Elisa Balsamo secured an impressive third-place finish in a chaotic finale at the Scheldeprijs, marking her second consecutive podium result in the race.
With the Tour of Flanders freshly concluded and Paris–Roubaix just around the corner, the peloton gathered in Schoten. A sunny day promised to be a beautiful backdrop for the 6th edition of the Scheldeprijs. Lidl–Trek lined up with a motivated Balsamo, eager to replicate her success from 2025.
The team started with five riders, as Clara Copponi was sidelined due to illness, adding an extra layer of challenge to the race. Several riders launched attacks throughout the day, but none managed to gain a big advantage. As the race entered the local laps, the peloton reeled in the breakaway, setting the stage for a high-speed and tense finale.
The closing kilometres were marked by nervous racing and multiple crashes, creating a chaotic run-in to the finish. Alert and well-positioned by her teammate Loes Adegeest, Balsamo avoided the incidents and remained in front of the peloton. In the final sprint, Charlotte Kool proved the strongest, crossing the line first. A photo finish ultimately confirmed Balsamo in third place, securing her a well-earned back-to-back podium.
Elisa at the finishline:
“Honestly, I am a little bit disappointed, but of course it was a hectic finale, which made it very difficult to stay in good position. I just tried to make my best sprint, but they were just stronger.”
“I was a little bit in the back in the finale, but Loes did a really good job to put me in the front. This way I luckily avoided the crashes. It is nice to be on the podium, but I am a little bit disappointed.”
