SIENA – Excluding, knowing her, that she would have retired, When Elisa Longo Borghini stops after the finish line, it's immediately clear that she's not feeling well at allShe has the lost eyes of someone who doesn't understand what happened and admits she still has something. All around is the chaos of Piazza del Campo, even sixteen minutes after the first ones arrived. The faces are dusty, some manage to smile, but as soon as Elisa starts speaking, just look at the splashes on the frame to imagine the hell that the race was for her.
«Honestly I don't know – he says – I was fine, but From one moment to the next I started vomiting and I never stopped. Then I no longer had the energy to continue. I completely shut down, it was a bit like what happened in Paris. I didn't understand what could have happened, I just know that I haven't been able to eat or drink anymore and I still don't feel well at all.».
Silvia Persico's gesture
With about forty kilometers to go, Longo Borghini dropped out, finding herself in a position not suited to those still hoping to win. Shortly after, she arrived at his side Silvia PersianThey talked. Then the woman from Bergamo put her hand on her neck. She said something else, he hugged her and went back up trying to play the cards he still had available.
«Elisa wasn't feeling well today – says Persico after having quenched her thirst, with her face caked in dust – I tried to keep her spirits up as much as possible, but unfortunately she wasn't having a good day.I realized it after Tolfe. When he gave me the all-clear, I was already tired. I'd already re-entered twice, having changed bikes in the first sector. I re-entered in the second, while in the fourth I had to stop due to a puncture. So I tried to give my best, but it was always a race to catch up.I feel a little sorry for the team; maybe their expectations were different. But unfortunately, when it's not your day, it's not your day. The race was tough, there wasn't even a moment to recoverBut now the important thing is that Elisa is well. She's a great champion, it's a shame because she was doing great."
The mother's embrace
It was whispered, while waiting for Longo Borghini to be able to having paid for being descended from the height a few days agoHowever, it was enough to look at her face and talk to her to understand that that factor probably had nothing to do with it.
"I have the flu," he says as he heads for the bus. "I must have something, I'm sick. I've had some serious stomach problems and luckily, 20 kilometers from the finish, when I was alone, I found some companions who gave me support to get to the top of Santa Caterina».
Before leaving, in the middle of the starting grid, Elisa had golden words for Sara Piffer and a thought for his familyHe was in excellent spirits, fit, and smiling. Now, however, he trudges away, having to climb the slope of Piazza del Campo to reach the bus at the Fortezza Medicea. He recognizes his father at the barrier, gestures, and tells him they'll see each other later. Instead the mother leans out. “The General,” as her daughter calls her, whispers something in her ear and she wants to keep it away because she knows she’s dirty. Guidina hugs her, tells her something and then lets her goElisa leaves the barrier area, the audience opens up, cheers her, applauds and watches her disappear. We were hoping for something better, let's hope it was an isolated incident and that the Trofeo Binda and the Milan-Sanremo will have the best Longo Borghini at the start. We all need that.
