OUDENAARDE (Belgium) – You know that nastiness, clearly sporting, that shows on your face? When you're sure of something and that it will happen? Here, today Elisa Longo Borghini it was all of this. And the sprint on the final straight of the Tour of Flanders was the emblem of all this. The Ronde 2024 is his.
And she also tells us: "This morning on the bus I was mean." And we: "But we saw you serene, smiling..." She again: "I couldn't let myself be seen as mean to those around me, but I was... believe me."
Lidl-Trek in control
The women, more than the men, were exposed to rain and wind all day. Heavy, continuous downpours. The walls were a mudslide, so much so that even the girls set foot on the steep Koppenberg.
In a convulsive finale, the Lidl Trek plays his cards well. Even though in the kilometers leading to the finish line we didn't understand why, two against one, Shirin van Anrooij and precisely Elisa, against Katarzyna Niewiadoma, they didn't start sprinting repeatedly. Until that masterful sprint: a combination of strength and determination.
After the podium, while signing the event shirts, as tradition dictates, Elisa rewinds the tape and tells her story.
«My race – says Longo Borghini – didn't start in the best way. I had a puncture and fell, Precisely because I had a puncture on a corner. But the whole team, both the athletes and the team car staff, were always very helpful. They took me back to the Koppenberg and there I made the main effort of the day».
Feeling Van Anrooij
But then his partner, Shirin van Anrooij, was in front of him. What should he do? Jeroen Blijlevens, the sporting director of Lidl-Trek, probably sees that the Dutchman is not giving any certainties. and so he gives the green light to Longo Borghini.
“Jeroen told me I could go too,” Longo Borghini continues, “and the two of us met up with Niewiadoma and the collaboration was really good. Much respect to Kasia for working with us. And then I was so confident I'd win the sprint: I don't know why, since I'm normally not very fast. But, you know, in these scenarios where the race is long and people are tired, what really comes out is your efficiency. And often the freshest one wins. And I still felt fresh."
Shirin and Elisa are not only teammates, but also roommates. And they studied the final part of the race carefully, watching and rewatching videos of the Kwaremont-Pateberg sequence. But as we all know, there's a difference between saying and doing...
"We knew that if we gained 30 seconds on the bends between the two walls, we could win the Tour of Flanders. The problem is that SD Worx worked hard throughout the entire Kwaremont and the gap narrowed."
As a team player, Longo Borghini thanks all the girls by naming them and dedicating a thought also to Lizzie Deignan, who fell and also broke her arm.
Testand heart
Elisa then takes us on the saddle with her for the final 3,000 meters of this masterful and very wet race. She explains how her mind and heart worked together so perfectly.
«I still knew that we should have pushed hard because the gap was really small. We couldn't really play or watch each other. In my mind, I was saying, 'Elisa, you know what to do. You've been through a lot, now you feel good: win!'"
The Piedmontese also spoke about the great work done by the team car. The constant updates from its sporting director: "After the Koppenberg," the coach told her, "we'll see how we're doing and I'll give you instructions on how to drive."
«And it was nice to pedal like this – Elisa continues – Ina Teutenberg and Jeroen are working really well together. They planned this Flanders down to the smallest detail."
For Slongo
But staying on the subject of the heart Longo Borghini expressly dedicated this prestigious victory to his historic coach: Paul Slongo. The one who rebuilt it after a difficult season.
"Paolo," she explains, "always believed I could come back stronger. Sometimes I called him and asked: 'But will I really be able to go back to the way I was before?” I told him that it wasn't possible and he instead reassured me, He told me not to worry. 'You'll be stronger than you expect.' I'm sure he's on the couch laughing and rejoicing now."
The Slongo-Longo Borghini duo is a successful duo. The two have been collaborating for years and the Venetian coach is reaping the recognition he deserves with Elisa. He works behind the scenes, but Paolo is always there.
Roubaix suddenly
Before we say goodbye the Roubaix issue emerges, which in theory should not have emerged. The cobblestone classic wasn't on Longo Borghini's agenda. And in fact, she replies with a slightly uncertain, yet amused expression.
"Is it possible to dream about Roubaix too? I shouldn't have done it. I was listed as a reserve, but with Lizzie's accident today I think I'll probably race on April 7th. I still don't know much, though. We'll debrief with the team, and then I'll follow the instructions. Honestly, right now I have no idea what's going to happen."
This news is a little bomb. So much so that At this point Elisa didn't even know whether she would return to Italy or not. "I don't know, I have to do some reconnaissance or go home."
Roubaix now seems far away, even if it isn't: now is the time to celebrate. And all things considered for us Italians today it was a really good Flanders: second Luca Mozzato, first Elisa Longo Borghini. A beer for everyone!
