Elisa Balsamo reacts to Lorena Wiebes’ Giro d’Italia Women disqualification
CyclingSaturday, 30 May 2026 at 22:36
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleThere was consternation in the Giro d’Italia Women on Saturday, and after stage one. Lorena Wiebes of SD Worx-Protime had won the stage in commanding fashion, but was expelled from the race a few hours after the finish for failing to meet equipment regulations. Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek was awarded the stage win and the pink jersey.
ADVERTISEMENT
On day one, Wiebes was the fastest by far. Balsamo, in second place, could only watch as the Dutch champion crossed the line with her arms in the air, taking the first pink jersey.
A little over three hours after the race, late in the evening, a press release from the organisers suddenly arrived: Wiebes out of the race. “Lorena has been removed from the Giro d’Italia Women for a breach of article 2.12.007 – 2.2: using a bicycle that does not comply with the regulations, specifically failing to meet the minimum weight requirements,” the organisers said.
Read on below the video!
Balsamo reacts to Wiebes disqualification
And so Balsamo will suddenly start Sunday in the pink jersey, and she responded to the jury’s decision to disqualify Wiebes through her team Lidl-Trek. “Of course this is not the way I wanted to win, but this is the jury’s decision. In any case, it is an honour to wear the pink jersey and I look forward to defending it in the stage,” was the Italian’s logical reaction.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
IDL-productions
2026 Vuelta a España route | 5 stages, 2 winners so far: will a third join them?
Love cycling and looking for an internship? Join IDL Pro Cycling!
From the Scottish Borders to 4th place in Monaco: the rapid rise of Vuelta a España debutant Callum Thornley
The British Invasion: Brennan, Hayter, Tarling, and Thornley put the Brits front and centre at the Vuelta a España
After struggling to finish with a broken ankle on stage 4, Cian Uijtdebroeks' suffering comes to an end at the Vuelta a España
Latest Cycling News
2026 Vuelta a España stage 9 preview | Without Pogačar, a gruelling stage suddenly offers everyone a chance
These 7 riders are ready to capitalise on Pogačar’s withdrawal from the Vuelta a España
LIVE Stage 9 of the 2026 Vuelta a España | A grueling stage without Pogacar will set the stage
Matt Brennan furious after a chaotic day full of crashes: 'A lot of people thought they were superheroes'
Damage assessment: Besides Tadej Pogačar, these riders also crashed on stage 8 of the Vuelta a España
Popular Cycling News
New Visma documentary shows a frustrated Jonas Vingegaard claim the Tour de France route was 'made for Pogačar
A rock on the road may have brought an end to Tadej Pogacar's Vuelta a España (and season)
2026 Vuelta a España start list & dropouts | Pogačar drops out of the Vuelta, along with 4 others
Van Aert saw Pogačar's crash from the front row: 'I was just able to avoid him'
Tadej Pogačar withdraws after a hard crash on the eighth stage of the Vuelta a España
Latest Comments
- - Not sure I buy the “nobody’s fault” line entirely. Course safety has to be better. A world champ face-planting on a stray stone isn’t just bad luck. Where were the motos and commissaires?julien29-08-2026
- - Matxin handled that interview with class. No blame game, just honesty. Cycling’s brutal — one second you’re flying, next you’re in an ambulance. Ánimo Tadej, vuelve fuerte.velodromevirtuoso129-08-2026
- - Quick question: when they said a rock on the road caused it near the finish, isn’t the run-in supposed to be swept by organisers? How common is that this late in a stage?cadencekingm29-08-2026
- - Gutted for Pogi. Shoulder injuries can be tricky — if it’s AC joint or collarbone, Worlds might be tight. Fingers crossed it’s just heavy contusions and those eyebrow stitches are minor.jeremya29-08-2026
- - Brutal day. You could see the whole UAE train soft-pedalling after the crash — pure respect to ride in as a group behind Coquard by 11’. Says a lot about team unity.samanthak29-08-2026
- - Love Brennan’s candour though. Two stage wins already, he’s earned the right to speak. Reset, recover, and pick a cleaner run-in later in the week. Go on lad!cadencekingm29-08-2026
- - Bit rich to call others “superheroes” when you also dive for gaps in sprints. Feels like excuses after missing the wheel. Own the positioning error—Laporte and WvA can’t do everything.patriciaw29-08-2026
- - Pogacar down, DNFs before the start, pile-up in the last km… safety protocols need a look. Barriers and road furniture on these Spanish urban finishes are brutal. UCI y la organización, por favor, más seguridad.bikebuffj29-08-2026
- - Can someone explain what “pedaling at 160 watts” means in this context? Is that like super easy pace for these guys? Trying to understand why there were still so many crashes if it was “easy.”davidm29-08-2026
- - Wild stage. Brennan’s quotes hit hard but he’s not wrong—finale was a bowling alley. Tenth after all that chaos isn’t catastrophic, but Visma’s train never properly formed once he lost Laporte’s wheel.sprocketspiny29-08-2026
Loading
