It was an amazing performance from the whole team in Italy as Elisa Balsamo sprinted to victory on stage two
On a hot Sunday in Veneto, Northern Italy, Elisa Balsamo had the perfect day. She began stage two of the Giro d’Italia Women wearing the pink jersey and her next task was simple: she needed to defend it. Leading her nation’s biggest bike race as an Italian rider comes with some level of pressure; and Balsamo spent the morning giving interviews, taking selfies and signing autographs. When the race began, however, it was pure, sharp, laser focus for the 28-year-old.
Balsamo’s teammates were integral in supporting her mission to win at La Corsa Rosa in the Maglia Rosa – something that every Italian bike rider dreams of as a child. The Lidl-Trek squad spent the majority of the stage controlling the breakaway and ensuring that the escapees didn’t pull out too much of a time gap, as well as keeping Balsamo hydrated and protected throughout the stage. When the race ticked under the 20-kilometers to go mark, the break was reeled back in and it was time for the sprinters to shine.
The fight for positions was hectic on the approach to the finish line, but the likes of Fleur Moors and Lucinda Brand kept Balsamo towards the front of the group. In the final two kilometers, Brand – an experienced and strong road captain – dropped off her Italian sprinter in the perfect position to bide her time and wait for the right moment to sprint. Balsamo showed her skill and tactical prowess by waiting patiently in the wheels until her rivals went first. This meant she was able to pop out of their slipstream in the final one hundred meters and cross the finish line in front, taking the stage victory by a convincing margin.
What came next was a wave of emotional celebration. Balsamo thanked her teammates for their work and proved she is every bit deserving of being in the maglia rosa. It doesn’t get more perfect than an Italian rider winning in the pink jersey at the Giro d’Italia.
In the winner's words
It's just amazing – I'm so happy! Especially in the last two weeks I was waiting for this win so much. Because this win is for my uncle. I'm just so happy and want to say a big thank you to my teammates. They did an amazing job the whole day and I just did a really good sprint. It was an amazing day!
I was just completely focused on the finish line and I pushed till the end, because I knew that everyone could come from the back, because they are so strong. But I was feeling good and… yes, I am so happy about my sprint.
I know the stage of tomorrow quite well, because I did a recon. I think it's going to be a hard one, because in the final it's quite hilly. But as I said: I have a really good team. They trust me and I trust them and this is just the best.
