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

In a single day chief Elisa Balsamo strengthened her place on the prime of the ladies’s Giro d’Italia standings by successful the second stage with a wonderfully timed sprint in Caorle.

Balsamo, 28, was handed a win in Saturday’s opening stage after Lorena Wiebes was disqualified for a motorbike weight violation, simply hours after crossing the road first.

Italian Balsamo then headed off Irish rider Lara Gillespie and compatriot Chaira Consonni on the finish of Sunday’s 156km stage simply outdoors Venice to maintain the pink jersey.

It was the identical three riders on the prime of the rostrum as on Saturday, with Balsamo peeling out for the win simply 200m from the end line.

“I’ve been ready for this win a lot,” she mentioned.

“I am simply so comfortable. I wish to say a giant thanks to my team-mates as a result of they did an incredible job the entire day. After which I simply did a extremely good sprint. It was an incredible day.

“I used to be simply fully centered on the end line and I pushed till the top as a result of I knew that everybody might come from the again, they’re so sturdy.”

Lidl-Trek’s Balsamo leads Gillespie in the standings by eight seconds, with Consonni 12 seconds again and the principle peloton 20 seconds adrift.

The nine-stage race ends on 7 June.

Giro d’Italia Ladies stage two outcomes

1. Elisa Balsamo (Ita/Lidl-Trek) similar time

2. Lara Gillespie (Ire/UAE Workforce ADQ)

3. Chiara Consonni (Ita/Canyon-Sram)

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

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

6. Arlenis Sierra (Cub/Movistar)

7. Maggie Coles-Lyster (Can/Human Powered Well being)

8. Alessia Zambelli (Ita/Prime Women Fassa Bortolo)

9. Nienke Veenhoven (Ned/Workforce Visma)