Balsamo claims pink sprint victory in Giro Women stage 2

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) sprinted to victory on stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia Women in the maglia rosa. 

The former world champion was retrospectively awarded the stage 1 victory and maglia rosa after Lorena Wiebes was disqualified on Saturday for her bike being deemed too light. 

Balsamo made her mark in the sprint at the end of stage 2 in Caorle, celebrating victory in pink ahead of Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) and Chiara Consonni (Canyon//Sram).

It marks Balsamo's fourth Giro victory in her career, and ensures that the Italian will spend another day in the maglia rosa. 

The stage kicked off in Roncade, but not with Lorena Wiebes in the maglia rosa as initially expected after the Dutchwoman sprinted to victory on stage 1. Wiebes was disqualified from the race after the UCI deemed her bike to be below the minimum weight limit. 

Therefore, Elisa Balsamo was retrospectively awarded the stage win and began stage 2 in the maglia rosa. 

A three-rider breakaway formed featuring Eleonora La Bella (Aromitalia Vaiano) and teammates Elisa De Vallier (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) and Sara Luccon (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo).

The trio cooperated well and still held an advantage north of 2:30 inside the final 30km, but the gap began to consistently reduce from here as the sprinters’ teams moved to the front of the bunch.

The breakaway was swept up by the chasing peloton just inside the final 15km, and attention turned to the impending sprint finish.

Picnic PostNL and UAE Team ADQ were prevalent towards the front inside the final 3km with Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini doing a significant turn on the front. 

Lidl-Trek swarmed towards the front towards the flamme rouge, placing Balsamo in a prime position to strike. UAE bounced back to lead out the sprint, and it was ultimately Balsamo who was quickest to the line.