Overnight leader Elisa Balsamo strengthened her position at the top of the women’s Giro d’Italia standings by winning the second stage with a perfectly timed sprint in Caorle.

Balsamo, 28, was handed a win in Saturday’s opening stage after Lorena Wiebes was disqualified for a bike weight violation, just hours after crossing the line first.

Italian Balsamo then headed off Irish rider Lara Gillespie and compatriot Chaira Consonni at the end of Sunday’s 156km stage just outside Venice to keep the pink jersey.

It was the same three riders at the top of the podium as on Saturday, with Balsamo peeling out for the win just 200m from the finish line.

“I have been waiting for this win so much,” she said.

“I’m just so happy. I want to say a big thank you to my team-mates because they did an amazing job the whole day. And then I just did a really good sprint. It was an amazing day.

“I was just completely focused on the finish line and I pushed until the end because I knew that everyone could come from the back, they are so strong.”

Lidl-Trek’s Balsamo leads Gillespie in the standings by eight seconds, with Consonni 12 seconds back and the main peloton 20 seconds adrift.

The nine-stage race ends on 7 June.

Giro d’Italia Women stage two results

1. Elisa Balsamo (Ita/Lidl-Trek) same time

2. Lara Gillespie (Ire/UAE Team ADQ)

3. Chiara Consonni (Ita/Canyon-Sram)

4. Charlotte Kool (Ned/Fenix-Premier Tech)

5. Barbara Guarischi (Ita/Team SD Worx-Protime)

6. Arlenis Sierra (Cub/Movistar)

7. Maggie Coles-Lyster (Can/Human Powered Health)

8. Alessia Zambelli (Ita/Top Girls Fassa Bortolo)

9. Nienke Veenhoven (Ned/Team Visma)

10. Linda Zanetti (Sui/Uno-X Mobility)

General classification

1. Elisa Balsamo (Ita/Lidl-Trek) 7 hrs 15mins 51secs

2. Lara Gillespie (Ire/UAE Team ADQ) +8secs

3. Chiara Consonni (Ita/Canyon-Sram) +12secs

4. Charlotte Kool (Ned/Fenix-Premier Tech) +20 secs

5. Linda Zanetti (Sui/Uno-X Mobility) same time

6. Georgia Baker (Aus/Liv AlUla Jayco)

7. Alessia Zambelli (Ita/Top Girls Fassa Bortolo)

8. Arlenis Sierra (Cub/Movistar)

9. Gladys Verhulst-Wild (Fra/AG insurance-Soudal)

10. Cristina Tonetti (Ita/Laboral)