Lidl-Trek’s Elisa Balsamo won this year’s Trofeo Alfredo Binda, beating World Champion Lotte Kopecky in a dramatic sprint victory.
After 140.5 kilometres of racing, a group of 20 riders reached the final corner together, turning onto a 3% uphill finish in Cigglio.
Kopecky, who was a last-minute addition for SD-Worx, launched her sprint first, with Balsamo powering past her to the finish line. Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) finished in third place.
“It’s amazing,” said Balsamo at the finish line. “If it’s a dream, please don’t wake me up. I’m so happy. The team was just so strong.
“The last two laps were really hard. The last climb was so painful for me, but then my teammate [Shirin van Anrooij] did a great job to bring the bunch together. I just tried to do the best sprint I could.”
This is Balsamo’s second victory at Trofeo Alfredo Binda, following her win in 2022. The win marks four successive victories for Lidl-Trek, with Shirin van Anrooij winning in 2023 and Elisa Longo Borghini in 2021.
More to follow.
