Longo Borghini shines on Mont Ventoux and hits back at UAE-Blasi drama with pointed remark

UAE Team ADQ enjoyed a remarkably strong day on Mont Ventoux, just behind the battle for the stage victory and yellow jersey. The team has been under the microscope throughout this Tour de France Femmes because of the ongoing discussion surrounding super-domestique Paula Blasi and her role within the squad, but on stage 7 it placed three riders inside the top eight on Ventoux.

Elisa Longo Borghini started the day as UAE Team ADQ's best-placed rider in the general classification. After attacking in Thursday's finale, she had moved up to fourth overall, although the experienced Italian was keeping her expectations modest. "I feel fine and I'm happy. Today it will be about hanging on until I get dropped," she said cautiously before the start in an interview with NOS.

In reality, Longo Borghini proved to be one of the strongest riders of the day. Although she was initially unable to follow stage winner Kasia Niewiadoma and her rivals Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser, she still fought her way to third place. "The pace was really high right from the start. Chapeau to Kasia, she did an incredible climb," the Italian champion told Eurosport afterwards.

Longo Borghini chose to follow her own strategy on the climb. "I didn't look too much at the others and just rode at my own pace. I worked really well together with Paula [Blasi] and that allowed us to get back to Marlen. I can't complain about finishing third," she said with a smile, before adding a pointed and slightly sarcastic remark: "Once again, we showed that we are a team."

It was a clear follow-up to Longo Borghini's strong comments over the previous few days, when she defended Blasi. On paper, the Spaniard is riding as a domestique for Longo Borghini and Dominika Włodarczyk, although Longo Borghini has made it clear that she does not see the situation in such simple terms. On Mont Ventoux, Włodarczyk was dropped earlier, while Longo Borghini and Blasi continued together towards the summit. "I have to say I actually enjoyed it, even though it really was the Ventoux."

"I was taking turns with Paula and gave everything I had in the finale," added the Italian, who finished 1 minute and 42 seconds behind Niewiadoma. Blasi crossed the line six seconds later, while Włodarczyk eventually finished 3 minutes and 26 seconds down. "We had to be patient. Today, you needed both legs and brains," Longo Borghini concluded.

For Włodarczyk, it was not her best day, even if eighth place in the stage results might not immediately suggest it. She now also sits eighth in the general classification. "It was an incredibly brutal day. I'm proud of my effort and I did everything I could. It's a shame that it wasn't enough," the Polish rider said with tears in her eyes.

"I saw that Kasia had won and, even though she doesn't ride for my team, she is my compatriot. I'm happy for her, and also that Elisa finished third. In that sense, it was a good day for the team," she continued positively. With Longo Borghini fourth overall, Blasi seventh and Włodarczyk herself eighth, she also knows there is still plenty to race for. "The race isn't over yet, although I don't want to think about the road to Nice just yet."

Blasi kept her own reaction shorter in Spanish, but she too praised the team's performance. "In the end, we were there as a team on the big mountain stage. Elisa was very strong today. Without even having to discuss it, we understood how we needed to ride."