Elisa Longo Borghini: “Slippery road, influenced by Kopecky’s fall”
These are the statements made by the Italian cyclist after the conclusion of her race.
“I am more or less happy because, in absolute terms, I respected what had been predicted. From this point of view, I have no regrets. However, as for my riding, I’m a bit disappointed because when I learned that Kopecky had fallen, I started taking the corners too squarely. At that moment, I stiffened up. She is very good at riding a bicycle, and if she falls, it means that the road is really slippery. As a result, I was very cautious. Perhaps a bit too much. I managed to stay upright, and that’s okay. In general, it’s always better not to cause any damage.”
The 32-year-old is already looking ahead to the next appointment.
“I’m happy that Grace Brown won because she deserves it, it’s her last year as a cyclist, and I believe that finishing her career with the Olympics is the most anyone can hope for. Looking ahead to the road race, my legs feel good. It will be a different race. Many will want a medal, and it will be a fight. It’s always special to participate in an Olympics. I felt a lot of support from all the Italians and beyond throughout the course. It’s always an emotional experience.”