Longo Borghini defends Giro crown

Big teams trade blows at Italian Grand Tour, but Italian comes out on top again

- Adam Becket

It was a case of déjà vu at the Giro d'Italia Women, as Elisa Longo Borghini defended her crown, again resplendent in the Italian tricolore as national champion.

The 33-year-old, who tasted success at her home Grand Tour for the first time last year at her 12th attempt, returned to Italy with a new team, UAE Team ADQ, this year, but triumphed once again over the eight-stage race.

It came down to narrow margins, however; after Longo Borghini won by 21 seconds over Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) in 2024, this edition was won by just 18 seconds over Marlen Reusser (Movistar).

The key day was stage seven to Monte Nerone, with Reusser in control of the race up to this point - the Swiss rider won stage one's time trial, and although she briefly lent it to Lidl-Trek's Anna Henderson, she was back in pink from stage five.

On Saturday, Longo Borghini attacked with her teammate Silvia Persico on a descent ahead of the finishing climb of Monte Nerone, taking a margin of almost a minute ahead of the peloton at one point.