Elisa Balsamo kept the pink jersey after sprinting to victory in the Giro d'Italia Women’s second stage around Venice. The 28‑year‑old, riding for Lidl‑Trek, edged Irish champion Lara Gillespie and Italian compatriot Chiara Consonni in a 156‑km dash that finished just outside Caorle. Balsamo’s win followed a Sunday disqualification of Lorena Wiebes for a bike‑weight breach.

Balsamo crossed the line 200 m from the finish, pulling ahead of the same trio that topped Saturday’s podium. She thanked teammates for their support, noting the sprint “was an amazing day.” The win extends her lead over Gillespie by eight seconds, with Consonni 12 seconds behind and the peloton 20 seconds adrift in the general classification.

With the race set to finish on 7 June after nine stages, Balsamo’s performance cements her status as a favorite. The Italian’s 7 hrs 15 mins 51 secs total time keeps her eight seconds clear of the nearest rival, while Dutch rider Charlotte Kool trails by 20 seconds. The podium order remains unchanged from the opener for fans watching the Italian cycling scene.

Consonni’s second‑place time sits at +12 seconds, while riders like Charlotte Kool and Linda Zanetti trail by 20 seconds. The early lead gives Balsamo a cushion as the peloton tightens, setting the stage for a contested finale where every second counts ahead of the final sprint.