Ten years ago, Elisa Longo Borghini made history as the first Italian woman to win the Tour of Flanders. She was 23, it was her first win in Belgium – at the biggest Belgian race of all – and one that rocketed her to the top echelons of Classics riders, this young, punchy Italian.
A decade and 40 wins later, Longo Borghini is back at Flanders as the defending champion, and clear favourite, off the back of a win at Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday. At 33, she's no less hungry to win, but she is a more mature cyclist, one with more appreciation for what she did that day back in 2015.
