Giro Women, Elisa Longo Borghini’s final triumph

Closing in fourth place on the final stage, the 134-kilometer Forlì-Imola, Elisa Longo Borghini won the women’s Giro d’Italia for the second consecutive time. The 33-year-old Verbanese from Ornavasso, a UAE Team-ADQ rider, was 18 seconds ahead of Swiss Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) and 1’11” ahead of Australian Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) in the final classification.

Today’s stage was won by German Liane Lippert, Reusser’s teammate and her second partial success in this edition of the Corsa Rosa, who beat Dutchwoman Anna Van der Breggen (Team SD Worx-Protime) in a sprint. At 8 seconds, Reusser was closely marked by Longo Borghini, who finished behind her.

“It was an incredible Giro, for me and for the team – said Longo Borghini -The last eight days have been intense: we had a common goal and we achieved it. Yesterday was a fantastic stage, but the work was not finished: we had to stay focused on today’s stage, and that’s exactly what we did. I am speechless-this feeling is simply incredible”.

“I am overjoyed, winning two stages is a dream– added Lippert. “Yesterday was a bit of a disappointing day, so today we really wanted to redeem ourselves and we raced with the goal of winning. It was an honor to see Marlen work for me in the finale; she is an amazing cyclist and a special person. I knew I had to make it also to give her back her smile”.