For the seventh time in her career and for the fourth consecutive year, Elisa Longo Borghini is the Italian Elite Road Race Champion. The UAE Team ADQ leader successfully defended her tricolore jersey with an outstanding solo victory over the 120-kilometre course in Pordenone.
It was a triumph built on a superb team performance. Alongside Longo Borghini, UAE Team ADQ lined up Silvia Persico, Eleonora Gasparrini, Erica Magnaldi, Greta Marturano, Federica Venturelli and UAE Development Team’s young talent Giada Silo.
The team took control of the race as soon as the peloton entered the finishing circuit featuring the climb to Castello di Caneva. UAE Team ADQ set a relentless pace on every ascent, gradually reducing the front group and eliminating the fastest sprinters from contention.
The decisive move came on the final ascent. After a tremendous effort by Erica Magnaldi and one last powerful pull from Silvia Persico, Longo Borghini launched her attack. Letizia Paternoster and Monica Trinca Colonel initially responded, but another acceleration from the defending champion proved decisive. Longo Borghini gradually extended her advantage over Trinca Colonel before crossing the finish line alone in Pordenone.
She secured her seventh Italian Elite road race title with an 18-second advantage over Monica Trinca Colonel, while Eleonora Gasparrini sprinted to fifth place from the first chasing group, 1 minute and 50 seconds behind.
The day also brought another outstanding result for UAE Development Team, with 19-year-old Giada Silo delivering an excellent performance. After winning the sprint of the second chasing group, she finished inside the overall top 15 and claimed the silver medal in the Women’s Under 23 category.
Elisa Longo Borghini said: “It was an incredibly hot day and a very demanding race. Over the final 25 kilometres, when I was alone at the front, there were long straight roads where I had to keep pushing as hard as I could. I dug deep, I felt really good today, and I managed to hold on all the way to the finish.
I’m extremely happy with this victory and especially proud to wear the Italian champion’s jersey for another year. It means a great deal to me.
I want to sincerely thank all my teammates. We knew we had to make the race as hard as possible because the Castello di Caneva climb wasn’t selective enough on its own. We set a very high pace on every lap, and especially on the final climb. Their incredible work set up my attack and made this victory possible. This win belongs to them as much as it belongs to me, because without my teammates I wouldn’t have been able to win today.”
Giada Silo said: “I’m really happy because I honestly wasn’t expecting to finish on the podium. My first priority was to do my job for the team, and I’m pleased that I was able to stay in the race and fight for the Under 23 podium. This silver medal gives me a lot of confidence and motivation for the rest of the season.”
Karlijn Swinkels finished eighth in the road race at the Dutch National Championships.
(ph. Flaviano Ossola)
