Elisa Longo Borghini finished fourth in the women’s elite road race at the UEC Road European Championships, held today in Slovenia over 130 kilometres from Ljubljana to Šenčur.
Just one week after claiming the bronze medal at the World Championships in Montréal, the Italian once again found herself among the strongest riders in the race, fighting for a place on the podium.
As in Montréal, the European title went to Demi Vollering. The Dutch rider made her decisive move with 15 kilometres to go after a strong team effort from the Netherlands, riding clear of the field and going on to claim another major victory.
Puck Pieterse completed a Dutch one-two, taking the silver medal in the sprint ahead of Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser. Longo Borghini finished fourth after remaining in the group of immediate chasers that contested the remaining podium places.
The Italian entered the final corner in contention for a medal, but a crash involving Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma disrupted the sprint, forcing Germany’s Antonia Niedermaier to slow down and affecting Longo Borghini’s final acceleration as well.
“I made a mistake in the last corner,” said Longo Borghini. “I wanted to come out in second position, but Niewiadoma’s crash pushed me towards the outside after a slight contact. The mistake was mine in terms of positioning, and it cost me the medal. I’m a little disappointed with myself for that, but that’s how it went.”
(ph. @facepeeters)
