‘Personally, I’m hurt by you journalists’: Longo Borghini hits back over Blasi questions

A great deal has been written in the media about the relationships within UAE Team L’IMAD at the Tour de France Femmes. Elisa Longo Borghini and Dominika Włodarczyk are the designated leaders, while breakout star Paula Blasi has been asked to work in a domestique role. The Italian champion has now had enough of the negativity surrounding the squad and delivered a forceful response after another round of questions about her teammate.

Blasi has undoubtedly been one of the revelations of 2026, with victories at the Amstel Gold Race, La Vuelta Femenina and the Volta a Catalunya. Before the Tour de France Femmes, she was widely viewed as a genuine outsider for the overall victory. Yet she is not one of the team’s designated leaders: with the Spaniard expected to leave the team at the end of the season, UAE has instead assigned her an important supporting role.

That decision prompted repeated questions from the media. When a journalist returned to the subject after the stage 4 time trial, Longo Borghini rolled her eyes before responding sharply. “You guys are making it up so big, bigger than it is. We are fine,” she told RadReporter.

Longo Borghini said the constant speculation had begun to affect the riders on a personal level. She asked journalists to remember that the athletes involved are people and said it was unpleasant to scroll through Instagram and see articles claiming there was a poor atmosphere inside the squad or suggesting they were not functioning as a proper team.

“Personally, I’m hurt by you journalists,” Longo Borghini continued. “I think you should consider how Blasi feels. It is not pleasant for her to sit at the dinner table knowing that these stories are being written. Be careful with what you write.” Blasi has worn the white jersey since stage 1 and sits seventh overall following the time trial. That places her between Longo Borghini and Włodarczyk in the general classification.

Her Italian leader is fifth overall, although she could have been much closer to the race lead. Longo Borghini finished tenth in the time trial after suffering a problem shortly before the finish. “I had a mechanical problem with two kilometres remaining and had to change bikes. I’m not particularly happy about it, but I have to accept it. What can I say? It is what it is.”

The riders now face a difficult hilly stage 5, followed by another demanding day on stage 6. Mont Ventoux awaits on stage 7, so Longo Borghini still has plenty of opportunities to move up the general classification. Despite the setback, she refused to dwell on the time trial. “I’m in good shape and I feel good. I see this as a bad day, but tomorrow is another opportunity.”