Heading into Gent-Wevelgem Girls Elisa Balsamo had been on the cost, successful her final two races, Basic Brugge – De Panne and Trofeo Alfredo Binda, and whereas the spectacular kind and teamwork continued via to Sunday’s race the Lidl-Trek rider fell simply centimeters in need of making it three in a row.
It was as an alternative SD Worx who made it to the highest step this time, with Lorena Wiebes successful the dash which was so tight that the highest two needed to look ahead to the evaluation of the picture end earlier than discovering out whether or not they might have fun victory. It was clear by the look on her face that lacking out on making it three in a row by such a slim margin stung, however Balsamo might additionally see the positives.
“We simply spoke with the workforce and debriefed. We truly did a extremely good race. My teammates did an amazing job,” stated Balsamo in a Lidl-Trek assertion. “It was a great dash however I simply missed for a bit bit. For positive I needed to win, but additionally second place is sweet.”
The runner-up spot could have meant Balsamo missed the hat trick however she maintains her podium run, with the 26 yr outdated having began the month with a second at Ronde van Drenthe earlier than delivering the primary and second Girls’s WorldTour wins of the season for her workforce.
“We had been additionally simply very happy with Elisa to be there once more and that we had been there with 5,” stated teammate Shirin van Anrooij in a submit race interview on ProCycling Girls. “We had been up there and ultimately it was tremendous shut and higher luck subsequent time I suppose.”
The subsequent large goal will probably be on the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, a race the workforce has but to win however the place Lidl-Trek have plenty of riders that might fare nicely on the cobbled Basic. That runs from Van Anrooij and Balsamo to Elisa Longo Borghini and Lucinda Model, plus the squad could have the expertise of two former winners, Lizzie Deignan and Ellen van Dijk, together with the ever dependable Lauretta Hanson.
SD Worx’ Lotte Kopecky, who was working arduous for winner Wiebes at Gent-Wevelgem, is prone to soar again into the highlight on the occasion the place she traces up as a two-time defending champion. SD Worx took the highest two spots on the Tour of Flanders in 2023, with Kopecky and Demi Vollering whereas Longo Borghini got here third. The Lidl-Trek workforce, nonetheless, have made clear that they are going to be doing every little thing attainable to reshuffle the workforce order on these steps on the race in 2024.
“I do know that subsequent week will probably be actually arduous, however we are going to struggle to get revenge,” stated Balsamo.
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