Elisa Longo Borghini will goal a second consecutive Giro d’Italia Women victory in 2025, eager so as to add her identify to the spectacular ‘Infinita’ winner’s trophy for a second time.
The Italian nationwide champion has moved to a management function at UAE Team ADQ to get out of her ‘consolation zone’ created throughout her six years at Lidl-Trek however needs to win a second maglia rosa earlier than going into the Tour de France Femmes and the World Championships in Rwanda.
“I wish to be at my greatest for the Giro and easily hope to do my greatest. If my greatest means I win, then that is nice,” Longo Borghini revealed on the Giro d’Italia Women route presentation in Rome on Monday.
“I just like the route quite a bit. It’s open to numerous ways and race eventualities. It fits my talents fairly properly too.
“I particularly like the ultimate Imola stage. I misplaced the world title there in 2020 and wish to make up for that. I hope to have extra ‘grinta’ and so do higher than a podium inserting.”
A video montage proven throughout Monday’s route presentation captured Longo Borghini’s feelings after she began the ultimate stage only one second forward of Lotte Kopecky. She attacked on the climb to the end in L’Aquila to win the Maglia Rosa by 21 seconds.
Longo Borghini first rode the Giro in 2011 and completed on the rostrum in 2020 and 2017. She was second general in 2023 when she crashed out, making her 2024 victory much more important. She additionally grew to become the primary Italian winner since Fabiana Luperini in 2008.
“Winning in L’Aquila final 12 months, carrying the maglia rosa from begin to end after which sealing victory on the ultimate stage was unbelievable, it was the perfect win of my profession,” she revealed.
“I often do not watch any of my wins, so it was particular to see it on the presentation. It all helps me realise that I gained the Giro and makes me emotional.”
The 2025 Giro d’Italia Women might be held between July 6-13 and consists of eight phases together with a time trial, three summit finishes at Aprica, Valdobbiadene and Monte Nerone and a ultimate hilly stage across the Imola circuit that hosted the 2020 World Championships. The Tour de France Femmes comes simply two weeks later from July 26-August 3, forcing Longo Borghini and her rivals to make some troublesome choices.
Longo Borghini has endured a love-hate relationship with the Tour de France Femmes, abandoning in 2023 attributable to a pores and skin an infection after which not beginning in 2024 after a coaching crash shortly earlier than the beginning. In 2025 she needs to rebuild her love for the Tour.
“The Tour de France is on my calendar but it surely’s in second place behind the Giro due to the love I’ve for my residence race and since I gained final 12 months,” she defined.
“Winning the 2024 Giro has given me loads of ‘grinta’ and willpower. The strain is off my shoulders now, I’ve gained the Giro. Now it is as much as everybody else to really feel the strain.”
Longo Borghini will quickly go to Mount Teide for pre-season altitude coaching after which make her season debut within the new UAE Team ADQ colors on the UAE Tour in February. She will then goal Strade Bianche in early March, the spring Classics and the Ardennes, particularly Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
