After two stage wins at the Elisa Balsamo (Lidl - Trek) celebrated her third victory of the 2025 season in the third Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana. After Demi Vollering (FDJ - SUEZ) had opened the sprint of the field of around 25 riders, the Italian clearly had the fastest legs at the finish in Cittiglio and won well ahead of her rivals. Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) also put in a remarkable performance. The 18-year-old took the lead in the sprint and was only overtaken by the day's winner Balsamo and Blanka Vas (Team SD Worx - Protime). Ferguson finished third behind Balsamo and Vas.
Longo Borghini's attempts to break away remain unsuccessful
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) in particular was very active in the final section of the race and tried to break away from her pursuers several times. She repeatedly formed a breakaway group together with Demi Vollering and other riders, but they were always caught. The Italian's last escape attempt was also unsuccessful: she and three other riders were caught by their pursuers in the final kilometre. Longo Borghini and Vollering then had no chance in the sprint.
"I am speechless. It was one of the most difficult races for me. The last two laps were insane. But I'm so happy to have won in my home country of Italy." - Elisa Balsamo in the winner's interview
The results of the Trofeo Alfredo Binda 2025
Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Comune di Cittiglio: Luino - Cittiglio
Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Comune di Cittiglio 2025: Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Comune di Cittiglio, Luino - Cittiglio
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lidl - Trek | 04:00:19 |
| 2 | Team SD Worx - Protime | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | Movistar Team | +00:00:00 |
| 4 | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | +00:00:00 |
| 5 | Liv AlUla Jayco | +00:00:00 |
| 6 | EF Education-Oatly | +00:00:00 |
How the Trofeo Alfredo Binda 2025 went
The start of the 152-kilometre classic between Luino and Cittiglio was relatively quiet. Over the first 50 kilometres, the FDJ - SUEZ and SD Worx - Protime teams, among others, dictated the action in the peloton. They rode at a moderate pace for a long time before a breakaway group formed just 100 kilometres before the finish.
Dangerous escape group forms
A total of 13 riders broke away from the peloton. It was a dangerous group that included names such as Neve Bradbury (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto), Fem van Empel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Femke Gerritse (Team SD Worx - Protime) and Elizabeth Deignan (Lidl - Trek). The AG Insurance - Soudal team failed to get into the group and therefore took command of the peloton from then on - with success: 32 kilometres before the finish, the peloton swallowed up the 13 escapees.
But there was to be no more calm in the race from then on. Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly) and Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) broke away immediately afterwards. The duo rode ahead for several kilometres, but their attack was not successful in the end.
Van der Breggen and Longo Broghini bite their teeth out
After that, it was the big names who started to get serious. First Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx - Protime) tried to escape the competition as a soloist, then it was Elisa Longo Borghini who tested the legs of her rivals for the first time and in the meantime was able to break away with Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Demi Vollering. But all attempts were parried by the now decimated peloton.
After another unsuccessful attack initiated by Longo Borghini, the Italian tried one last escape after 3 kilometres. Together with Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Demi Vollering, Longo Borghini broke away. However, they were caught again by the peloton of around 20 riders in the final kilometre. The following sprint was won by Elisa Balsamo ahead of Blanka Vas and Cat Ferguson.
