Elisa Longo Borghini of UAE Team L'IMAD overtook race leader Marlen Reusser of Movistar near the top of Mont Ventoux. She secured third place in stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes. The Italian National Champion used a strong push on the climb to surpass Reusser. She landed in the top three on one of France's most demanding ascents.
Team effort boosts Longo Borghini's performance
Throughout the climb, Longo Borghini rode with a group of four riders. The group also included her teammate Paula Blasi. It included BYR leader Antonia Niedermayer of Canyon-SRAM. It also included Cédrine Kerbaol of EF Education-Oatly. The group nearly caught up to Demi Vollering of FDJ United-SUEZ and Reusser on the upper slopes. But Vollering executed a late attack to close the gap on overall leader Kasia Niewiadoma of Canyon-SRAM.
Longo Borghini admitted the race pace was intense, but she praised the team effort with Blasi in the chasing group. 'I rotated with Paula, and we could reel Marlen back,' she said during a post-stage interview. She added that the Ventoux climb demands both mental focus and physical strength to succeed.
A successful climb despite past challenges
Despite facing illness, injuries, and a training accident in recent years, Longo Borghini has demonstrated resilience, currently standing in a solid position for a top-five finish. Her best Tour de France Femmes result remains sixth in 2022, but with two stages left, she's now closer than ever to a top-five finish.
Longo Borghini's strategy on the Ventoux was more measured than her past racing style. She said that by staying calm and focused, she managed to outperform her previous aggressive approach. 'Today I raced very well,' she reflected, noting her progress and showing anticipation for the final stages in Nice.
Blasi also earned a commendable fifth place, coming in just two seconds behind Reusser. Longo Borghini, now 1:42 down on Niewiadoma, remains in fourth overall, while Reusser holds a 2:20 lead in the general classification. Longo Borghini said she is not dwelling on the gap but is instead celebrating her team's performance on the climb.
She took a moment to congratulate Niewiadoma for her strong climbing. She reiterated the importance of team collaboration during the race. 'We worked very well with Paula,' she said. 'We rotated, and then we could reel Marlen [Reusser] back.'
When asked if finishing third on the Ventoux was among the highlights of her career, she responded with pride. 'Yes, definitely, I enjoyed this climb though it's really Ventoux.' But as I said, I rotated with Paula and gave my absolute best.' She added, 'It's a climb that requires a lot of patience and a lot of mind. You have to have brain and legs.'
Longo Borghini explained that once Niewiadoma, Vollering, and Reusser had broken away, the group's main aim was to work together and maintain a solid pace. She also highlighted that her improved strategy, compared to previous events, helped her avoid unnecessary energy expenditure. 'Sometimes I have too much [of a warm head] and I spend too much energy, but today I raced very well.'
The Tour de France Femmes has not always been kind to Longo Borghini in recent years. Her 2023 race was derailed by illness, and she missed the 2024 edition due to a training accident. Even in 2023, a leg injury forced her to withdraw. Despite those setbacks, her performance on the Ventoux is a sign that she is moving past her previous struggles.
With two stages remaining, Longo Borghini now holds a memorable climb under her belt and is hopeful for another strong performance in the final stages. 'But I'm looking forward to racing there, too.'