Elisa Longo Borghini secured victory in the Giro d’Italia Women, finishing the race with a lead of 18 seconds over Marlen Reusser from Movistar. After taking control of the overall standings on the penultimate stage, Longo Borghini successfully defended her lead during the final stage, which spanned from Forlì to Imola, by finishing fourth behind Reusser on August 4, 2024.
Liane Lippert, also of Movistar, celebrated her stage win after a thrilling sprint against Anna van der Breggen from SD Worx-Protime. The two cyclists broke away from a group of 12 riders in the closing kilometers, with Lippert outpacing Van der Breggen in the final sprint.
“It’s a bit unreal to win two stages here,” Lippert reflected. “Unfortunately, we lost the maglia rosa. Marlen was not feeling great, struggling with something, but we kept on fighting. We said, ‘OK, we accept yesterday, today we go full gas for the stage.’”
Lippert’s remarkable performance was marked by her strategic decision-making, particularly when following Van der Breggen’s attack during the descent towards the Imola racing track. “Marlen and I both knew without talking that if Anna goes, we have to be there. In the end, I was with Anna, and it was a perfect situation for me,” she added.
With this stage victory, Lippert expressed newfound confidence, contrasting her initial doubts about her performance. “I started the Giro thinking ‘I will not be good here, I will not be good in the Tour.’ Now I’m going home with so much confidence. Our sport is like a rollercoaster, and everyone has to keep that in mind and always look for better times. They will come.”
The Giro d’Italia Women has showcased the strength and determination of its competitors, culminating in a thrilling finale that highlighted both individual and team efforts. Fans and analysts alike will reflect on the strategic plays and impressive tactics demonstrated throughout the race, particularly during this final stage in Imola.
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