Giro d'Italia Women: Maglia rosa Elisa Balsamo speeds to second win in a row in stage 2 bunch sprint

Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek secured her second consecutive stage victory at the Giro d’Italia Women by winning the stage 2 bunch sprint in Caorle. After a breakaway was reeled in with 14 kilometres remaining, Balsamo was initially positioned deep in the peloton before teammate Lucinda Brand propelled her forward in the final 1.5 kilometres. The sprint finish was fiercely contested, with Balsamo edging out Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) and Chiara Consonni (Canyon-SRAM) in a photo-finish, allowing her to retain the maglia rosa as overall race leader. The stage unfolded over 156 kilometres featuring an early breakaway by Eleonora La Bella and two riders from Top Girls Fassa Bortolo, with the peloton gradually closing the gap. The day’s only climb, the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio, saw La Bella crest first and claim the blue mountain jersey for the next stage. Teams Lidl-Trek and Movistar took control of the chase in the latter part of the race, ultimately catching the breakaway with 14 kilometres to go, setting the scene for a high-speed sprint finish. Balsamo reflected on the significance of the win, dedicating it to her late uncle and praising her teammates for their support throughout the day. With Lorena Wiebes disqualified after stage 1 for an underweight bike, the sprint field was more open, prompting Balsamo to remain vigilant and focused until the line. She also acknowledged the challenge of the upcoming hillier stage 3, expressing confidence in her team’s strength and their mutual trust going forward. The sprint itself was a tactical battle, with teams jockeying for position in the final kilometres. Key moves included Elisa Longo Borghini’s work for UAE Team ADQ and a strong lead-out by Visma-Lease a Bike’s Margaux Vigié. Balsamo timed her effort perfectly, emerging from Gillespie’s slipstream in the last 200 metres to surge ahead and claim victory by a narrow margin. This win consolidates her position as the race favourite and sets the tone for the more demanding stages ahead.