“I grew up with this race watching Philippe Gilbert winning" - Elisa Longo Borghini hoping to fulfill childhood dream with victory in Liege

Elisa Longo Borghini has already tasted success on multiple occasions so far this year with wins at the Tour of Flanders and Brabantse Pijl. Winning Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes this Sunday however, would fulfill a childhood dream for the Italian.

“I grew up with this race watching Philippe Gilbert winning it and I was always fascinated as a kid and as a young girl," the Lidl-Trek leader, who's competed at every iteration of Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes since its introduction to the racing calendar in 2017, tells GCN. "Finally, we have got Liege for us and it is a race I really enjoy. Well, I say ‘enjoy’ - I like to be at the start and then I don’t really enjoy Roche-aux-Faucons.”

As mentioned, Longo Borghini has been an ever-present at Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes since its inaugural edition back in 2017. Twice a podium finisher, the Italian's best result came last year with a second-place finish behind Demi Vollering. “I think it is a hard race and a long one. I am an endurance rider so probably it suits me for this reason and in the end, I have a lot of love for this race - I just like it a lot,” she tells GCN.

“You can never underestimate Vollering, she is one of the big favourites for Sunday and I think she will be there," the 32-year-old continues, previewing this year's edition of the race. "Of course, it is easier if I come to the finish alone, but she is strong and it is hard to drop her, she will be there trying to do her best also.”

“Our (Lidl-Trek's ed.) mentality is to play the game and whoever wins we are happy. I think we are going into Liege with a very strong team and many cards to play. We will just do our own race and focus on our own tactic, then whatever the outcome will be, the most important thing is that we do our 110% best,” Longo Borghini concludes. “Obviously being solo makes you feel much safer, so it is the ideal scenario for every race you race, but if you can’t you just have to sprint for the best place you can.”