Women’s Giro d’Italia: Elisa Balsamo wins fourth consecutive sprint stage

Elisa Balsamo took her fourth sprint win in four chances at the Giro d’Italia Women, ahead of Maggie Coles-Lister and Georgia Baker on stage six.

The Italian was turned on by teammate Lucinda Brandt, overtaking Coles-Lister at 50m after the Canadian started a bunch sprint to finish.

Balsamo, who rides for Lidl-Trek, maintained a strong hold on the red point classification jersey in the nine-stage race.

“When you have the best leadout in the world, it’s easy,” Bolsamo said in his post-race interview.

“With Lucinda, everything is a lot easier because I don’t have to fight for position. I just have to trust her, and I know she’s one of the best. It’s more on her than me, honestly.”

In the general classification, Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen holds the overall leader’s pink jersey, Homegrown Demi Vollering in a minute

Racing on a mostly flat 159km stage from Ala to Bresello, van der Breggen broke into the front group when a huge gust disrupted the peloton, but was pulled away by the chasing pack.

Vollring, who was aiming to become only the second rider to win three Grand Tours in women’s cycling, also moved forward during the intermediate sprints, but was eventually caught by her rival.

On Friday, the race travels 165km from Sorbolo Mezzani to Salis Terme on a course that features a single climb, before this year’s event concludes with two weekend mountain stages.