Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-High5) celebrated a dramatic Strade Bianche victory in rain-soaked Siena on Saturday, outfoxing Kasia Niewiadoma (WM3) and defending champion Lizzie Deignan to the Piazza del Campo finish line. The Italian was part of a five-rider breakaway that formed on the seventh of eight gravel sectors of the 127-kilometre UCI Women’s WorldTour opener.
“I think it was a thrilling finale to watch and a thrilling finale to ride,” Longo Borghini said afterwards. “This is another great victory after my two big Classics wins. It’s great to have the winner’s trophy. This is an important win for me because it’s one of the most beautiful races in the world. It’s rare. I’m very proud to have honoured the race by racing so hard.”
Longo Borghini’s ability to “race hard” was on full display during last weekend’s European season opener. The 25-year-old inspired the race-winning move at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last Saturday, ultimately finishing in fifth place. The following day, she launched a late race flyer at Omloop van het Hageland that was caught only when the bunch opened its sprint, which was eventually won by her teammate Jolien d’Hoore.
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“After Rio, I realised I don’t need to fear anyone,” said Long Borghini, bronze medallist at the 2016 Olympics. “I’ve realised my true abilities. Before I was fearful of my rivals. Now I respect them, but I’m not afraid.”
En route to her Strade Bianche victory, Longo Borghini overcame a crash on the fifth sector of the race.
“It was in the longest sector of the dirt road, on a flat part at the start,” Longo Borghini noted. “Chloe Hosking [Alé Cipollini] crashed in the middle of the road, and I couldn’t avoid her. I got back on, and Piccolo Donna [teammate Audrey Cordon] gave me her bike because we’re the same size. I got my spare bike at the end of the sector.”
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