Elisa Longo Borghini won with strength and power on the roads of the Gold Trophy in Euros crossing the finish line in Montignoso solo. Just yesterday at Strade Bianche the Italian champion, fourth at the finish, had demonstrated to have enviable legs and not even 24 hours later she was back on the attack showing all her talent. It was the perfect day for the entire Team UAE ADQ which had already made the difference during the first climb of the Fortezza ascent. The girls from the Emirati team occupied the first four positions. Behind Longo Borghini came Karlijn Swinkels, Dominika Wlodarczyk and Silvia Persico. 

THE RACE. A race steeped in tradition for the celebrated Gold Trophy in Euros which this year celebrated its 14th edition. 106.8 km with start and finish in Montignoso, in the early stages of the race the peloton faced a flat circuit five times, 13 km long. The beating heart of the race was characterized by the now celebrated Fortezza climb which was tackled twice, the last time 12 km from the finish.

The race exploded on the final circuit, just before the first ascent of the Fortezza climb thanks to the attacking effort of Team UAE ADQ. Elisa Longo Borghini and her teammates imposed an incredible pace that immediately shattered the group, the Italian champion, personally, made an incredible selection that allowed a small group of just 5 athletes to break away. Only Puck Pieterse (Fenix Premier Tech) managed to stay with Elisa Longo Borghini and her teammates Karlijn Swinkels, Silvia Persico and Dominika Wlodarczyk.

The Italian champion worked hard with her teammates and then delivered the decisive blow 14 km from the finish during the second ascent of the Fortezza climb. Longo Borghini then managed to maintain a lead of around twenty seconds which allowed her to arrive in Montignoso solo and win her third Gold Trophy in Euros of her career. Puck Pieterse tried to lead the chase but could do nothing against the overwhelming strength of Team ADQ which took the first four positions of the race. 

«At the start our tactic was to tackle the Fortezza climb very hard, thin out the group and then attack one by one. In the end the conditions were created to win the race and I took advantage of it - said Elisa Longo Borghini after the finish line - it was the perfect day for us and also a bit of redemption after the difficult day yesterday at Strade Bianche.»

FINAL RESULTS 

1  Longo Borghini Elisa UAE Team ADQ

2  Swinkels Karlijn UAE Team ADQ

3  Wlodarczyk Dominika UAE Team ADQ

4  Persico Silvia UAE Team ADQ

5  Pieterse Puck Fenix-Premier Tech