Elisa Longo Borghini returns to racing in style: solo victory at Brabantse Pijl!
Just 12 days after her crash at the Tour of Flanders, which resulted in a concussion, Elisa Longo Borghini made her return to competition today – and did so in spectacular fashion.
After a rapid recovery and clearance from UAE Team ADQ’s medical staff, the Italian national champion claimed a stunning solo victory at De Brabantse Pijl – La Flèche Brabançonne, attacking with 10 kilometers to go.
Right from the start, Elisa rode aggressively and always stayed at the front of the race. She launched several attacks and played a key role in animating the race. The decisive move came on the Holstheide climb, where she powered away from her rivals and never looked back, crossing the finish line in Overijse with a well-deserved solo win.
This marks her fourth victory of the season, and with today’s success, she becomes the first woman ever to win Brabantse Pijl twice, having also triumphed in 2024.
There was also a strong performance by Eleonora Gasparrini, who sprinted to fourth place behind Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Femke Gerritse (Team SD Worx – Protime).
Today’s victory was the result of a brilliant team effort. Sofia Bertizzolo and Maeva Squiban controlled the early part of the race, Brodie Chapman was active in a key breakaway, and both Silvia Persico and Eleonora Gasparrini worked to position Elisa perfectly for her winning move.
At the finish line, Elisa said: “I’m really proud to be back racing like this. Thinking back to where I was on April 6th – in a hospital bed with a concussion and no idea when I could return – makes today feel even more special. Thankfully, with the incredible support of the whole team and especially the medical staff, I recovered quickly. We had a clear plan today, and we executed it perfectly. I had five amazing teammates who worked so hard for me, and I’m truly grateful. I’m proud to be part of UAE Team ADQ.”
(ph. @gettysport)
