‘I was not at my very best level but I fought hard’ – Longo Borghini still satisfied after La Vuelta Femenina third

Elisa Longo Borghini may have dropped from second to third on the overall during the final stage of the La Vuelta Femenina, but is still walking away from the first part of the season satisfied and with the lead in the Women’s WorldTour. 

The Italian champion entered the Spanish tour as co-leader with Gaia Realini, after having delivered a run of podiums through the spring which included victory at the Tour of Flanders. However, it turned out not to be an easy path through La Vuelta Femenina for the Lidl-Trek team, which lost Ellen van Dijk and Realini to crashes. That meant Longo Borghini, who already a tiring solid block of racing behind her, was left to try and defend second with a depleted squad and without her key climbing ally.