Get ready to witness cycling history in the making! Elisa Longo Borghini has cemented her legacy as the undisputed queen of the UAE Tour Women, claiming her third overall victory in four years with a breathtaking performance on the iconic Jebel Hafeet climb. But here's where it gets even more impressive: her stage 4 win wasn't just a victory—it was a masterclass in tactical brilliance and sheer determination. After a three-kilometre solo attack, she left her rivals in the dust, proving once again why she's a force to be reckoned with in women's cycling.
The final stage of the 2026 UAE Tour Women was nothing short of dramatic. With defending champion Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) eyeing her third title, the race dynamics shifted early when Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) withdrew due to illness, joining Marlen Reusser (Movistar) on the sidelines. This left the door wide open for other contenders—or so it seemed.
From the starting gun of the 156km stage, Sara Luccon (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) made her move, going solo in a bold attempt to reclaim the intermediate sprint jersey. Her lead ballooned to 3:35 minutes, and she successfully secured the jersey at the UAE University sprint, 107km from the finish. But, as is often the case in cycling, the peloton had other plans. Luccon eventually sat up, rejoining the pack rather than face the daunting Green Mubazzarah climb alone.
And this is the part most people miss: the race's turning point came when Amber van der Hulst (VolkerWessels) broke away, only to be reeled back in by a peloton fueled by tail-crosswinds. While the winds weren’t strong enough to splinter the group into echelons, they set the stage for the climactic finale. Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) secured the intermediate sprint at Green Mubazzarah, locking in Luccon’s black jersey, but the real battle was yet to come.
As the race hit the 10.8km finishing climb, UAE Team ADQ took control, with Karlijn Swinkels whittling the peloton down to a select group of 20. Silvia Persico set the pace for Longo Borghini, who bided her time until the perfect moment to strike. Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) initiated the attacks, but it was Longo Borghini and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) who took center stage. Niewiadoma-Phinney briefly surged ahead, only to be overtaken by the Italian champion, who then launched her decisive move with 2.7km remaining.
Here’s where it gets controversial: While Longo Borghini’s victory was undeniable, Niewiadoma-Phinney’s relentless pursuit—nearly bridging back to her rival—raises questions. Could the Polish champion have closed the gap with a different strategy? Or was Longo Borghini simply unstoppable on this day? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Meanwhile, behind the leaders, Femke de Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco) battled for position. Trinca Colonel’s late attack on the final ramp secured her second place on the stage and in the GC, overtaking De Vries thanks to bonus seconds. Eleonora Ciabocco (Picnic PostNL) claimed the white jersey as the best U23 rider, while Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) dominated the green points jersey with three stage wins. Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto took home the team classification, capping off an unforgettable edition of the UAE Tour Women.
But the real question remains: Is Elisa Longo Borghini the greatest rider of her generation? Or is there still room for others to challenge her dominance? Share your opinions below—we’d love to hear from you!
