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

'I just need to fight and believe' – Elisa Balsamo motivated to conquer Milan-San Remo climbs and make Italian history
By Matilda Price published
News Lidl-Trek rider hoping to make the final selection in San Remo to win first rebooted edition

Trofeo Alfredo Binda 2025 contenders – Vollering and Van der Breggen return to challenge sprinters
By Simone Giuliani published
Analysis Elisa Balsamo faces serious climbing force in title defence at Italian race where sprinters and attackers battle to carve out race-winning scenario

Setmana Valenciana: Elisa Balsamo survives climbs to win stage 3 sprint
By Stephen Farrand published
Results Lidl-Trek rider takes first win of 2025 ahead of Ingvild Gåskjenn

Commitment but no reward for Lidl-Trek at Classic Lorient Agglomération
By Lukas Knöfler published
News Team rallied around sprinter Elisa Balsamo but sometimes strength and a plan aren't enough

'The biggest challenge of my career' - Ellen van Dijk in race against time to recover for Paris Olympics
By James Moultrie published
News Dutch TT specialist back training after breaking her ankle with teammate Elisa Balsamo also on the mend

'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
Blogs
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The fascination of the three amigos GC battle - Philippa York Vuelta a España analysis
Jonas Vingegaard is the overall favourite but can João Almeida and Juan Ayuso combine to beat him? -
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