What rainbow curse? Elisa Balsamo wins her first race as World Champion

A cohesive effort delivers Trek-Segafredo a win in their first race of 2022

There is a myth in pro cycling that world champions often struggle after winning the rainbow jersey. But Trek-Segafredo showed teamwork is the best remedy to put such a spell to rest.

In a repeat of the 2021 World Championships in Leuven, except this time it was the Trek-Segafredo colors leading the race, Elisa Longo-Borghini delivered a perfect lead-out as Elisa Balsamo sprinted to victory in Stage one at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana.

While Balsamo made good on the Team’s first race of the season, it was a cohesive, selfless effort that made it possible. Ellen van Dijk’s and Elisa Longo Borghini’s massive efforts pulled back a late dangerous move that included the always threatening Annemiek van Vleuten, and set up a reduced bunch sprint.

Balsamo only had to hit the accelerator in the final few hundred meters.  When she did, she easily pulled away to take the win by a few bike lengths.

Stay tuned. More to come!

Nothing tastier than rainbow punch

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Mathew Mitchell
Mathew Mitchellhttp://procyclinguk.com
My name is Mathew Mitchell, 30-something from Staffordshire, UK. Over the last few years, I've got more and more into cycling, from the first innocent Sportive events to Audaxes, Go-Races, British Cycling racing, Time Trials and now Cyclocross.

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