Just just a few days on from her third Trofeo Alfredo Binda victory, Elisa Balsamo is hoping to make it two large wins in per week as she leads Lidl-Trek on the revamped Milan-San Remo Women, a race she predicts to be onerous however not outdoors of her capabilities.
Being the primary ladies’s version of the race in 20 years – six editions of the Primavera Rosa had been run within the early 2000s – there are lots of questions on what sort of riders may survive to contest the end, however Balsamo hopes she could be one in every of them.
“Of course profitable San Remo is a dream, I believe for everybody, however particularly as an Italian rider. This is the primary yr once more and I do know that yearly there will likely be this race, however after all it’s an enormous dream for me [to win this edition],” she instructed the press on Tuesday afternoon.
Having gained Binda in pretty dominant trend, it’s clear that Balsamo’s kind is there, even on routes with extra climbing, so Saturday will likely be extra about making an attempt to get the ways and teamwork proper in a reasonably hard-to-anticipate race.
“I’m feeling good, however I additionally suppose that you simply by no means know what can occur in these type of races,” she stated. “It’s kind of like Binda – you don’t know if there will likely be a bunch dash, a small bunch, a breakaway, or a solo, and I believe it’s going to be the identical in Sam Remo, even when the profile of the race is de facto totally different. So I simply must battle and I must consider in that, after which we’ll see.”
If she makes it to the Via Roma, Balsamo could be a prime favorite to win from any measurement group, however she’s hoping for one thing extra selective.
“My excellent situation is a small bunch dash,” she stated. “But I do know that earlier than, I must survive on the climbs, and in addition the downhill is sort of technical, however I actually hope for a small bunch dash.”
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To get to that time and contest the victory, nevertheless, Balsamo must take care of the Tre Capi – three smaller climbs within the closing 60km – after which the famed Cipressa and Poggio, two climbs that aren’t overly steep however due to this fact will likely be raced at velocity.
“I believe the climbs are onerous however not loopy onerous, so I believe they’re good climbs for a Classics rider or a sprinter that is ready to survive on the climbs,” she stated, basically describing her personal rider profile.
“I believe perhaps the Capo Berta is a little bit bit underestimated, it’s nonetheless 2km and it’s fairly steep, however actually I believe it’s too removed from the end. But It could make a little bit distinction within the peloton.”
As for the ultimate climbs, Balsamo is making ready for assaults, the place she and her Lidl-Trek group must work onerous to remain in rivalry and in place in opposition to a probable onslaught from stronger climbers like Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez).
“I believe there will likely be additionally assaults on the Cipressa. There are lots of sturdy groups and robust climbers or Classics riders, so I believe the Cipressa will likely be actually onerous from the underside to the highest, and they’ll attempt to assault,” she stated.
“But I additionally suppose that it’s nonetheless lengthy between the Cipressa and the Poggio, and perhaps we are able to come again – perhaps not all collectively however a small group – after which on the Poggio, for certain they may assault. I believe we actually must experience as a group, as a result of it’s doable to return again in between the Cipressa and the Poggio, it’s nonetheless lengthy.”
Balsamo made a nominal point out of her group’s different choices – Niamh Fisher-Black will begin as their strongest climber – however the Italian will begin because the clear chief, with a robust group assembled across the ambition of delivering her to the highest of the Poggio within the entrance group.
The solely concern will likely be to not play harmful video games with the breakaway, because the peloton did at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, however Lidl-Trek needs to be counted amongst the groups who will take duty for retaining issues below management.
“I believe that everybody realized from Nieuwsblad, but additionally everybody actually desires to win San Remo, so there could be a breakaway, however all of the peloton will work collectively to [not let the break] get ten minutes, after which everybody will battle on the climb,” Balsamo stated.
“So I’m fairly certain that no less than 5 – 6 groups can work collectively to maintain the breakaway shut as a result of it’s such an vital race and everybody desires to battle for the win.”
A wealth of expertise within the group automobile
As properly as Balsamo’s Classics power and fast dash, Lidl-Trek have one thing of a trick up their sleeves: the expertise of DS Ina Teutenberg, who raced the Primavera Rosa throughout her profession as a professional.
The German isn’t the one DS who will go into Saturday with precise racing expertise – Human Powered Health’s Giorgia Bronzini additionally raced the outdated ladies’s Milan-San Remo on three events – however her experience will definitely be a bonus as Balsamo seems to be to comply with Trixi Worrack as the subsequent winner of this Italian Monument.
“We are fortunate to have Ina with us,” Balsamo stated of her long-term director. “She was using with us as we speak and yesterday. I believe she can provide us vital suggestions within the climbs. She was a extremely, actually sturdy rider and he or she stated that she actually believed that we are able to survive on the climbs.
“She has lots of expertise, not solely on this race, so it’s very nice to have a DS like her. She’s raced virtually each race we’re doing now, so I believe it’s good as a result of she can provide lots of options and recommendation.”
Plenty of that recommendation has revolved across the descents, with Lidl-Trek figuring out the downhills as a spot to make a distinction, and the riders working with a technical coach, particularly on descending, within the run-up to the race.
“I believe [the descents] are actually vital, as a result of we are able to see that the boys’s race was additionally gained within the downhill of the Poggio in some years, so it’s not solely about being quick within the climb, but additionally being good within the downhill,” Balsamo stated.
As the Italian identified, everybody will wish to win on Saturday, however it might be further particular for Balsamo. Not simply because it’s her dwelling Classic, however as a result of the 27-year-old has had two seasons considerably marred by crashes and unhealthy luck, and that is her likelihood to actually have a clear run on the spring, and hopefully, an enormous win.
“Of course coming again after two actually unhealthy crashes was not straightforward, however I’m actually glad that I’m right here and that I really feel good,” she stated. “I used to be a little bit bit unfortunate within the final two years, however I used to be all the time combating, so I’m simply glad to be again to feeling good and to be right here with my group.”