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Ripping a page from Lizzie Deignan’s book in a historic win in 2021, Elisa Longo Borghini attacked a long way from the finish line and never looked back in the second edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes.
The Italian champion built a lead that held for the next 35 kilometers and entered the Roubaix velodrome alone to give Trek-Segafredo a second straight victory.
Elisa Longo Borghini quotes
“It’s unbelievable, you have many thoughts going around,” explained Elisa when asked what she was feeling at that moment. “You are in hell and then all of a sudden in paradise riding into the velodrome with a big history of cycling. I was thinking of my family, my boyfriend, my teammates; this is who I ride for.
“It’s been a very tough spring for me, I had sinusitis for a month, and I couldn’t perform the way I wanted,” she continued. “I knew I was worth more, which was frustrating. It was a hard time and I need to thank first of all my family and my boyfriend Jacopo (Mosca) because they are all the time keeping my morale up, and secondly my team, Trek-Segafredo because they still had faith in me even though I didn’t perform the way I was supposed to. They brought me to this race even though I said I was not ready, but they kept saying, ‘You are more than ready, and we know you are capable of doing this.’ I have to say they were right.
“With sinusitis you can’t really breathe and in cycling breathing is everything. So I had to take a step back to make two forward. So I skipped Amstel Gold and Brabantse Pijl and I was able to get rid of the infection with antibiotics. And in the end, if I feel good, I win,” laughed Elisa.
“Honestly, I wish I could bring all of my teammates to the podium today because it was a great team performance today and I need to thank them all. Lucinda was perfect, and everyone was there where they needed to be in every sector. We were a determined squad and ready for everything today. It was a huge team performance, and without them I would not win any single race.
“And also, this is a little bit for Elisa Balsamo who was disqualified, but sometimes in the race you grab a sticky bottle,” she continued, referring to the illegal move in a chase back from a puncture by her teammate. “The rule is the rule, but you still feel a little bit sorry.”
ABOVE PHOTO ©Sprint Cycling
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