Elisa Longo Borghini: Feet on the ground at Imola World Championships

Elisa Longo Borghini and the Italian national team preview the road race course at Imola World Championships
Elisa Longo Borghini and the Italian national team preview the road race course at Imola World Championships (Image credit: Massimo Fulgenzi)

Elisa Longo Borghini is one of the favourites to win the elite women’s road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Imola, Italy this Saturday. The Italian arrives in top form, after two stage wins and an overall podium at the Giro Rosa, and could be the rider who brings the rainbow jersey back to Italy for the first time since Giorgia Bronzini won back-to-back titles nearly a decade ago. 

Longo Borghini isn’t putting that kind of pressure on her shoulders, however, and remained realistic about her chances of winning the road race world title in an interview with Cyclingnews on Wednesday.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.