Elisa Longo Borghini has confirmed herself as the Italian Elite Women’s Road Champion. A formidable performance from the 33-year-old from Piedmont, riding for UAE Team ADQ, who once again showcased her class today in Darfo Boario Terme, securing the tricolour jersey on her shoulders.
It was a brilliant individual victory for Elisa, but also a stellar team performance from her entire team, who controlled the race with authority and perfectly set the stage for their captain’s solo attack. On the climb of Colle Maddalena, the pace set by the UAE Team ADQ riders caused the first major selection in the front group. Left in the lead were Elisa Longo Borghini, Monica Trinca Colonel (Team Liv AlUla Jayco), and Eleonora Ciabocco (Team Picnic PostNL).
The trio worked together for several kilometres until, on the first of three ascents of the Muro di Cornaleto – around 30 km from the finish – Longo Borghini launched her attack, dropped her breakaway companions, and began her triumphant solo ride. A bit of drama came near the end when a puncture forced her to change bikes. But Elisa remained composed, got back on her bike, and despite losing about twenty seconds, she pushed on, regained time on Trinca Colonel, and crossed the finish line in Darfo Boario Terme solo and victorious.
Elisa Longo Borghini said: “Winning this Italian Championship is very emotional because it’s the first tricolour jersey I’ve won with UAE Team ADQ, and honestly, today was a true team victory. It’s never easy to start as favourites, but we weren’t afraid to embrace that role. From the beginning, we took control of the race – Pellegrini and Venturelli kept a high pace early on, and I truly want to compliment them because they’re two young and very promising riders who we’ll definitely see at the top in the future. Then we pushed hard on the Bienno climb with Magnaldi, Marturano, and Persico, and Gasparrini was assigned to mark Elisa Balsamo. Almost unexpectedly, our pace was so high that only three of us remained in the front. I tried at first to take advantage of the work from my breakaway companions, and then, as planned, I attacked on the first of the three Cornaleto ascents. I was alone from there, and in the end, I managed to win. Everything went as planned, and despite a small mishap at the end, everything turned out perfectly. I’m truly happy to bring this jersey to UAE Team ADQ.”
Behind, in the chasing group, Eleonora Gasparrini finished in fifth place.
Meanwhile, at the Polish National Championships, Dominika Wlodarczyk claimed the silver medal, finishing just behind Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Canyon//SRAM.
