Sander SteinsFrom junior world titles to the prestigious rainbow jersey, Elisa Balsamo has taken the cycling world by storm. Did you know that before becoming road cycling’s sensation, she began her journey on the track? The Italian powerhouse made history in 2021 by outsprinting the legendary Marianne Vos to claim her World Championship title in Flanders. Let’s dive into the fascinating story of this cycling phenomenon.
Early years and introduction to cycling
Elisa Balsamo, born on February 27, 1998, in the Italian town of Cuneo, was destined to embrace sport from a young age. Her father, an amateur cyclist, undoubtedly passed on the passion for two wheels, but Elisa was no stranger to a wide range of disciplines. Before committing to cycling, she dabbled in skiing, biathlon, and swimming – truly an all-round athlete. It wasn’t until the age of 13 or 14 that cycling took center stage for Elisa, and from there, her journey to the top of the sport began.
First major successes on the track
Elisa’s first taste of international success came in 2015 at the UCI Juniors Track World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. It was here that she claimed her first world title in the scratch race, a victory that would signal her arrival on the world stage. The following year, she further cemented her status as a rising star by winning the Italian road cycling championship in the Junior Women’s category – a major breakthrough on the road.
I’m fast, but in a lot of races, this is not enough because I need to survive to sprint at the finish.
Dominance in the junior categories
The year 2016 saw Balsamo secure an even bigger win at the UCI Road World Championships, where she claimed the world title on the road in the Junior Women’s category. But it wasn’t just on the road where she excelled. On the track, she secured several titles in the Junior Women’s category, including a European title in team pursuit and world titles in both team pursuit and omnium, showcasing her versatility and skill across both disciplines.
In 2017, Elisa signed her first professional contract with the Italian Valcar-PBM team, marking the start of her professional journey. Just a year later, on April 21, 2018, she notched her first professional road win at the Omloop van Borsele in the Netherlands.
Major achievements
Elisa Balsamo has truly emerged as one of the standout riders in the peloton over the past few years. A perfect blend of raw talent, steely perseverance, and, of course, that fiery Italian passion makes her a force to be reckoned with, especially in the flatter stages and one-day classics.
Her breakthrough moment came in 2021, when she claimed the world title on the road – a victory that elevated her career to new heights.
UCI Road World Championship 2021
September 25, 2021, was the day Elisa Balsamo claimed her biggest victory to date. At the UCI Road World Championship in Leuven, Belgium, she stormed to victory in the Elite Women’s road race, earning the prestigious rainbow jersey. This triumph solidified her place among the sport’s elite, and she proudly wore the rainbow stripes throughout the 2022 season.
Career highlights
| Year | Match | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields | 1 |
| 2022 | National Championships Italy WE – Road Race | 1 |
| 2021 | World Championships WE – Road Race | 1 |
| 2016 | World Championships WJ – Road Race | 1 |
| 2016 | National Championships Italy WJ Road Race | 1 |
Racing style
But it’s not just the major victories or her impressive collection of podiums that define Elisa Balsamo. No, it’s those critical moments in the classics, those grueling one-day battles where she consistently stands toe-to-toe with the very best sprinters – Lorena Wiebes, Marianne Vos, Kristin Faulkner, and Charlotte Kool. Time and again, Balsamo makes her mark in those race-defining finales, showing her worth as a sprinter of the highest order.
Her journey, from the early days in youth competitions and track cycling to becoming a key player at a top team like Lidl-Trek, is a story of relentless growth. She’s constantly searching for that perfect balance between track and road racing, and it’s that fighting spirit, that hunger for improvement, that sets her apart. And let’s be honest, that’s exactly what we need in cycling: riders who not only race for victory but also continuously engage in the fight.
Recent victories
Elisa’s winning momentum carried into 2023 and 2024. In 2023, she secured wins in two stages of the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana (Spain), and in 2024, Balsamo crossed the finish line first at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda (Italy), Classic Brugge–De Panne (Belgium), Stages 1 and 3 of the Volta a Catalunya (Spain), and the first stage of the Tour de Romandie Féminin (Switzerland), where she also won the points classification.
