As it happened: The sprinters come to the fore again in stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia Women

Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek secured a commanding victory in stage 2 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women, held between Roncade and Caorle in Italy. The Italian sprinter claimed her second consecutive stage win in a bunch sprint finish, consolidating her position as the race leader and donning the coveted maglia rosa. The stage unfolded over 156km and featured the first classified climb of the race, the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio, although the terrain ultimately favoured the sprinters. The race was marked by early breakaways involving riders such as Eleonora La Bella, Elisa de Vallier, and Sara Luccon, who built a significant lead over the peloton. Despite their efforts, the chasing groups and the main field maintained control, allowing the sprinters’ teams to set up a fast finish. The peloton maintained a high average speed of nearly 43km/h, and the intermediate sprint was won by Sara Luccon, highlighting the competitive nature of the day’s racing. Balsamo’s victory came amid some controversy, as Lorena Wiebes, a key rival from the SD Worx-Protime team, was ejected from the race, which led to Lidl-Trek’s sprinter being declared the winner. Balsamo expressed mixed feelings about the win, acknowledging it was not the way she wanted to claim the stage. Meanwhile, Wiebes’ team voiced their astonishment at the decision, adding an element of off-road drama to the event. Looking ahead, the Giro d’Italia Women will continue to present a mix of flat stages suited to sprinters and more challenging mountainous terrain that could shake up the general classification. The upcoming stages include a mountain time trial and iconic climbs, which promise to test the riders’ endurance and strategic acumen. For now, Balsamo’s strong start sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting and fiercely contested race.