Stage two of the Giro d'Italia sets off from Roncade, a Giro that has clearly started amid controversy following what happened to Lorena Wiebes, who was disqualified from the race due to a bicycle irregularity.
Just a few kilometers after the start, the day's first breakaway takes shape, featuring Sara Luccon and Elisa de Vallier of Top Girls Fassa Bortoloa team hunting for a new main sponsor after Fassa Bortolo's departure at the end of the season, and Eleonora La Bella of Aromitalia Vaiano. A second trio consisting of J. Nelson, F. Hashimi, and G. Serena launches a counter-attack in pursuit, but their effort is neutralized with 88km to go.
Up ahead in the breakaway, on the only QOM of the day, the Muro di Ca' del Poggio, which was also tackled just a few days ago by the men's Giro d'Italia, Eleonora La Bella pulls clear to secure the blue jersey as leader of the mountains classification. At this point, the breakaway's advantage hovers around 2' before steadily dropping, until they are finally reabsorbed 11km from the finish line by a peloton locked and loaded for a bunch sprint.
The approach to the finish runs smoothly without any incidents or crashes, with UAE taking control of the situation in the final kilometers, leading the pack through the technical sharp hairpin turn. Charlotte Kool is the first to open her sprint, having started from much further back than her rivals, who comfortably overhaul her once they launch their moves. In the end, it is Elisa Balsamo, clad in the maglia rosa, who claims this second stage victory! Lara Gillespie crosses the line in second, with Chiara Consonni finishing third, while Kool and Guarischi round out the top five.