Home hope Elisa Balsamo won stage two of the women's Giro d'Italia on Sunday to extend her overall lead as Lorena Wiebes was thrown out for a bike that was too light.
Balsamo inherited the pink jersey after Wiebes was expelled from the race late on Saturday for a non-compliant bike weight.
On Sunday, Balsamo edged Irish sprinter Lara Gillepsie and another Italian Chiara Consonni.
🏁 All roads led to a bunch sprint today. But who came out on top? 👀 🎬 Watch the highlights and relive the finale in Caorle.
— Giro d'Italia Women (@girowomen) May 31, 2026
🏁 Oggi tutte le strade portavano alla volata. Ma chi ha avuto la meglio? 👀🎬 Guarda gli highlights e rivivi il finale di Caorle.#GirodItaliaWomen… pic.twitter.com/pPag8cIZZd
"This time I got to celebrate," Balsamo said, explaining she had pointed to the sky in honour of a recently passed uncle. "I had been waiting for the moment."
The 28-year-old Lidl-Trek rider believes she can fight to keep the pink jersey Monday where a short, sharp climb 21km from home represents both a challenge for Balsamo and an opportunity for the likes of Demi Vollering, Anna van der Breggen or Marlen Reusser.
Of the remaining seven stages, three are in the mountains, and one is an individual time trial.