Elisa Balsamo will require surgery after fracturing her left scaphoid bone and both her left and right mandible following her crash during stage 1 of the RideLondon Classic.
The former World Champion had two crashes early in the 149.7km route, compelling her to withdraw from the competition.
Trek-Segafredo tweeted late Friday evening a full medical update on the Italian’s condition, saying: “After crashing out of Ride London Stage 1, Elisa was taken to hospital as a precaution and for further examination.
“X-Rays and scans revealed that she has suffered a fracture of the left scaphoid bone as well as fractures of both the left and right mandible, which will require surgery.
“She will undergo surgery either tonight or tomorrow in the UK.
“More updates to follow.”
Lizzie Deignan (Trek Segafredo) showcased her resilience as she led an impressive attack in stage 1 after her Balsamo was forced to abandon the race. Despite the setback, Deignan claimed a third-place finish behind Charlotte Kool (Team DSM) and Clara Copponi (FDJ-SUEZ) in a challenging uphill sprint to the finish line in Colchester.
Reflecting on the turn of events, Deignan expressed her pride in the team’s ability to adapt to the unexpected circumstances, saying: “The plan at the beginning of the day was to go for a sprint with Elisa Balsamo, unfortunately, she crashed out, so I’m just proud of the team that we made the best of a bad situation and got a podium place.”
Deignan credited the team’s director, Ina Teutenberg, for effectively guiding them through the race despite the disappointment of Balsamo’s exit: “Ina Teutenberg, our director, is very good from the car at making sure everybody had that little moment to take a breather because it’s hard to hear that your teammate has crashed out. “She allowed us that time and then said ‘Right girls, time to refocus and attack this race because we don’t have a sprinter anymore,’ so we had to attack.
“I didn’t expect to be on the podium, I thought I was still a way off podiums,” Deignan said on her position.
“I’ve been working really hard and working hard within races and I know that’s the best way to get fitness. I’ve enjoyed being a teammate but also it’s nice to have my own opportunity today.
“I felt really strong and I had good legs today so I hope I wake up with the same ones tomorrow.”
In an earlier pre-race press conference, Deignan expressed her belief that the upcoming stage in Maldon would be ideal for her and her teammates, presenting a favourable opportunity for a breakaway using aggressive tactics.
Stage 2 spans 137.1km with three laps of a 22km circuit featuring North Hill and an uphill finish.
When questioned about their strategy in light of Balsamo’s absence, Deignan replied, “With nothing to lose.”
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