Italian Champion drops breakaway companion Vollering on penultimate climb to add De Brabantse Pijl to her palmarès
Italian Champion Longo Borghini put on a masterclass performance to win De Brabantse Pijl for the first time in her career. After launching a big attack on the Moskesstraat with 50km to go, Longo Borghini established a steady, albeit short advantage in a small group at the hear of the race. After whittling down the group, she dropped her final breakaway companion, Demi Vollering, on the penultimate climb with 7.5km to go. From there, Elisa was able to solo to victory, eventually crossing the line 41 seconds ahead, giving her plenty of time to savor the moment.
Speaking moments after the finish, Elisa Longo Borghini said: “It was a very strong team performance, as we showed in Flanders. Today we really wanted to have a kind of open race, but we planned an attack at kilometer 85, and then we did it again on the Moskesstraat. This victory is for my husband, Jacopo [Mosca] who is on Teide training, because of a joke with the Moskesstraat and his surname. I hope to see him very soon!
We planned our first attack with the Team and we had a really good leadout. It’s a big credit today to my teammates, everyone was really committed to do well. We were relaxed but really determined to win this race. We did our best and succeeded.
Demi looked really strong and she did a good race, she’s a rider that I have a lot of respect for. Today I was stronger, maybe tomorrow, she is stronger.
I set a big goal during the winter which I have been training towards, and that is Liège. Of course, every race is different and special. I will try to do my best there. In the Ardennes I will try to be there for the Team; in Flèche for Gaia and in Amstel for Shirin.”
