Giro d’Italia Women: Leader Balsamo wins second stage in sprint

Overnight leader Elisa Balsamo strengthened her position at the top of the women’s Giro d’Italia standings by winning the second stage with a perfectly timed sprint in Caorle.

Balsamo, 28, handed off a win on Saturday’s opening stage Lorena Wibbs was disqualified For bicycle weight violations, just a few hours after first crossing the line.

Italian Balsamo then left Irish rider Lara Gillespie and compatriot Cheira Consoni at the end of Sunday’s 156km stage just outside Venice to keep the pink jersey.

With the same three riders atop the podium as on Saturday, Balsamo peeled out to win just 200 meters from the finish line.

“I was looking forward to this win,” he said.

“I’m very happy. I want to say a big thank you to my teammates because they did an amazing job all day. And then I had a really good sprint. It was an amazing day.

“I was completely focused on the finish line and I pushed to the end because I knew everyone could come from behind, they are very strong.”

Lidl-Trek’s Balsamo leads Gillespie by eight seconds, Consonni 12 seconds behind and the main peloton 20 seconds behind.

The nine-stage run ends on June 7.

Two results in the women’s stage of the Giro d’Italia

1. Elisa Balsamo (ETA/Liddle-Trek) alone

2. Lara Gillespie (Go/UAE Team ADQ)

3. Chiara Consonni (Ita/Canyon-Sram)

4. Charlotte Cool (Ned/Fenix-Premier Tech)

5. Barbara Guarischi (Ita/Team SD Worx-Protime)

6. Arlenis Sierra (Cub/Movistar)

7. Maggie Coles-Lister (Can/Human Driven Health)

8. Alessia Zambelli (Ita/Top Girls Fasa Bortolo)

9. Ninke Veenhoven (Ned/Team Visma)

10. Linda Zanetti (SUI/UNO-X Mobility)

General classification

1. Elisa Baum (Stone/Liddle-Trek) 7h 15m 51s

2. Lara Gillespie (Go/UAE Team ADQ) +8 seconds

3. Chiara Consonni (Ita/Canyon-Sram) +12s

4. Charlotte Cool (Ned/Fenix-Premier Tech) +20 seconds

5. Linda Zanetti (Sui/Uno-X Mobility) at the same time

6. Georgia Baker (Aus/Liv AlUla Jayco)

7. Alessia Zambelli (Ita/Top Girls Fasa Bortolo)

8. Arlenis Sierra (Cub/Movistar)

9. Gladys Verhulst-Wilde (Women/Ag Insurance-Soudal)

10. Christina Tonetti (Eyes/Labor)