Tour is basically the home world championship. It’s nice for us to race on home roads and I believe it’s going to be a very exciting race. However, my preparations this time is also about other races ahead this season and based on the team’s strategy ahead for the rest of the races this year. But I still believe I can do well."
The Italian star also revealed she recently chose the second stage of her 2025 appearance – rather than her overall victory – as her favorite memory. That stage was defined by tough desert echelons, where she and her teammates dismantled the peloton in the wind.
The challenge to her title is formidable, with world-class riders such as Marlen Reusser making their debut. The Movistar Team rider and Time Trial world champion expressed excitement about the unique conditions of the race.
“This is my first time in the UAE but I’ve already seen some bike paths that show a huge potential for cycling here,” Reusser said. “I always watched the race in the past. It was nice to see crazy echelons on TV, but the wind is not so predictable. I’ve had a good start to the season in Spain, but I do not have the greatest legs so far. The big targets are still quite far but I’m on the good track.”
In the sprinting ranks, Lorena Wiebes of Team SD Worx – Protime arrives as the favourite after a historic 100-win milestone in 2025. She noted that the race offers more than just flat finishes this year. “All my wins here are special. I particularly enjoyed last year’s echelon stage but I also enjoyed the lead outs and the team bringing me perfectly to the finish,” Wiebes commented.
“This winter, I took part in some track races to keep the speed in the legs. As a sprinter, you start everything from zero again every year. With Anna van der Breggen here this year, we can also fight up Jebel Hafeet.”
Charlotte Kool, representing Fenix-Premier Tech, looks to reclaim the form that saw her win the inaugural stage in 2023. “I got one of my first biggest wins here at the UAE Tour in 2023, it’s something I’ll always remember,” Kool said.
“It’s always nice to come back and kick off the season with this race. My training has been good. It’s gonna be a good week, let’s hope for a great result as early as stage 1. We practiced a lot of lead out and I think I have a very strong team for that.”
The race also welcomes back Kimberley Le Court, who finished third last year. The Mauritian champion noted the strategic nature of the event, sharing that she has mixed feelings about last year because the showdown was decided more by the wind on the echelon day than the final mountain. “The UAE is a good place to get things going,” Le Court said. “I’m looking forward to the climb on Stage 4. I’ll take everything as it comes.”