The Classic Brugge-De Panne delivered the high-speed sprint finale everyone expected. The Lidl-Trek team rode strongly throughout the race, setting up Elisa Balsamo for a hard-fought third place behind Lorena Wiebes and Chiara Consonni.
The Lidl-Trek women were in high spirits this morning on the start podium in Brugge. With little wind and bright sunshine, conditions were perfect for racing.
For much of the race, the peloton remained tightly controlled. Two riders eventually found the courage to attack, but their move was short-lived. Then, with just over 30 kilometers to go, 18-year-old Cat Ferguson launched a bold solo move. However, the peloton had one clear goal: a bunch sprint. Ferguson’s lead never stretched beyond 30 seconds, and with two kilometers to go, her impressive effort came to an end.
A massive crash threatened to disrupt the finale, but the top sprinters managed to avoid the chaos. Unlike yesterday’s dramatic finish, this time all the big names were in position to contest the sprint. The Lidl-Trek lead-out train executed their plan to perfection, with Clara Copponi delivering Elisa Balsamo into prime position. Elisa gave it her all, but in the end, she had to settle for third place behind Lorena Wiebes and Chiara Consonni.
Elisa's reaction
I really have to thank my teammates. They did an amazing job with a perfect lead-out. My legs weren’t at their best today, and the first two riders were simply stronger, but I’m really happy with the team’s performance. I knew the finish well and wasn’t worried about crashing because we stayed perfectly positioned at the front the whole time. Wiebes is incredibly strong and she deserves the win.
