Elisa Longo Borghini at the Giro d’Italia Women 2025: “Whoever makes team wins”

CIcliste of the Giro d’Italia Women 2025. The number 1 is the portrait of serenity, if not of happiness. “Every time I get on bike, they are at peace with the world and with myself.” Elisa Longo Borghini is 33 years old and a collection of victories that no other Italian womanperhaps not even Maria Canins, can boast: Two Olympic bronzes, one silver and five world bronzes, one gold, one silver and three European bronzes, 12 national titlestwo laps of Flanders, a Paris-Roubaix, two arrows by Brabante, a white road, a Giro d’Italia Women, that of a year ago.

The return of Elisa Longo Borghini to the Giro d’Italia Women

And just at Giro d’Italia Women of 2025 – From Sunday 6 to Sunday 13 July, seven stages, over 900 km, the departure from Bergamo, the arrival in the Imola Hikingamong the opponents too The very strong Belgian Lotte Kopecky – He reappears from number 1. Elisa has sport inside: daughter of art (the father, Ferdinando, Nordic ski coach, and his mother, Guidina Dal Sasso, champion in cross -country skiing), also sister of art (Paolo, 11 years older of his sister, professional runner) and art aunt (Marta and Anna, daughters of Paolo), as well as art bride (Her husband, Jacopo Mosca, gregarious of champions such as the Danish Mads Pedersen, That at the Giro d’Italia Women 2025 won four stages and conquered the leader shirt in the points ranking).

“I feel like I was ten years old, but Once I was more puffed, now lighter, even thoughts, expectations, pressures. Once I thought too much, I was uncertain, immature, I was afraid of not coming, I had to do and demonstrate, but now I enjoy it, I enjoy it, I appreciate everything that comes, not only the victories, but all the races, from the first to the last kilometeras if every race was the only one, the first, the last. And I don’t only enjoy the races, but also training, hard daily work ».

The bicycle as a teacher of life

Between falls and accidents, Elisa risked having to stop the business and change the profession. «The danger is always lurking. Experience helps, luck too. The bicycle teaches to live: it is the bicycle that revealed the character to me, It is the bicycle that helped me in moments or periods of difficulty, it is the bicycle that made me become what they are, it is The bicycle that taught me to be humble, with my feet on the ground but capable of flying when they are in shapein condition, in a state of grace. Knowing that the more you are well when you go up, the more you hurt you when you fall to the ground, in all senses. The doubt of not starting again or not to return to the same level is always there “.

Resilience? «An abused word. Cycling is made of stories of normal people who know how to face effort, suffering, sometimes even painwho dedicates hours, many, every day, to train and prepare, which risks life and never gives up. Cycling is the sport of the people, it goes among people and goes to people, its stadium is the way, and the road belongs to everyone ».

The Giro d’Italia Women 2025 – the more north point the Passo del Tonale, further south Pesaro – is an important goal: «With the Tour de France it is among the most prestigious races and for an Italian it is even more so. I keep it viscerally. Since I was a child I asked my parents to take me to see a stop and when the bikes of the relayers passed before my eyes, then the bikes of the cyclists, finally the machines of the sports directors, was a factory of emotions, a discharge of adrenaline, already a heritage of memories “.

Strange sport, cycling: individual, but collective, or perhaps collective, but individual. «It is difficult to explain to those who do not know, to those who do not attend. In this it is a cruel and fascinating sport. The strength of a team is decisive, the companions sacrifice themselves, silently help you, generously, generously during the race, supporting, assisting, going on the run or chasing the fugitives, then, exhausted their task, it is up to the captain to win the victory or the primacy. And when it happens, a good part of the success belongs to companions ».

She knows it well: «The gregary sacrifices, perhaps pulling and showing off for 100 kilometers, then reaching the finish line half an hour after the first. His race must be considered from another point of view that is not the order of arrival or the general classification “.

Elisa Longo Borghini: “The fees of women are inferior a lot remains to be done”

And what is the point of view from the bicycle on the world? “It depends -explains Elisa, from Verbania to the registry, Andorra in the residence, ornavasso in the heart -. There is a risk of running and living in a bubble, and perhaps most of the professionals are so concentrated on their work, on their business, which ends up being like this. I can’t help but look around. And I see uncertainty and fear, poverty and discomfort, profound social and geographical differences. Maybe it would be better that I was more stupid or superficial and lived in that privileged bubble. We runners are travelers, observers, witnesses, even examples, however citizens of the world. The news confuse me, they saddrate me, worry me, alarm me. Building a family, today, or when my competitive activity – sooner or later, now I don’t think about it – will cease, scares me. Can a new existence be considered a gift or bad luck? I think it is the worry of my generation ».

And the point of view on women’s sport? «Things change, improve. Women’s successes help, facilitate. But very, very much remains to be done, the battle will continue. It is not a battle against men, but against a mentality, a system. Our remuneration are infinitely lower than those of men, and it is true that the attention of the public is still lower. But we must continue to collaborate. Until recently there were no teams with male and even female formations, now yes, and there were no racing for men and even women, now yes. And if the Italians are obtaining more results than men also in cycling, we must not make comparisons and draw up judgments, but to understand why ».

Not only Elisa Longo Borghini, the best of pink cycling

At the tour there will be, in addition to Longo Borghini, the best of Italian cycling. From the Olympic Vittoria Guazzinispecialist in the time trial, a Chiara Consonni, protagonist in the sprints.

Among the 154 registered by 22 teams there is also Marta Cavalli, Cremonese, 27 years old, That after touching Paradise (Freccia Vallone, Amsparel Gold Race, Pyrenees’ tour, Ardeche’s tour …), after a fall at the Tour de France 2022 and two other accidents in 2024, spent hellish years. «What happened to me changed my life, but also myself. And he changed my point of view. If before winning it was everything, now I look at and I also appreciate the little things. I accepted the difficulties, I was close to surrender, but I kept hard, happy to have succeeded, I didn’t want the fear to take over. I want to rediscover myself, I want to understand where I can arrive, I want to be useful to my companions. And if I return to win, then I will be the happiest person in the world ».

Another, example of tenacity and courage, is Erica Magnaldi. Cuneo, 32, graduated in Medicine and specialized in pediatrics, emigrated from skiing and cycling race, In eight years he won twice: In 2018, when a stage of the Tour de l’Ardèche began, and this year, the Chambéry GP, always in France. «The bike is an extraordinary opportunity and privilege. Then I will dedicate myself to the health of others, I will go to the lanes of the hospitals. Cycling, all sport, helps to get to know each other, win, overcome. And the head is everything, or almost ».

The docufilm in Imola

On July 13, 2025, on the occasion of the final stage of the Giro d’Italia Women 2025the indomitable documentary will be presented in Imola – History of Maria Canins, dedicated to the famous South Tyrolean athlete. Canins (which will be present) has been the protagonist in three disciplines – cross -country skiing, mountain race and cycling – and is remembered as the Italian first to win the women’s tour de France. In all, he has collected twelve Italian titles, two world medals and two Olympic participations.

The film, directed by Davide Mardegan and Clemente de Muro (Cric) and co-produced by Diaviva and the Rana pasta factory, official sponsor of the Giro d’Italia Women, retraces its career, from the origins in the Dolomites to sports successes. The story is built through interviews in the places of childhood, in which Canins reflects on the meaning of fatigue, freedom and continually improving. The docufilm also highlights its role as a precursor of Italian women’s sport, capable of breaking conventions and combining competitiveness with motherhood, in an era in which it was taboo just thinking it.

I woman © RESERVED REPRODUCTION