Longo Borghini satisfied with third place on the Ventoux

Impeccable teamwork followed by a final push allowed Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'IMAD) to take third place on the stage on Mont Ventoux, after literally outpowering a clearly struggling Marlen Reusser (Movistar) in the final meters of the climb.

The Italian champion was part of an attacking quartet for much of the climb, which also included teammate Paula Blasi, BYR leader Antonia Niedermayer (Canyon-SRAM), and Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly). The group closed just ten seconds behind Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) and Reusser on the highest switchbacks of the Ventoux, while the two top riders in the general classification attempted to chase down a third contender: the lone stage winner and new yellow jersey holder Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM).

That was the best she could get, however, as Vollering launched a venomous attack in an attempt to close in on Niewiadoma. However, Longo Borghini's progression allowed her to overtake Reusser, securing a remarkable stage podium on the Ventoux. Meanwhile, Blasi completed the job by taking a well-deserved fifth place, just two seconds behind Reusser.

With a gap of 1:42 behind Niewiadoma, Longo Borghini consolidates his fourth place in the overall standings with two stages remaining. Reusser remains 2:20 behind and likely out of reach, and Longo Borghini herself admitted immediately after the finish that she wasn't thinking too much about what might happen between Ventoux and Nice. However, she was careful to congratulate Niewiadoma on his success and to emphasize how well she and Blasi had worked together in the pursuit group.

"The pace was very high from the start and 'Chapeau' to Kasia, I think she made an incredible climb," Longo Borghini told Eurosport .

"Personally, I managed my own pace, without looking too much at the others. I worked very well with Paula, we took turns, and that's how we managed to catch Marlen [Reusser]."

"I had a solid race, I can't complain, and once again we showed that we are a team."

When asked if finishing third on one of France's toughest climbs was one of the highlights of his already illustrious career, Longo Borghini replied: "Yes, definitely. I enjoyed this climb even though it really is the 'Ventoux.' But as I said, I shared time with Paula and gave it my all."

"It's a climb that requires a lot of patience and a lot of mentality; you need to have brains and legs."

Once Niewiadoma, Vollering, and Reusser had broken away, Longo Borghini's plan was simply to build a solid partnership with Blasi on the climb and see where it would take them. He also emphasized that, rather than reacting too impulsively as he had sometimes done in the past, he tried a calmer approach that proved successful.

“From that point on we just focused on climbing well, climbing together and dividing the work,” she told the media upon reaching the summit.

"Sometimes I get too hot-headed and waste too much energy, but today I ran really well."

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