ELISA LONGO BORGHINI
WINNER IN 2015
Vi c tory in Oudenaarde after a long range move was Longo Borghini’s biggest win to date, where she finished ahead of teammate Jolie D’Hoore.
That victory in 2015 is my highlight of that year. I don’t really understand now how I managed it, but I just went by instinct and went solo, which is the best way for me to win a race.
We knew that Jolien D’Hoore was a good card for a sprint, and I could play my cards and try to win the race, so it worked pretty well.
I attacked after the Kanarieberg. It was one of those moments you just don’t think. It was a bit messy in the bunch because there were several attacks going on and everybody was getting ready for the Hotond because it’s a crucial point, and I was like, ‘Okay, now I go.’
I didn’t really think about anything else other than winning. I thought that if I could pass the Kwaremont with 50 seconds I could get to the finish and then as soon as I left Kwaremont, I saw my brother and he said I had 58 seconds. I said, ‘Okay, now I can really win.’
You know those moments: you’re just in your own zone and you focus on your pedal strokes and your cadence; you don’t really think about anything else.
I was really, really really scared to put my arms in the air. I tried at 200 metres and then thought, ‘No, what if they catch me? Better to pedal a little bit more.’ Then I lifted my hands only 50 metres before the finish line and I started crying.”