Elisa Longo Borghini made a confident return to competition today, claiming a top-10 finish at the Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria in Spain. The Italian national champion crossed the line in ninth place after a strong team effort and an encouraging performance on the final climb.
Silvia Persico, Greta Marturano, Alena Ivanchenko, and Federica Venturelli played a key role in the closing kilometers, staying together and protecting Longo Borghini in the lead-up to the decisive moments.
At one point, Longo Borghini even moved to the front of the bunch to test her legs – a clear sign of her fighting spirit despite the recent break from racing. Given the time off, this was a reassuring result. Her form will continue to improve with each race.
The 113-kilometer race, which both started and finished in Durango, was won by Canadian rider Isabella Holmgren (Lidl–Trek).
(ph. @gettysport)
