There is a great deal of excitement leading up to the Tour de France Femme Avez Zwift, but while it is a big goal for Elisa Longo Borghini, she is not caught up in the hype.

"Everyone is overjoyed because it's the Tour de France, but it's just a bike race," she told Cycling News at the women's Tour, where she scored the overall win on Saturday.

"It's lovely, to have a women's Tour de France. We are like going to the moon. Going to France to race is no different than what we do anywhere else in the world."

And racing is what she does best, with her 34-km solo attack over dusty cobblestones to win Paris-Roubaix still fresh in her mind." I've had more than enough time to take that to heart. Because we rode really well together that day," she said.

She also won the Trek-Segafredo team behind her friend and teammate Lizzie Dayignan. She said, "I think Lizzie really wished she could have been there. When we showered, I took a picture of the plaque and sent her a message saying, "I'm honored to shower here, I wish I could have stood next to you."

Longo Borghini had not initially intended to compete in Paris-Roubaix, but after suffering a sinus infection after Strade Bianche and having to miss several important races, she was able to spring back with this victory.

Longo Borghini was thrown this curveball and was helped by her strong mental approach. Trek Segafredo added Elisabetta Borgia as team psychologist this season, and the 30-year-old has been working with her since 2019.

"Sometimes it's nice to be able to face a tough situation and just focus on the moment instead of just the pain you're feeling," she says of Borgia's help.

"Focus not on what you can't control, but just on your cadence and what you can control. It's a little trick, and eventually you can move your mind a little bit." [Longo Borghini won Paris-Roubaix and the women's Tour; Marta Cavalli won Amstel Gold and Flèche Wallonne; Elisa Balsamo won Trofeo Binda, Exterior Classic, and Ghent-Wevelgem; Chiara Conssoni won the Doire de Vlaanderen, and overall it was an outstanding spring for Italian racers.

"This is not the last year and a half. A small team has worked hard to develop young talent in a good way without rushing them. And now we are seeing the results," she says.

Longo Borghini, who began his career with Top Girl Fassabortolo in 2011, cited Valcar Travel & Service and its manager, Davide Arzeni. 'Cavalli and Balsamo are from that team. I think he is doing a very good job. They are putting in a big effort and they don't have a big budget. They are always there in the little races in Belgium and they can learn a lot from them."

Next up, Longo Borghini is preparing for the Giro d'Italia Donne (June 30-July 10) and the Tour de France Fam Avec Zwift (July 24-31), but first he has the opportunity to defend his national champion jersey on June 26 The first opportunity to defend the national champion's jersey will be on June 26th. He said, "Italy is a great country, and it is my greatest pride to take the tricolore all over the world."

Aside from the race, there is another challenge--finding a place for the Paris-Roubaix cobbled trophy.

"I haven't been home for a month, so my boyfriend [Trek-Segafredo teammate Jacopo Mosca] and I are trying to figure out where to put it. It's very heavy and I'm afraid to put it on a shelf. We need to find some proper furniture!"

"It's very heavy, and I'm afraid to put it on a shelf!