#GiroRosa Q&A with Elisa Longo Borghini and Chloe Hosking: With the start of the only womens Grand Tour – the Giro Rosa – only moments away, we sat down with Hitec Products general classification rider Elisa Longo Borghini and sprinter Chloe Hosking to hear what they think about the race, their hopes and expectations and learn a bit more about the talented pair. In its 25th edition the race will cover 953km starting in the south of Italy before making its way north towards Milan and the beautiful Lago Maggiore. The race kicks off tomorrow in Caserta, 50km from Napoli with a 2km prologue before the peloton tackles nine road stages, three of which are mountain top finishes. Question: You have both raced the Giro Rosa before, what makes the race special? Elisa: For me its special because its in my own country, its a race which has a lot of charm and prestige. Its also one of the few stage races in which sometimes we climb the big mountains that are normally part of the mens event. Chloe: Ive started the Giro three times and only finished once so Im hoping to increase my success rate from 33% to 50% this year. Its hard to pin-point why it is so special. I think because it has been running for so long and there is such prestige around winning it, or winning a stage. Q: Are there any stages that you will be targeting this year? What are your goals? E: Im not targeting any stage in particular. I will try to give my best in every one trying to achieve the best result for me and for my team. I have a stage that is completely on my home soil so I would like to be active, but without any extra stress. C: Im not very good at picking a stage and saying, Im going to win this one. Most of my victories have been unexpected and have just come off the back of good preparation. I know Im well prepared for this years Giro so at least I have ticked that box. Ill be up there on stages one and two for sure. Q: Elisa, you missed the race last year after a horrible crash at the National Championships a week earlier. There are some very moving pictures of you watching the peloton ride through your home town of Ornavasso from a wheel-chair. Was that something that has motivated you to come back stronger? E: Last year has been a though season for me; first my crash, then all the way back to the top. Watching the peloton from the road side has been a hard feeling, a mix of sadness and sense of revenge on what happened in late June. I still want to thank the whole peloton for the warmth it gave me. All the girls waved at me and yelled ciao Elisa!. It was unexpected but very nice from them. I have to admit I have been moved by this. Q: What is your best memory of the Giro Rosa? E: I think the first time I finished it, in 2011. I was proud and satisfied to have accomplished my mission. Q: What is the hardest part of the Giro Rosa? C: Honestly, probably forcing food down after about the fifth day. I love food and I love eating but it gets so tiring shuffling the same food into you day in, day out to make sure you recover for the next day. Luckily Italian pasta is the best, and we have good coffee to wash it down. E: I agree with Chloe, food. In ten days I eat the same amount of pasta I would normally eat in one year. This is maybe strange for an Italian! Q: Last but not least, what are you most looking forward to at this years Giro Rosa? E: Stage 8, where all my friends and my family will be at the race. My nieces Anna and Marta will be there and maybe also my third nephew, if he will decide to see the world before the stage. C: Stage eight, about 2km from the top of the mountain top finish Ive been promised a cold beer and a push from some of Elisas friends who will be there cheering for Elisa, and Hitec Products. I expect Ill need both at that point of the tour!
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 08:07:37 +0000
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