31/03/2024

Elisa Longo Borghini victorious at Tour of Flanders WE as Lidl-Trek secure impressive 1-3

Elisa Longo Borghini has taken a brilliant victory at the 2024 Tour of Flanders WE as Lidl-Trek showed the world how to stop Team SD Worx - Protime.

After a brutal early crash saw the likes of Lizzie Deignan and Marlen Reusser leave the race bloodied, a breakaway began to build up an advantage.

2024 Tour of Flanders Prize Money Distribution - €50.000 in total

Once the break had been caught though, an eight-woman group went clear that included Lorena Wiebes, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Puck Pieterse and Elisa Longo Borghini among others although Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky were notable absentees.

As Vollering led the chase group up the Taaienberg, Kopecky was actually losing contact and dropping way out of contention.

Although the world champion managed to get back on the flat, as soon as the next climb began she was straight out the back again. Vollering though was leaving the chase group in another manner, attacking off the front.

Sensing the Tour de France Femmes winner coming, Longo Borghini then attempted to up the pace in the lead group and deny Vollering the chance to make contact.

Just as Vollering was within touching distance, a second attack at the front, this time by Niewiadoma saw the gap heartbreakingly stretch out again for the Team SD Worx - Protime rider.

Vollering continued to battle though and as the pace slowed again at the front, with 23km to go, she finally made full contact.

As more and more riders regained contact, Shirin van Anrooij wasted no time catching her breath, immediately coming over the top.

Although she was never fully out of sight of the chasers, the Lidl-Trek star continued to dangle tantalisingly out of reach up front. With 12km to go though, she was joined by Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma.

With the leading trio having more than 20 seconds into the final 2km it looked as if the podium was locked out. In the fight for the line, the game of cat-and-mouse started relatively early however, opening the door for the chasers and giving renewed hope.

Van Anrooij was stuck on the front, setting a slow pace until she launched the sprint. Longo Borghini powered around her teammate, and despite the brave efforts of Niewiadoma, victory was Lidl-Trek's.