"The most important thing for me this year is to be Elisa, the real Elisa" - Elisa Longo Borghini keen to perform after disappointing 2023

After a series of setbacks with illness and injury, Elisa Longo Borghini will be back to racing at the UAE Tour Women, hoping to find her better self aiming for a much better year than 2023.

"I'm a rider, I'm an athlete, so I have to take into account that setbacks are most likely going to happen and that's part of the job. I try to keep focus and I always try to rebuild, but this year has been extremely hard for me," said Longo Borghini to Cyclingnews.

"Also mentally, in fact, the last infection that I had was sepsis. It put me in a corner because I just couldn't come back. I tried but my body was really done with it, done with the season. For me, it was like a bell ringing saying 'Okay, I need rest'. I tried to build up but it was impossible and I was really far from form."

"I have never had so many illnesses and injuries and I've never had any bacterial infection before this year. So I don't know it's been just a crazy year," said the Italian. "The most important thing for me this year is to be Elisa, like the real Elisa."