Being a pro cyclist means not only getting in form – but avoiding bad luck like crashes and sickness. Unfortunately for Italian champ Elisa Longo Borghini, the latter has got in the way of her plans for Saturday’s Milano-Sanremo Donne.
On social media, her UAE Team ADQ said that, “due to virus disease with upper respiratory tract infection that developed overnight, the Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini will not be able to start tomorrow’s second edition of the Milano-Sanremo Women.”
Who will win the 2026 edition?
She will be replaced by Alena Amialiusik. The full UAE Team ADQ will be Amialiusik, Mavi Garcia, Dominika Wlodarczyk, Eleonora Gasparrini, Silvia Persico, and Brodie Chapman.
Lorena Wiebes of Team SD Worx–Protime took the win in 2025 – but it almost went to Longo Borghini. The two-time Giro d’Italia winner took off on the descent on the Poggio and was just ahead in the finale. SD Worx-Protime, led by Lotte Kopecky, the small group that went clear on the final climb and caught Longo Borghini, clearing the way for Wiebes to take the sprint. It was quite the finish – Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) was relegated from fourth to 12th for deviating from her line.
Another top rider that won’t be racing is European champion Demi Vollering. She finished fourth in 2025, but will be instead doing altitude training as she prepares for her bigger goals this year, including the Tour de France Femmes.
There are three Canadian women racing: national TT champ Olivia Baril (Movistar Team), Sarah Van Dam (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) and Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne Monbana My Pie). Van Dam might have a shot in the final sprint if she’s in the mix. The Victoria native has shown some flashes of brilliance already in 2026…and the drag race on Via Roma could suit her.