Elisa Balsamo wins sprint against Lotte Kopecky in Trofeo Binda, highly active Puck Pieterse finishes third

The Trofeo Alfredo Binda was a truly monumental race for the women's peloton. The race could also count on several big names participating, including defending champion Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) and world champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).

This year's course was unchanged, taking place in the Lombardy region on a hilly circuit, with the final loop expected to be decisive. The circuit, which had to be completed four times, featured two challenging climbs and concluded after 140 kilometers of racing.

As the finale approached, with 45 kilometers to go, we saw the first serious breakaways. The initial attacks did not succeed until the Dutch Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) started to make her move. Van Anrooij and Kopecky were quick to follow her wheel. They could not respond, however, when Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) launched her attack, starting a solo 32 kilometers from the finish.

As she hit the penultimate climb, her lead over the peloton was just fifteen seconds, prompting SD Worx-Protime to counterattack. With climber Niamh Fisher-Black, they managed to close the gap to Pieterse, forming a lead duo.

Once the climb was over, the thinned peloton managed to reel in the two leaders. SD Worx-Protime, this time putting forth Marlen Reusser, attacked again, but this move also fizzled out. The race was decided on the final climb, where Van Anrooij had to work hard to catch Fisher-Black, who had broken away once again. She succeeded, with only a few riders on her wheel. A small group descended toward the finish line.

In the downhill, Mareille Meijering attempted a final breakaway. The 29-year-old Movistar rider gained a few seconds, but her attack was neutralized in the final kilometer. Kopecky started the sprint first, but Balsamo, after a brief delay, was able to generate more speed in Kopecky's slipstream and raised her arms in victory.