Elisa Longo Borghini Triumphs in Stage Four of 2023 Giro d’Italia Donne at Home

Last year, Elisa Longo Borghini managed to secure fourth place in the Giro d’Italia Donne, and her highest ranking was second place back in 2016. This year, she emerged victorious in the competition’s fourth stage, outpacing her rivals in a thrilling three-way dash to the finish line.

31-year-old Italian cyclist Longo Borghini savored an emotional victory on her native soil, outperforming Veronica Ewers and leaving behind the race’s reigning champion and overall leader, Annemiek van Vleuten, who placed third.

Donning the tricolore jersey as Italy’s road race and time-trial champion, an achievement she secured last month, Longo Borghini expressed her joy. “Sporting the tricolore is always a matter of pride, and winning here makes it all the more unique and special,” she said.

This victory marks her first since her team underwent rebranding to become Lidl-Trek and catapulted her to the second position in the overall race standings.

The Italian is currently 49 seconds behind the four-time champion Van Vleuten from the Netherlands, with the American Ewers trailing four seconds later.

“We began the stage planning to conserve energy considering the rigors of tomorrow’s stage. However, when I saw Annemiek launch an attack, I couldn’t resist the urge to pursue and see what might unfold,” Longo Borghini admitted.

“We managed to catch up with Veronica Ewers and went all out to the finish line. From the last 5km mark, my entire focus was on securing the stage win. The satisfaction of standing on the GC podium is immense, but my pre-race resolve remains intact – to take the Giro one day at a time.”

Stage Three of Giro d’Italia Donne 2023 saw Wiebes claim victory in a sprint finish.

Stage Four Results

1. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita/Lidl-Trek) – 3hrs 33mins 8secs

2. Veronica Ewers (USA/EF Education-Tibco-SVB) – Same time

3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned/Movistar)

4. Lorena Wiebes (Ned/Team SD Worx) – +40secs

5. Marianne Vos (Ned/Team Jumbo-Visma) – Same time

6. Chloe Dygert (US/Canyon SRAM Racing)

7. Silvia Persico (Ita/UAE Team ADQ)

8. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus/Team Jayco-AlUla)

9. Fem Van Empel (Ned/Team Jumbo-Visma)

10. Anouska Koster (Ned/Uno-X Pro Cycling)

General Classification

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned/Movistar) – 9hrs 5mins 33secs

2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita/Lidl-Trek) – +49secs

3. Veronica Ewers (USA/EF Education-Tibco-SVB) – +53secs

4. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den/FDJ-Suez) – +01min 33secs

5. Juliette Labous (Fra/DSM-Firmenich) – +01:35

6. Mavi Garcia (Spa/Liv Racing TeqFind) – +01:39

7. Ane Santesteban (Spa/Team Jayco-AlUla) – Same time

8. Marta Cavalli (Ita/FDJ-Suez)

9. Erica Magnaldi (Ita/UAE Team ADQ)

10. Gaia Realini (Ita/Lidl-Trek) – +01:43

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Elisa Longo Borghini

More about Elisa Longo Borghini

• Giro d’Italia Donne Official Site
• Elisa Longo Borghini’s Profile on UCI
• Lidl-Trek Team Overview
• Annemiek van Vleuten’s Profile on UCI
• Veronica Ewers Profile