Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) is out of the Giro Donne following a hard crash on the final descent of stage five.
Longo Borghini does not have concussion symptoms, as was initially feared, but is in “considerable pain” and is unable to continue.
The crash occurred on the final descent on Tuesday. With just over 2 km to the crest of the final climb, Annemiek van Vleuten attacked with Longo Borghini tight on her wheel. A tricky descent lay ahead. Van Vleuten crashed but was able to get up quickly while Longo Borghini crashed into, and then over, a mound of dirt and into a small stand of trees. She got back up and kept riding, but was clearly in pain and never returned to the front of the race.
Van Vleuten leads the Giro by 2’07” over Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM). With Longo Borghini’s departure, Lidl-Trek’s ambitions fall squarely on Gaia Realini, who currently sits in 5th, 3’14” back.
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