Rider Profile
Elisa Balsamo
Lidl-Trek Women

Personal Details:
Teams history:
- 2025 - Lidl-Trek Women
- 2024 - Lidl-Trek Women
- 2023 - Lidl-Trek Women
- 2022 - Trek-Segafredo Women
- 2021 - Valcar-Travel & Service
- 2020 - Valcar-Travel & Service
- 2019 - Valcar-Cylance Cycling
- 2018 - Valcar PBM
- 2017 - Valcar PBM
Biography:
2021 world champion Elisa Balsamo, born February 27, 1998 in Cuneo, Italy turned professional in 2017 with Italian team Valcar, spending five season with the squad before stepping up to the Women's WorldTour with Trek-Segafredo in 2022.
Balsamo was seen as a promising rider through the early years of her career, taking eight victories through the end of the 2020 season, including a stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta and the 2020 U23 road race at the European Championships. Her big breakthrough came during the 2021 season, however, as she took a sprint victory at the Leuven World Championships, beating Marianne Vos in a reduced group at the end of 157km of racing.
Since then, she has gone from strength to strength at Trek, taking nine wins in the rainbow jersey in 2022. Through the spring she triumphed at multiple Classics, including the Trofeo Binda, Classic Brugge-De Panne, and Gent-Wevelgem. In June she became Italian road champion for the first time and then took her first two career wins at the Giro d'Italia Donne the next month. After a rapid rise, Balsamo is among the top stars in the women's peloton.
Key Results
Winner, 2021 Road World Championships road race
Winner, 2022 Trofeo Binda
Winner, 2022 Classic Brugge-De Panne
Winner, 2022 Gent-Wevelgem
Related Articles

'The worst is over' - No predictions on racing return as Elisa Balsamo continues recovery from serious crash
By Kirsten Frattini published
News 'The Olympic dream is still there, and it is burning stronger than before, but now, unfortunately, I have more hopes than certainties'

Elisa Balsamo heads into surgery for Vuelta a Burgos Féminas crash injuries
By Simone Giuliani published
News Lidl-Trek team says in a medical update that ‘any assumptions about the recovery time are premature’

Elisa Balsamo, Sofia Bertizzolo suffer fractures in crash at Vuelta a Burgos
By Kirsten Frattini published
News Balsamo sustains concussion and fracture to nasal bone, Bertizzolo fractures radius

Paris-Roubaix Femmes podium bikes: Three different approaches from Kopecky, Balsamo and Georgi
By Josh Croxton published
gallery Three podium places and three genres of bike as aero, endurance and all-rounder feature

'We put all our cards on the sprint' - Lidl-Trek, Van Dijk analyse Paris-Roubaix final
By Lukas Knöfler published
News 'If you're so close, then you’re really disappointed," Van Dijk had freedom but lacked punch so ended up working for Balsamo

After tears, Elisa Balsamo finds satisfaction in Paris-Roubaix second place
By Stephen Farrand published
News Lidl-Trek go close to another victory with Van Dijk and Balsamo in front group

Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2024 - Analysing the contenders
By Simone Giuliani last updated
Analysis Can SD Worx-Protime claim their missing title or will Lidl-Trek make it a third?

Tour of Flanders Women 2024 - Analysing the contenders
By Kirsten Frattini, Simone Giuliani last updated
Analysis Cyclingnews highlights the key riders to watch at Ronde van Vlaanderen
Blogs
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Nathan Haas blog: Has the UCI done enough for gravel pros at the Gravel World Championships?
Sponsored gravel riders appear to be losing interest in the rainbow jersey battle -
Lauren De Crescenzo and her tough decision to miss UCI Gravel World Championships
In her own words, the gravel star explains the complex picture of the Gravel World Championships for the US team -
A proper women's race – Historic day in Emporia at Unbound Gravel
Extended gaps around women's start end with unprecedented sprint finish though 'it’s still imperfect, but it’s the best we can do for now' -
Road prep and adapting to new rules as Life Time Grand Prix begins at Fuego XL mountain bike event
Lauren De Crescenzo uses The Growler for confidence boost ride ahead of prestigious off-road series -
'Untapped gold' in store for inaugural RADL GRVL in South Australia
Nathan Haas calls gravel course 'raw, fast, exciting' after pre-ride with co-founder Valtteri Bottas