The Italian champion confirms her good condition finishing La Fléche Wallonne on the podium, her fifth podium result at a Classic race since the start of the season.
The positive series of results for the Lidl-Trek women’s team does not stop in this Classic season. Elisa Longo Borghini took third place at La Fléche Wallonne today after an epic and very complicated day. Rain, hail, even snow and a constant cold temperature marked the 2024 edition of the second race of the Ardennes treble.
Elisa crossed the finish line, atop the iconic Mur de Huy, behind Niewiadoma (Canyon-Sram) and Vollering (Sd Worx). The last few hundred meters of the last climb were the decisive point of the race, as expected, but it was the 145 kilometers that came before that made the natural selection and allowed less than ten athletes to arrive at the launching pad. A true elimination race.
©Twilcha
Elisa's reaction
It was a really hard finish, I was trying to do my job to help Gaia to the end but she told me she was not good and gave me a go, so I tried my best. It was again a good team effort today because I had all the girls around me and Gaia and they were really taking care of us, bringing us warm clothing. Thank you to them.
It’s a good satisfaction to be third in Flèche Wallonne. It was a very cold and kind of strange race. It started raining at the very beginning of the race. I’m sorry for my teammate Gaia who isn’t coping really well with the cold weather, because I think normally on this final she could win. In the end it was just a pity she couldn’t be there. On Sunday again we will probably have a really cold day and I’m looking forward to it.
I think Niewiadoma went in a perfect spot. She was the strongest today, and to be fair and honest I’m delighted she won. She’s always a fair rider and somebody I have a lot of respect for, and she deserved the win.
©Twilcha
