Elisa Longo Borghini wears the Italian road race champion's jersey for the second time in her career. The 28-year-old Longo Borghini, a member of her club GS Fiamme Auro, is the national champion for the second time this season after winning the women's time trial in August.

"It was crazy, I can't find the words to say what happened today," Longo Borghini told Tuttubiti Web.

"Wearing the tricolor is always something special, there's a magic that surrounds this jersey. Wearing the tricolor is always special, there's something magical that envelopes this jersey.

All eyes were on Longo Borghini on the hilly Breganze course, but she marked every attack of the 81-man peloton and held off Katie Ragusa (Astana) and Marta Cavalli (Valcar Travel & Services) to take the title solo.

"Today, I knew that there was a 99% chance of losing this Italian Championship and a 1% chance of winning. Yesterday we planned everything meticulously with the team and each player knew how and when to act. I want to thank each and every one of them.

"I owe this victory to Fiamma Oro and the Trek Segafredo team, who supported me in an impressive way today.

With this victory, Longo Borghini's season comes to an end after starting the season after the Coronavirus blockade and taking his first career stage win at the Giro Rosa.

"It was a really strange season, but also a very beautiful one. After the lockdown, I restarted the race thinking I was going to win the race. [To be honest, I still don't understand everything that happened.

"Once the last race is over, I will be able to catch my breath and realize what I did. What I am sure of is that next year will be just as challenging.