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Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Elisa Longo Borghini finished in fifth place in today’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the opening event of the Belgian road season, after having been away in a two-rider break from the race’s halfway point. The Italian Time Trial Champion got away over the steep, cobbled climb of the Paterberg, along with Dutch rider Ellen van Dijk (Sunweb) and the two riders were clear until they were caught by a five-rider chase with just over 20km to go. 
Van Dijk’s teammate Lucinda Brand managed to escape the group to take the victory, with Chantal Blaak (Boels-Dolmans) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) sprinting for second and third behind her. “For me it was a big day today,” Longo Borghini said at the finish. “I was already alone with van Dijk after the Paterberg. I tried to drop her on the Molenberg - and I could - but she came back on the flat. I tried again on the Paddestraat, but she was strong. She’s a specialist in these races, and for me the finish is way too flat here.” While they were alone in the lead, with their advantage stretching out to more than a minute, Longo Borghini repeatedly tried to escape her Dutch rival. The flatter race finale meant that, not only was the Italian unable to break free, but the five-rider chase group was able to catch up. 
Although she missed out on the race podium, however, Longo Borghini’s obvious good form over the cobbles and climbs of Flanders augurs well for the tough spring season to come. “There were several attacks; Sunweb had two riders, and they could play the game,” Longo Borghini explained. “I tried what I could, I tried an attack, but in the end I have to admit I was pretty tired. It’s my first race of the season here, and I really couldn’t expect to be so good. “So I’m jut happy about my result, even though we didn’t get what we wanted to achieve today, which was the victory. “Hopefully for April I will be fine.” 
While Longo Borghini was in the lead group, her Wiggle High5 team teammates were sat poised in the main peloton behind her. Former Belgian Champion, and Ghent native, Jolien D’hoore took the sprint for seventh place as the bunch crossed the line, 1’47” behind the winner. Result
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