The French national champion had to wear Canadian championship bibs at the UAE Tour

French road and time trial champion Audrey Cordon-Ragot normally wears a slick tricolour kit made by her team, Zaaf, but on Friday, she had to make a slight costume change. When the team arrived at the start of the second stage, a 133-km race from Dhafra Castle to Al Mirfa, she realized she forgot her kit. Since the race began quite far away from the hotel, there was no choice but to improvise.

She did have a long sleeve jersey she could wear, but alas, no bibs.

Thankfully, her teammate Maggie Coles-Lyster (and also national champion) had a pair of Canadian national championship shorts in her race bag.

Maggie Coles-Lyster has unveiled her 2023 national championship kit

“I realized that I had forgotten my skinsuit once I arrived at the start,” Cordon-Ragot said. “There was a two-hour drive so it was impossible to turn around. My teammate Maggie Coles-Lyster is always prepared and happened to have extra shorts in her backpack. Luckily, I had a jersey with me, but only long-sleeved. So I had to use that.”

Du vent, du sable et à l’avant dans les bordures ! ?

? Oups, le maillot manches longues et le cuissard de @M_ColesLyster parce que j’ai oublié ma combinaison à l’hôtel. Mais l’habit ne fait pas le moine, on peut quand même être devant ?#UAETourWomen l @ZaafCyclingTeam pic.twitter.com/avDS89oeu8

— Audrey CORDON-RAGOT (@CordonRagot) February 10, 2023

Lorena Wiebes Team SD Worx won the stage, and Cordon-Ragot finished in the pack at 43rd. Coles-Lyster (in her Canadian national championship kit) finished 18th on the day.

The French rider did joke on Twitter on the following stage that she made sure she had her kit pack for the day.

Prête pour l’étape reine #UAETourWomen. Et cette fois, @M_ColesLyster n’a pas oublié de mettre ma combinaison dans mon sac… ?? #MauvaiseFoi ?@ZaafCyclingTeam l #LesRP pic.twitter.com/WIg30eFl2y

— Audrey CORDON-RAGOT (@CordonRagot) February 11, 2023