Elisa Longo Borghini completed third within the World Championships highway race for a 3rd time in her profession however was nonetheless smiling regardless of Demi Vollering ending her late solo assault.
The 32-year-old Italian was third in Imola in 2020 and third in 2012 in Valkenburg. She has quite a few different placings on her palmares however the rainbow jersey escaped her but once more in Zurich.
“I actually needed to have enjoyable and I did, in order that makes me pleased. I additionally got here for the victory and I went for the win. It did not occur however I am very glad,” Longo Borghini stated sportingly.
Longo Borghini was by no means afraid to reply to the various assaults from the Netherlands and even went for it herself, hurting a lot of her rivals and guaranteeing that Lotte Kopecky needed to battle to get again on after which produce an outstanding dash to win.
Longo Borghini described herself an ‘endurance rider’ and he or she is aware of she isn’t quick in a dash end. She dedicated to creating a solo assault with six kilometres to go, bought away and even thought the world title was inside her grasp.
“For a break up second I believed I may win. However there have been a number of different individuals who had been actually wanted to win the race, they closed me down,” Longo Borghini stated, referring to Demi Vollering.
The 2023 Tour de France winner was additionally aggressive on the climbs because the Dutch riders appeared to experience for themselves relatively than collectively.
Longo Borghini opened a 100-metre benefit however Vollering ended her hopes on the final gradual climb of the race. Vollering’s effort additionally arguably ruined her personal probabilities of success.
“I believe Vollering was determined to win the race,” Longo Borghini stated, with a touch of frustration.
“Unluckily for me, she closed the hole on me too. However that is bike racing.”
Within the six-rider dash for the rainbow jersey, Longo Borghini once more performed to her strengths however was once more crushed.
“I simply knew I needed to go for an extended dash as a result of I had drained legs,” she defined.
“It was higher to play my playing cards that manner. I do know I am an endurance rider and different folks had been struggling. Perhaps I may have received or possibly not however I needed to finish up on the rostrum.”
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