The Italian champion undergoes important antibiotic treatment to deal with infection that forced her to abandon Tour de France Femmes
Just days after the withdrawal from the Tour de France Femmes on the morning of the Queen Stage, Elisa Longo Borghini is forced to put her season on hold again. For the Italian champion it means giving up the chance to wear the jersey of the Azzurre in the Glasgow World Championships, in order to focus on recovering from the infection.
Lidl-Trek’s head doctor Gaetano Daniele explains the situation in detail.
“Elisa is suffering from a deep skin infection in the upper left thigh area. It’s an serious infectious process that cannot be underestimated in any way. These symptoms are causing pain and fever that are still keeping her at home in bed, therefore an intense antibiotic treatment has become necessary and will last for at least a week from today,”
“The priority is that she can benefit from the treatment and feel better as soon as possible. For the duration of the treatment, it’s not possible to consider any training. At best, if the antibiotic treatment brings the desired results, Elisa could return to ride without intensity in about ten days. Then, we can start talking about a return to competition,”
“We monitor the development of the situation on a daily basis and, in a few days, we have scheduled an ultrasound scan of the area affected by the infection to see if the treatment is having an effect or if a different intervention is required.”
For Elisa, of course, the regret feeling is huge. First of all for the withdrawal from the Tour de France Femmes in the most important moment; then, of course, for having to give up a special appointment at the World Champs.
“I can hardly find the words to explain my current state of mind. Mentally, it’s a heavy blow, which unfortunately comes in an already troubled season. The fact that I had to come home from the Tour was a huge disappointment, because I felt I had a great finale in my legs. It was painful, I won’t deny that.”
“Although the blows, physical and psychological, always hurt, I never got down and I only want to look ahead. Stopping at this point of the season was the last thing I wanted, but the priority must be my health. I am focused on healing and recovering at my best. Giving up the Worlds is painful, but also the only choice I had. I will be rooting hard for my teammates.”
