Cycling, Balsamo wins in Spain, Ganna second in sprint in Portugal

Elisa Balsamo gives an encore. In the second stage of the week from Valencia, the 24-year-old from Trek Segafredo repeats the sprint of the first day (Valencia-Sagunt of 119 km) and at the finish line in Vila-Real (start from Borriana for 116 km) ahead of Finland’s Lotta Henttala (Ag Insurance-Soudal Quick Step) and American Megan Jastrab (Team Dsm). Italian record that does not stop at the success of the Piedmontese: fourth place for Silvia Zanardi (Beping), fifth for Eleonora Gasparrini (Uae Team Adq), sixth for Vittoria Guazzini (Fdj), tenth for Letizia Borghesi (EF Education). For Elisa, victory number 21 in her career and a record in the race that includes tomorrow’s third stage, the 132 km Agost-Altea.

Super stupid

—

If Italy smiles for women, it was an overall positive day for men too. In the third stage of the Volta ao Algarve (Faro-Tavira of 203.1 km) second victory for Magnus Cort Nielsen, who confirms himself as the leader of the race. In the breakaway that enlivened the race before the group recovered in the last kilometer and in the final sprint, one of the protagonists was Filippo Ganna (with him Magnus Cort Nielsen, Valentin Madouas, Thomas Pidcock, Rui Costa and Tobias Foss). Coming back in with a kilometer to go, the sprint began with the Dane leading Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers). Tomorrow is the fourth stage: Albufeira-Alto do Malhao (177.9 km).

The others drive

—

In the third stage of the Vuelta Valenciana, the winner changes, but not the team. In the 160 km Alcalá de Guadaira – Plaza Alameda de la Cruz success for Tim Wellens (United Arab Emirates) ahead of Frenchman Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) and Samuele Battistella (Astana). A stage affected by the strong winds that convinced the organizers not to climb to the top of the Alto de Alcalá de los Gazules, where the arrival was originally planned, because of the strong winds. Tomorrow the fourth stage (Olvera-Iznajar of 164.8 km) with Tadej Pogacar as the leader of the race. On the first stage of the Tour of the Alps, Saint-Raphaël – Ramatuelle over 187 km, success for Kevin Vauquelin, twenty-one-year-old French talent from Arkea Samsic. Second place for the American Neilson Powless (Ef Education-EasyPost), third for the Dutchman Kevin Geniets (Groupama-Fdj).