"With only eight stages it's a great showcase" - Elisa Longo Borghini defends decision to drop Giro d'Italia Women from 9 to 8 stages in 2024

In 2024, the Giro Donne will change somewhat. Now becoming known as the Giro d'Italia Women, the race will only be 8 stages instead of 9. Nevertheless, Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini is looking forward to the challenge.

“For me, it’s the perfect combination," Longo Borghini told Cyclingnews following the presentation of both the Giro d'Italia and the Giro d'Italia Women on Friday night. "It’s the perfect race for just before the Olympics and I think many other riders will probably be doing the same - at least I hope so.”

Although Longo Borghini was able to win a stage, Annemiek Van Vleuten took the Maglia Rosa earlier this year. Despite the drop in stage length this year, the Lidl-Trek rider doesn't feel any of the prestige has been lost.

“People are always debating about the length of these stage races but we showed at the Tour de France, that with only eight stages it's a great showcase. So I really don’t look at the eight stages of the Giro as something that we are losing. But surely we are gaining," explains the Italian. "We will gain a lot of media attention, spectacle and spectators, and then being so close to the Olympics it will be surely attended by a lot of big stars.”