Elisa Longo Borghini is a World Champion in the Mixed Relay Team Time Trial, helping the Italian National Team claim the gold medal at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, Canada.
The 40.6-kilometre course saw the men’s teams take to the start first, followed by the women’s teams. After a closely contested race, Italy recorded the fastest overall time to take the world title.
Together with Vittoria Guazzini, Monica Trinca Colonel, Filippo Ganna, Matteo Sobrero and Mattia Cattaneo, Elisa Longo Borghini made an important contribution to the Italian victory, with the team finishing 8 seconds ahead of France and 20 seconds ahead of Switzerland.
Two other UAE Team L’IMAD riders also took part in the event: Paula Blasi finished sixth with Spain, 1:11 behind the winners, while Dominika Wlodarczyk finished eighth with Poland, 1:49 behind.
It was also a particularly significant day for Elisa Longo Borghini on a personal level. With today’s participation, the Italian reached 27 race appearances at the UCI Road World Championships, becoming the Italian cyclist with the most World Championship participations in history.
The Mixed Relay victory also earned Longo Borghini, 34, the first rainbow jersey of her career.
Elisa Longo Borghini said: “I am very happy. It is an honour for me to race with my teammates. We have been chasing this gold medal for a long time and I personally really like this discipline, so I am extremely happy to have been able to win. It is my first rainbow jersey and it is special to be able to share it with all my teammates. It is something truly special. We will enjoy this moment and now look ahead to the next appointments.”
(ph. Getty Sport)
