COMANO TERME – "When I saw the last kilometer, I said, 'I'm going to beat them now!' I always think that if you're not convinced you can win a race," Elisa Longo Borghini blurts out in one breath, "it's better not to start." And above all, if you're not convinced in the last kilometer, it's better not to even sprint.».
Three, the perfect number
Six in the afternoon, three days later victory in the time trial. The Italian women's championship ended half an hour ago and now Elisa finds the time to stop and tell usFor the Piedmontese, it's a poker of double wins in the time trial and the road. The race was a headache, with a series of empty sprints without apparent lucidity, which instead were being implemented the subtle plan of the three girls of the Trek-Segafredo.
Yaya Sanguineti she took the group on her shoulders and set his sights on the morning escape. Gaia Realini she's exhausted with attacks, playing his card, but also preparing the ground for Longo. And then Elisa, in this new killer dimension, approached the sprint with impressive clarity.
«Yesterday I looked again Velasco's sprint – says the Piedmontese – and I told myself that to win a sprint with Persico I would have to do something similar. I watched it several times. I analyzed it. And I tried to make it the same.It didn't go very well for me, because he won by a landslide, while I was literally neck and neck with Silvia, but it went well like this."
Jacopo's help
The post-race experience was a rollercoaster of emotions. While Elisa was changing, he arrived in a hurry Jacopo Fly. Sweaty and exhausted, he confirmed that his companion had already christened the final sprint, while he was convinced that he would attack on the descent.
«Before, in the sprints – says Elisa – I started out defeated, but now I've improved a lot on a technical level. I owe a lot to Jacopo because he let me play in trainingIt may seem silly, but sprints to town signs, the same ones that rookies usually do, help a lot. Technique is very important, how you sprint, what position you are inHe did a lot and I thank him for that too."
On stage, surrounded by her parents, her brother Paolo and her children, Elisa thanked for her family, for her grandchildren who kept her cheerful during the difficult spring. And he gave thanks for his own life, with a smile that was a hymn to joy. Touching, we admit.
But Silvia Persico was faster on paper…
She is a very strong girl who should never be underestimated. She has seven lives like cats and I always have to anticipate herI've already seen it at Flanders (Elisa came third and Perch fourth, ed.) and I was lucky this time too. Every now and then it's okay for me.
Gaia Realini did an amazing job.
Today I had a numerically small team, but with a big heart. Ilaria and Gaia supported me very wellWe wanted to go strong on the penultimate lap, to attack. I initially went away with Cavalli and then told Gaia to play her cards. I saw her as very strong and the way she's going this season, she also deserved the tricolor jersey.
Usually when a team has two leaders there is always the risk of jealousy: what is the basis of your understanding?
At the basis of everything there is sincerity. We both know what our characteristics areI know that Gaia is an excellent climber and she knows she can count on me for everything else (smiles, ed.). Gaia will have many opportunities and I hope to be a great support for her in the future too.And she knows very well that when I aim for something, she is ready to help me. It's a great relationship, built during this season, in the various retreats we've done, even at high altitude.Gaia knows she can count on me and I know I can count on her.
Gaia left alone, but Persico had her in his sights.
The moment we took it back, I tried to tire Silvia a little and take advantage of the work of Martha Cavalli. And then I told Gaia again to keep going. I don't know why, but Every now and then you feel like you're winning. And today I felt like I was going to win..
Was it so clear that this wasn't a path to get there alone?
Yesterday it was seen that This climb makes the difference, but strong climbers always stay togetherThere's a tough section, which I called "from the sixth sign to the house" (laughs, ed.), which then becomes very easy to ride and therefore helps you get back or at least catch your breath. A single rider could finish, but he had to make a big difference and the people behind him had to be dead. I hoped so when Gaia was in front, but they took her back. And so the sprint scenario took shape in my head.
Eleven Italian national team jerseys: what could be the dream goal now?
I like cycling, it makes me happy. Every competition is an opportunity to win and I am a competitor inside, I like to win even when I play chess. Or I have to let my team win. It's something you're born with, so my dream is the rainbow jersey.I don't know if I'll ever reach it, maybe I can help a classmate of mine reach it. It would already be a lot, but since it has already happened, it wouldn't be bad if I won it once..
The new tricolor jersey will now go to the Giro, then to the Tour, but with a new sponsor.
I want to honour the Giro as best I can and then I will wear the jersey at the Tour. It's the last tricolor jersey for Segafredo, which I thank for having supported us for so many years, and it is the first for Lidl. It will be exciting to start these two races wearing the Italian flag, because National champions are always watched, sometimes it's even embarrassing, but it's nice for me to carry the flag of my nation on my shoulders.
The flowers on the bike brighten up the room. Her grandchildren are waiting for her outside.Jacopo Mosca followed the interviews with a smile, easing the bitterness of not being called up to the Tour. It was a perfect evening, the only shame being that—despite the much-vaunted equality between women and men—so many journalists left after the professional race. Elisa says that because of the heat she would now go and throw herself into the river in her villageA light breeze gives passersby a break. She disappears, and all we can do is write.
