UAE Team L'IMAD, Longo Borghini and Blasi lead UAE ambitions

UAE Team L'IMAD presented their team for the 2026 Tour de France Femmes on the shores of Lake Geneva, in Vevey, and the impression was immediate: they are one of the strongest and most complete teams in the entire startlist.

The team, which will compete under a new name and a special livery dedicated to the Grande Boucle, will be led by two-time Giro d'Italia Women's champion Elisa Longo Borghini and reigning Vuelta Femenina champion Paula Blasi . Two world-class leaders, ready to battle it out with the best in the general classification.

The start is set for Saturday in Lausanne, and the two leaders will be among the top favorites. But they're not alone: ​​the UAE L'IMAD squad also boasts Maëva Squiban , a key figure in last year's edition with two stage wins, and Dominika Włodarczyk , who finished fourth in the overall standings last year. Completing the lineup are Mavi García , who won a stage in 2025, Brodie Chapman , and Silvia Persico .

Fantasy cycling insight: with such a deep roster, UAE L'IMAD offers options on multiple fronts. Longo Borghini and Blasi are the most logical choices for the general classification, but don't underestimate Squiban for the stages and Włodarczyk as a GC outsider.

Chapman herself, competing in her second consecutive Tour, explained the team's philosophy in a press conference: "Having a diverse roster with so many riders capable of winning will be our strength. I know other teams have very clear leaders. I don't think the other teams know our strategy, and that will be our advantage."

A deliberately opaque strategy, then. Chapman joked about it: "It will remain a secret until the race is revealed. I could lie to you, but I wouldn't. My mission is very clear: I've already started bringing water bottles to my teammates."

On the preparation front, there are some things to keep an eye on for fantasy cycling. Paula Blasi had to deal with a crash at the European Championships in Spain, which prevented her from training on the time trial for a few weeks. Spain hosts the first long time trial of the Tour since 2023, and Blasi admitted: "Perhaps I haven't had the best preparation. I'll take it day by day and decide at the finish how to tackle the time trial." This is a risk to be aware of for those betting on her in the time trial.

Longo Borghini , on the other hand, has prepared herself as best she can for the heat expected next week, with temperatures likely to exceed 30 degrees Celsius. The Piedmontese veteran joked: "I think the best preparation for the heat was at the Tour de Suisse, when I suffered heat stroke. I probably adapted there." More seriously, she has been working out with saunas and hot baths, and explained her underlying motivation: "Since 2023, I've been trying to finish the Tour, and I haven't managed it. I think it's time to make peace with this race."

The real tactical conundrum is how much space will be given to Włodarczyk, Squiban, and García to pursue personal victories, given that the team will have to contend with rivals of the caliber of Demi Vollering, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney. Squiban responded with great composure: "Everyone would like to be free and a protagonist in a Tour stage. If I can, I'll be there. But if that's not possible, it's not a problem. We're ready to fight and we'll see what happens."