Longo Borghini explains her all-or-nothing Worlds attack: 'I'd rather lose like a champion'

Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) finished with a bronze medal at the end of a thrilling contest for the rainbow jersey in Montréal, but the Italian had no regrets about her all-or-nothing bid for world championship glory.

After bridging across to Demi Vollering (Netherlands) on the penultimate lap with Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Poland), the Italian launched a bold attack through the finish line, leading the race into the final lap. 

Longo Borghini briefly held an advantage on the Camillien ascent before the chasing duo brought her back and went clear.

The Italian continued to fight all the way to the finish, taking third, four seconds behind Vollering, who outsprinted Niewadoma-Phinney to take the rainbow jersey.

“I’m proud of myself and proud of my national team. The girls really put me in the best position to ride this race at my best,” Longo Borghini told CyclingProNet. 

Having finished third on three occasions in fourteen appearances in the road race previously, Longo Borghini admitted that the rainbow jersey was the only thing on her mind ahead of the race, and that was reflected in the way the Italian raced.

“So I’m proud of them, and the way I rode. It was to win the rainbow. There was nothing else in my mind today than the rainbow jersey.”

“I tried everything, and in the end I won the bronze. And yeah, I’d rather lose like a champion, as I said, than be third like a loser.”

On the decision to attack when she did, Longo Borghini explained that she felt it was the right moment to go all in, and that the move was her ultimate roll of the dice to try and win, with nothing being held back.

“When you attack, you have to believe in your attacks. Otherwise, you’re better staying in the wheels,” Longo Borghini said.

“Of course, I attacked to win, and I wanted to win. It was in my mind from the very moment I started this race. And when I went, I went because I wanted the rainbow.”

After another thrilling contest alongside Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney, Longo Borghini said the presence of her great rivals provides great motivation.

“To be honest, it’s always a pride to be on the podium with them, because they inspire me to be better and they push me through my limits. I always want to be better than them and beat them,” said Longo Borghini

“When I’m out training, I’m always thinking, like, ‘This is the last push to beat Demi on the finish line,’ or ‘to drop Kasia.’ It’s nice to race against them. They give me energy,” she added. 

Longo Borghini will have another opportunity to turn that motivation into victory at next weekend’s European Championships in Slovenia. 

“Of course. We go out, and we try to win the Europeans. Otherwise, we don’t see the jersey, you know."