Elisa Longo Borghini Claims Pink Jersey with Bold Move at Giro d’Italia Women
Elisa Longo Borghini of UAE Team ADQ captured the coveted pink jersey at the Giro d’Italia Women after a daring performance on the penultimate stage. The Italian cyclist executed a strategic attack alongside teammate Silvia Persico during a descent, creating a nearly minute-long lead over the peloton as they approached the final ascent of the day.
During the challenging 14.8-kilometre climb up the Monte Nerone, Longo Borghini’s lead diminished as Sarah Gigante from AG Insurance-Soudal overtook her. Despite this, Longo Borghini secured second place in the stage, propelling her into the overall lead, taking the general classification from Marlen Reusser of Movistar. “I just did my pace [on the climb]. Maybe I overdid it at the beginning, and I paid for that in the last 2 to 3 km. But sometimes you just have to dare, you just have to go,” Longo Borghini stated after being awarded the pink jersey on the podium.
Strategic Moves and Team Dynamics
The decisive move that set Longo Borghini, Persico, and Liane Lippert from Movistar apart from the peloton was spontaneous. Longo Borghini explained that their intention was merely to maintain control during the downhill section. “Silvia and I just wanted to have control in the downhill, and apparently, we went a bit too fast,” she noted. Their unexpected gap prompted them to push forward, with Longo Borghini urging her teammate, “ride it and then we see what the peloton has to do.”
Longo Borghini’s determination was evident as she fought to retain her lead. Her nephew cheered her on during the final kilometre, and she embraced him and other family members after crossing the finish line, overwhelmed with emotion. “I’m overwhelmed,” she expressed, acknowledging the support of her teammates throughout the week. “We built towards this Giro together. We shared the good moments and the bad ones… I would like to give this jersey to them because it’s ours.”
With the final stage approaching, which includes three and a half laps of the 2020 World Championships circuit in Imola, Longo Borghini goes into the decisive race with a lead of 22 seconds over Reusser. She understands that the overall victory remains uncertain. “We want to stay humble and keep our feet on the ground. There’s still a very hard stage tomorrow. We will try to defend it to the blood – and why not attack it,” she concluded, adopting a resolute stance.
As the Giro d’Italia Women heads into its final stretch, Longo Borghini’s bold tactics and team collaboration have positioned her as a strong contender for victory, making the upcoming stage an exciting culmination to this prestigious event.
