Elisa Balsamo sprints to victory at Trofeo Alfredo Binda
Elisa Balsamo sprints to victory at Trofeo Alfredo Binda
Trek-Segafredo committed to a sprint at Trofeo Alfredo Binda and in return, Elisa Balsamo delivered an impressive victory. Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ) rode to second and Soraya Paladin (Canyon-SRAM) narrowly outsprinted Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx) to take second.
Each lap of the climbs to Casalzuigno and Orino saw attacks from a handful of the top teams but it wasn’t until 26.7 km to go on the penultimate lap that the race really got interesting. On the second of the two climbs, Marta Cavalli (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) made a move that was followed by Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx) and two other riders. The four barely got off the front of the peloton before Cavalli’s teammate Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig attacked.
Uttrup Ludwig’s move was critical and through Orino she had a slight advantage but an attack from Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) put an end to the solo move. Reusser passed Uttrup Ludwig and set out alone on the descent.
Behind the Swiss national champion, a chasing group of three emerged containing Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM) and Uttrup Ludwig. They caught Reusser as the race passed the finish for the second to last time but the four were not able to cooperate together and were caught by what remained of the peloton before the penultimate climb of the day.
SD Worx led the race into the climb to Orino and at the base of the final ascent, Cavalli attacked again. The move was effortlessly brought back by Longo Borghini, who would have been working for Balsamo. Not about to give up Cavalli attacked for a second time and was followed by Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (SD Worx). More attacks stretched the peloton in the final 900 meters of the climb.
Liane Lippert (Team DSM) led a group of six over the top of the climb but Trek-Segafredo closed down the 12-second gap to the leaders on the descent. Longo Borghini and Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo) kept the speed high for Balsamo in the final 4 km before Van den Broek-Blaak led the reduced peloton into the sprint.
Balsamo opened up her sprint in the final 200 meters and easily accelerated passed the rest of her competition to take her first WorldTour win of the year.
Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Comune di Cittiglio (1.WWT) Cocquio Trevisago → Cittiglio
