The carousel in women’s cycling keeps turning: Longo Borghini leaves Lidl-Trek, Italian rider joins UAE Team ADQ

Big transfer news on Tuesday afternoon from the women's peloton. Elisa Longo Borghini will ride for UAE Team ADQ until 2027, as the team from the Emirates announced via X (formerly Twitter). This move marks the end of a six-year journey with the Trek team for the Italian rider. Her transfer also adds another twist to the world of women’s cycling, as the peloton is set to look quite different in 2025 due to numerous previously announced transfers.

Just this past Saturday, she won bronze at the World Championships in Zürich, and two days later, the big news has been made official. Longo Borghini has signed a three-year contract with UAE Team ADQ, bringing a wealth of experience with her. This year, the Italian has already won the Giro d'Italia Women, the Flèche Brabançonne and the Tour of Flanders. She also finished on the podium in the Vuelta, coming in third. She did not participate in the Tour de France Femmes.

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The year of big shifts, as Longo Borghini moves on

Longo Borghini’s departure had been rumored for some time. The Italian played a key role in the resurgence of Lidl-Trek, which, after a challenging 2023, competed closely with SD Worx-Protime. Transfer rumors began to surface earlier this spring. Now, her move is officially confirmed. At 32, she’s not the only one on the move. Demi Vollering will also be leaving her team, and many other transfers have already been announced.

Lidl-Trek, in particular, will be injecting new energy into its roster. Riejanne Markus, Anna Henderson and Niamh Fisher-Black have already been announced as additions for 2025. With the arrival of Longo Borghini, it seems unlikely that Lidl-Trek will be Vollering’s next destination. While the Dutch rider already knows which team she will join next year, the public has yet to find out.

The calendar for the new cyclo-cross season is now online! Check it out here. Or check out our general calendars for the remainder of the season for the men and women's races.