Elisa Longo Borghini goes down fighting at Strade Bianche

Lidl-Trek put everything on the line at Strade Bianche on Saturday, sending ex-champion Lizzie Deignan up the road in a large break, and then whittling down the peloton to just a handful of genuine contenders.

The American team then launched several accelerations before Elisa Longo Borghini latched onto Lotte Kopecky’s (SW Worx Protime) winning attack.

The pair traded turns to the line before the Belgian dispatched with the Italian on the final climb up the Via Santa Caterina.

Longo Borghini hung on for second, with teammate Shirin van Anrooij capping the day with fifth at the finish. 

• Read more: Pro bike: Elisa Longo Borghini’s Trek Émonda SLR

"We always race to win, that’s our approach to race. We don’t race for the podium, but second is the best I could do today,” Longo Borghini said at the finish.

“In the end, the strongest won, but we can be satisfied with what we did and how we raced. My second place is the icing on the cake, but we were really protagonists as a team. Everyone gave it all and in Siena, Shirin completed our good day with fifth place. Thanks to the girls who allowed me to be on the podium and for believing in me as a leader in this hard race. I never take this for granted.”

Although they missed out on the win, Lidl-Trek have been key protagonists in several races this season. At Omloop Het Nieuwsblad they took a similarly aggressive approach and Longo Borghini secured a well-deserved third place. The team took the same tactic into Saturday’s action, and even when riders like Amanda Spratt struggled on the dirt roads they provided key turns for their teammates before slipping back.

“I think we took our responsibility and we raced aggressively. The same I did when I followed the attack of Lotte. I knew it would have been hard with her. Then, everyone has their own tactic to play. That’s cycling, but let’s give Lotte what she deserves. She had the strongest legs,” Borghini said.

• Read more: Strade Bianche: Lotte Kopecky storms to victory ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini

“The finale was very exciting and really hectic. Our competitors knew that our team was strong and they tried to isolate us. I knew by instinct that Lotte’s move was the right one, I was feeling it and I didn’t hesitate to follow. On the final climb in Via Santa Caterina, I did my best to answer her attack but… yeah, she was strong and my legs were a bit empty.”

Lidl-Trek head into the rest of the Sping Classics with their confidence continuing to rise. SD Worx remain the team to beat but the American squad is determined to push them to the limit. Deignan is aiming to peak for the end of the cobbles Classics and the Ardennes, while Longo Borghini continues to make progress each week.

“I can’t say I was expecting this second place, but I’m here and I want to enjoy it. The podium last week at Opening Weekend gave me lots of confidence, it was a great boost for Strade Bianche. I feel better than expected, after a winter that was more like a rebuilding than a preparation. Now I feel good, but I’m still not at the top. Then, the morale is really high so really can’t wait to race again,” she said.