Elisa Longo Borghini puts Tour behind Giro on her wish list for 2025 "because of the love I have for my home race"

Elisa Longo Borghini made her dream come true when she raised the trophy for Giro d'Italia Women champion last year. For the upcoming season, she plans no less than to defend her title and then, if things go well, also fight for top positions at the Tour de France Femmes.

However the Lidl-Trek lady is still modest in her declarations this far into the future: "I want to be at my best for the Giro and simply hope to do my best. If my best means I win, then that's great," Longo Borghini revealed at the Giro d'Italia Women route presentation.

Naturally, Longo Borghini couldn't have been absent from the route presentation this week as the reigning champion. What are her immediate impressions? "I like the route a lot. It's open to lots of tactics and race scenarios. It suits my abilities pretty well too. I especially like the final Imola stage. I lost the world title there in 2020 and want to make up for that. I hope to have more 'grinta' and so do better than a podium placing."

In 2023, Longo Borghini had to abandon Tour de France Femmes with skin infection. Last year, the Lidl-Trek rider was to attempt a double at the French Grand Tour after her Maglia Rosa, however a training crash made that impossible. In 2025, she would love to return for Grande Boucle. However the Maglia Rosa has a priority. "The Tour de France is on my calendar but it's in second place behind the Giro because of the love I have for my home race and because I won last year," she explained.

"Winning the 2024 Giro has given me a lot of 'grinta' and determination. The pressure is off my shoulders now, I've won the Giro. Now it's up to everyone else to feel the pressure."