Elisa Balsamo made her presence felt straight away in her debut race for Valcar – Travel & Service, finishing 4th at the Clasica Femenina Navarra. The young rider from Piedmont showed she already has good condition and proved she can compete among the very best.
The race itself was dominated by world champion Annemiek van Vleuten, who attacked with 60 km to go and split the peloton apart. Only Elisa Longo Borghini was able to hold her wheel, while the chasing group quickly thinned down. With 20 km remaining van Vleuten accelerated again, dropping Longo Borghini, who came home alone in 2nd place.
The sprint for 3rd was tightly contested. Former Valcar rider Maria Giulia Confalonieri edged it on the line, just ahead of Balsamo, who nonetheless impressed with her ability to deliver such a result after a long spell without racing.
