105 days after breaking her elbow, 21-year-old puncheur Giada Borghesi of Human Powered Health brought her breakout season to a close in style with her first WorldTour podium. Borghesi finished second at the Tour of Guangxi in China, having triggered the race winning move with 35 km to go.
Borghesi finished second to Sandra Alonso (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team) in a two-up sprint at the 2024 season finale in China.
“It’s a great feeling to make a WorldTour podium and finish my first season in a WorldTour team like this,” said a delighted Borghesi after her podium place. “I am really happy because it has been a difficult few months after breaking my elbow at the Giro d’Italia, but I have worked hard to come back and I am happy to have taken this satisfaction.”
Borghesi attacked with Alonso with 35 km to race on the 134.3 km circuit in Nanning in what would become the winning move. The pair then steadily increased their advantage over the last of five ascents up the 1.4 km at 11.8% Qingxiu Mountain QOM, with their gap topping out at almost a minute and a half.
“I put in a good attack, but it was thanks to Giorgia who from the car convinced me to try to go,” explained Borghesi. “Together with Alonso, we made a nice breakaway and we pushed a lot to the finish.”
In a two-rider sprint, it is better to come off the wheel and Borghesi was keen to take up this position, but Alonso did not want to cede the advantage, coming around the Italian to win the race.
Behind the winning pair, a group that included Barbara Malcotti and Silvia Zanardi battled it out for the final podium spot with Zanardi finishing sixth. The sprinter had been in a breakaway earlier in the race and Malcotti had also stretched her legs, showing herself as one of the strongest climbers in the race by gliding up the QOM each lap, eventually finishing 15th.
“We worked well together during these days in China, and congratulations also to Silvia who sprinted to sixth place today,” Borghesi added.
Borghesi has impressed since signing for the team ahead of the Giro d’Italia in July, finishing sixth on stage four of La Corsa Rosa. Still sporting an elbow brace to protect a bone she broke in that race, Borghesi has since bounced back, ending her breakout year with the podium in China.
“For next season I am very motivated,” she continued. “I have many dreams that I want to achieve and I am convinced of my potential. Together with the team that believes in me and with my coach I see a good future ahead of us, I will also work on the sprint!” she smiled in conclusion.
Tour of Guangxi results
1 ALONSO Sandra – CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team 3:39:02
2 BORGHESI Giada – Human Powered Health ”
3 LACH Marta – CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team 2:47
4 SCHWEINBERGER Kathrin – CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team ”
5 DRONOVA-BALABOLINA Tamara – Roland ”
6 ZANARDI Silvia – Human Powered Health ”
7 KNIJNENBURG Anne – VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team ”
8 MARR Sophie – ARA | Skip Capital ”
9 QUAGLIOTTO Nadia – Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi ”
10 GASPARRINI Eleonora Camilla – UAE Team ADQ ”
