Elisa Longo Borghini is happy to end the early season in first place in the Women's World Tour, despite dropping from second to third overall on the final stage of La Vuelta Femenina.

The Italian champion went into the Spanish Grand Tour as co-leader with Gaia Lealini after a string of podium finishes, including victory in the spring Tour de Flanders. However, it was not easy for the Lidl-Trek team, which had lost Ellen van Dijk and Lealini to crashes, to ride La Vuelta Femenina. This meant that Longo Borghini, already carrying a tired race block, had to defend second place with a depleted team and the loss of an important climbing ally.

"I wasn't at my best level, but I fought with my teammates until the end believing we could hold on to second place," said Borghini. But I fought hard with my teammates because I believed I could hold on to second place until the end." This is sports. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

"But third place in the Vuelta is not a bad result. Everyone supported me and I want to thank my teammates and staff, it's sad to miss out on second place, but I gave 100% and what else can you do? You have to smile, it's a good result," he said, adding that he finished second for the second year in a row in 2022 and 2020, his third overall La Vuelta podium finish.

This time, Longo Borghini moved into second place overall at the first summit finish and held it until the final day. On the final climb, Longo Borghini fell off the pace of the lead group, which included his closest GC rival Liergerne Marx (Vimaris-a-Bike).

Longo Borghini, the winner of the Tour of Flanders, finished 27 seconds behind Marx, who earned a 4-second bonus for finishing third and another 4-second bonus for the intermediate sprint. He was 1:49 behind winner Demi Vollering (SD Works Pro Time) and 11 seconds behind third-place Longo Borghini.

"I don't think I made any mistakes. I gave 100% and this is what I got."

Third place overall and two stage podiums at La Vuelta Femenina are not the only things Longo Borghini has earned in Spain.

"I'm wearing the purple jersey as leader of the UCI Women's World Tour, which means my spring was very consistent," Longo Borghini said.

"I am happy with the first part of the season. Now it's time to rest, reset, and restart thinking about the second half of the season." That will include two more Grand Tours for Longo Borghini and two more chances for the overall podium.