Giro d'Italia Women 2026 Stage 2: Elisa Balsamo wins in the maglia rosa, with Lara Gillespie and Chiara Consonni close behind

We'll be back tomorrow for Stage 3, where Elisa Balsamo will wear the maglia rosa once more. Here's a quick reminder of her win earlier this afternoon 👇

🩷 Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)

🔴 Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)

⚪ Alessia Zambelli (Top Girls Fasso Bortolo)

🔴⚪Eleonora La Bella (Aromitalia Vaiano)

Elisa Balsamo will be keeping the maglia rosa for at least another day after winning a close sprint in Caorle on Stage 2.

Earlier in the day, the race was relatively uneventful with an unthreatening breakaway of three riders getting a couple of minutes on the peloton. They took the only climb of the day ahead of the peloton, with Eleonora La Bella of Aromitalia Vaiano taking the QOM points. She will be wearing the QOM jersey tomorrow.

As the race flattened, the peloton slowly reeled in the breakaway with about 12km to go. From there, it was a fight for position as the sprint teams aimed to maximise the second sprint day in as many days. Lidl-Trek and UAE Team ADQ hit the front with 5km to go and stretched the bunch out.

On the finishing straight, the riders opened their sprint with Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) coming out on top. Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) finished 2nd and Chiara Consonni (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) rounded out the podium.

It was neck and neck with Charlotte Kool, Elisa Balsamo and Lara Gillespie driving it to the line, with the Italian edging them out on the line.

500 metres to go and it's UAE Team ADQ driving the pace

Lidl-Trek are really pushing the pace for Elisa Balsamo here

The teams with a rider that could compete for today's win are pushing the pace now and the peloton has strung out from the effects of some of the fast lead outs.

It's a far less technical finish compared to yesterday with nice wide and straight roads. Yes, there are a few roundabouts but far fewer tight corners for everyone to contend with.

The lead outs are set to begin, the pace is climbing and everyone is fighting to stay near the front.

The breakaway has been caught and everyone is getting ready for a bunch sprint

Will they leave them out there a little bit longer? Or start to push the pace and get the leadouts organised ahead of the finale?

Dani Rowe spoke to Fenix-Premier Tech's Charlotte Kool before today's stage. She finished 5th yesterday but wasn't pleased with how the final kilometres went for her in Stage 1.

"It was really chaotic and I think we messed up a bit, we had to come from far so I was already on the limit when I had to sprint.

"From the chicane I was position 17 so it was a big effort to come back."

It's now sitting around 1'30" as the pace slowly creeps up in the peloton.

She'll be going for the win today, and she's in with a good chance of keeping the maglia rosa through to at least Stage 3.

The leading trio still have 2' on the peloton as we edge closer to Caorle

Although it's a shock not having Lorena Wiebes in the Giro anymore, the race does go on and it definitely opens up for other riders having a good chance of taking a win.

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) is the favourite, but Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) finished close behind her yesterday and is proving to be a strong sprint talent. Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech) is also another good bet, and as the closing kilometres shouldn't be as frantic as yesterday's technical urban circuit, the strongest woman on the day will be able to open up a clear sprint.

Sprint stages are interesting in their own way, and we get to admire the local landscapes as the race heads through different regions of Italy.

Last time I did that speed on a bike I think I was trying to chase an ice cream van...

They're still plodding on, no need for the peloton to reign them in just yet. Don't worry Sam Fender fans.