After winning the world title in the Mixed Relay Team Time Trial, Elisa Longo Borghini claimed another medal at the UCI Road World Championships in Montréal.
Following a spectacular race in which she was one of the main protagonists throughout, the Italian took bronze in the elite women’s road race, securing the fourth World Championship bronze medal of her career in the discipline.
The rainbow jersey went to Dutch rider Demi Vollering, who took the victory ahead of Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma. Longo Borghini completed the podium after a remarkable performance, showing great courage and repeatedly attacking during the decisive stages of the race.
Dominika Wlodarczyk also delivered an excellent performance, finishing eighth, while Maeva Squiban crossed the line in ninth. Three UAE Team L’IMAD riders therefore finished in the World Championship top 10.
The 180.1-kilometre course featured approximately 2,570 metres of elevation gain. After a mainly flat opening section through the Montérégie region, the race entered Montréal, where the riders tackled the Mont Royal circuit eight times, including the climbs of Camillien-Houde and Chemin de la Polytechnique, before the demanding final stretch towards Avenue du Parc.
UAE Team L’IMAD lined up with nine riders: four representing Italy – Elisa Longo Borghini, Silvia Persico, Eleonora Gasparrini and Erica Magnaldi – alongside Spain’s Mavi Garcia and Paula Blasi, Dutch rider Karlijn Swinkels, Poland’s Dominika Wlodarczyk and France’s Maeva Squiban.
A race full of action
The opening part of the race was marked by a breakaway, with the Netherlands controlling the situation at the front of the peloton.
The first major turning point came with 95 kilometres to go, when a large crash brought several riders down, including Paula Blasi, who was forced to abandon the race but escaped serious consequences. The peloton split, leaving around 30 riders in the front group before further riders managed to bridge the gap.
With 52 kilometres remaining, Maeva Squiban launched a solo attack. The French rider built a lead of around 40 seconds over the chasing group before the race entered its decisive phase.
At 38 kilometres from the finish, a new Dutch acceleration on the climbs ignited the battle among the leading contenders. Demi Vollering attacked and Longo Borghini tried to follow, but the Italian was eventually forced to give up a few seconds.
Vollering caught Squiban and continued alone at the front. Longo Borghini remained in the chasing group together with Puck Pieterse, Kasia Niewiadoma and Squiban. Marlen Reusser, Dominika Wlodarczyk and French riders Juliette Berthet and Céia Gery then joined the chase.
Longo Borghini launched another attack on a climb alongside Niewiadoma. The pair gradually closed the gap and, with 15 kilometres to go, caught Vollering at the front. Berthet subsequently joined them.
At the beginning of the final lap, Longo Borghini attacked once again, moving clear on the final climbs towards the finish. Vollering and Niewiadoma, however, managed to close the gap once more.
The trio moved clear, before Vollering launched another acceleration on the final climb. Longo Borghini lost a few seconds but refused to give up. She continued to chase all the way to the finish, holding off the returning Reusser to secure third place and another World Championship medal for UAE Team L’IMAD.
Elisa Longo Borghini said: “We knew Demi was the favourite and it’s only right that she won the title, but we did everything we could to make it difficult for her.”
She gave it her all as the bell rang: “I wanted to win the jersey, not just race for a placing. This bronze medal – yet another one – comes at the end of a race in which I tried to take the win, which is why it feels so special.”
(ph. Getty Sport)
