NewsRace Previews
Calendars & Results▼
Team IDL▼
Advertising

Longo Borghini tells emotional story after Giro d'Italia stage win: “I thought I would never come back”

Cycling
by David Bavin-Hobbs
Monday, 08 June 2026 at 12:45
elisa-longo-borghini
Demi Vollering won the overall classification of the Giro d'Italia with a brilliant coup and knocked Anna van der Breggen off the pink throne. But Elisa Longo Borghini won the final stage, and did so in phenomenal style. The Italian champion could not hold back her tears, and that is hardly surprising when you hear her story. These have been difficult months for the rider of UAE Team ADQ.
ADVERTISEMENT
Before the start, Longo Borghini could not hide the lump in her throat in an interview with Eurosport, because she had gone through a difficult few months. “It has not been easy. Especially because people said I just had the flu. That was true, but it lasted a month and a half. If you are coughing for a month and a half, it makes you tired. You do not sleep well, you watch races on TV. There are worse things in life, but you want to do your job.”
Illness had left Longo Borghini’s spring somewhat in ruins and affected her preparation for the Giro d’Italia. As a result, she was not able to defend her title this week. “It has been tough. I am not afraid to say that my mind was affected. I have to thank my family, they stayed very close to me.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Still, she did not want to give up. She kept racing, even though she went into the final day in seventh place. “I just love working with my team-mates and spending time with them. I love cycling, I use the bike for everything. It is a message I want to spread: the bike can bring you joy, take you to amazing places and save your life.”
And so she went into stage nine with renewed hunger. The battered Italian champion was ready to go all-in one more time for the stage win. “I will do my best, and everything possible to honour the jersey. Not only the Tricolore, but also that of my team. I will give everything.”
Read on below the video!
ADVERTISEMENT

Longo Borghini: 'Felt anger rising in me on the team bus'

Longo Borghini was reborn in the stage around Saluzzo. She was present in the favourites’ group after the first acceleration, and joined Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM) and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek). Vollering also later joined them, which is how she won the Giro. But the Italian claimed the final stage with a magnificent power sprint, and let out a real roar of emotion.
The tears after the finish were therefore easy to understand. “This means much more than a victory,” she said in the flash interview. “It is a comeback. I have not hidden the fact that I have been vulnerable in recent weeks, not only in my body but also in my head. There were days when I thought I would never come back, that I was done.”
“I have been very ill over the last three weeks, but I worked hard. I am not yet at one hundred per cent, but I did not want to leave the Giro without making an impact. Today I felt anger rising in me in the team bus. I thought: I have nothing to lose. I do not care about the general classification, I just want to do it for my team-mates, who worked so well for me. I only thought about winning.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Continue reading below the photo!

Longo Borghini: 'The heart can do a lot'

Longo Borghini has shown herself to be a true fighter. That is also the message she wants to pass on to the fans. “If your legs do not work, then you must let your head and your heart do the work. The heart can do a lot, and so can willpower. In the end we are human. It is fine to lose and to go down on your knees, but you have to get back up, hold your head high and fight with pride.”
She won this one for all her team-mates, but one in particular, she said. “This victory goes to everyone who loves me. We often talk about riders who stop, but we do not talk about one of the best domestiques in the world, Elena Amialiusik. This victory is also for her, because it is her last Giro. This one is for you, Elena.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Author: David Bavin-Hobbs - [email protected]

Read also

Antonia Niedermaier blew up the Giro d'Italia Women; what did Vollering say to her during the final stage?Antonia Niedermaier blew up the Giro d'Italia Women; what did Vollering say to her during the final stage?
Van der Breggen mostly feels pride after painful Giro finale: “I did not expect to get this far”Van der Breggen mostly feels pride after painful Giro finale: “I did not expect to get this far”
Vollering’s all-or-nothing final-day ride seals Giro d'Italia Women victory: 'Had to dare to lose everything'Vollering’s all-or-nothing final-day ride seals Giro d'Italia Women victory: 'Had to dare to lose everything'
Giro d'Italia Women 2026 Standings | Dramatic final day brings massive shake up in the top 5Giro d'Italia Women 2026 Standings | Dramatic final day brings massive shake up in the top 5
Elisa Longo BorghiniGiro d'Italia Women

IDL-productions

richard-plugge-jonas-vingegaard

How much prize money did Jonas Vingegaard get for winning the Giro d'Italia?

1274786393

Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 Standings | What are the time gaps after 'Dauphiné' stage 1?

isabella-holmgren

Who is Isabella Holmgren, the 21-year-old Canadian keeping up with Vollering at the Giro d'Italia Women

George-hincapie

Hincapie's new team announces its arrival with surprise Tour of Wallonia GC win

vingegaard-pogacar

Bradley Wiggins thinks Vingegaard's Giro - Tour double plan will pay off vs Pogačar at the Tour de France

Latest Cycling News

quinn-simmons-69ab22db7d2d4

Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 Preview | After a surprising yellow jersey smash 'n' grab, what does stage 2 offer?

wout-van-aert

Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 2 preview | Another dream day for the breakaway?

pogacar-vingegaard

Tour de France Route 2026 | Here's the route that awaits Pogacar, Vingegaard, Van der Poel, and Van Aert in July

ffce92d1-29b0-4924-a163-415327caa524

Tour de France fans can watch the race for free from Thibaut Pinot’s farm

urksa-zigart-69eb9b1499944

Giro d'Italia Women 2026 fines and penalties: AG Insurance Soudal's Zigart heavily penalised on final stage of Giro d'Italia

Popular Cycling News

richard-plugge-jonas-vingegaard

How much prize money did Jonas Vingegaard get for winning the Giro d'Italia?

seixas-lipowitz

Is the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes route is too difficult? 7x Tour de France stage winner says yes

quinn-simmons-69ab22db7d2d4

Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 Preview | After a surprising yellow jersey smash 'n' grab, what does stage 2 offer?

demi-vollering

Giro d'Italia Women 2026 Standings | Dramatic final day brings massive shake up in the top 5

wout-van-aert

Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 start list | Van Aert, Seixas & Del Toro start the 'old' Critérium du Dauphiné

Latest Comments

Loading