If being able to get back up and move forward were an Olympic discipline, Elisa Balsamo would hold the absolute record. The Lidl Trek star, who has already won so much in her career, has often had to deal with bad luck and injuries that, however, have never stopped her. Elisa's philosophy is simple: reset everything and start over, making a clean slate of what has been done by erasing the bad things and starting again with the hunger of someone who wants to take revenge.

In 2025, Elisa confirmed herself as one of the top Italian riders with five victories and numerous podiums, especially in northern races. "I'm quite satisfied with my season, particularly the spring, which was very positive. The victories at Valenciana and Binda were definitely the best moments, and I placed well many times. I tried to challenge Lorena Wiebes, who is getting stronger and stronger. Looking back at previous years, I may have won less, but I had many more placements, which means I was always ready to compete. The summer was a bit complicated; I discovered I had a virus and carried it with me for a long time, so I had to necessarily give up some things," Elisa explains to tuttobiciweb. The most beautiful victory remains the triple win at the Trofeo Binda, while the seventh place in the newly created Sanremo leaves hope that she might aim for a big breakthrough in the future. Meanwhile, this year Lorena Wiebes made an additional leap in level, especially in harder races. Elisa has already beaten her, but doesn't want to focus on her, just wants to be the first among all.

Seeing the excellent first part of the season, the question arises: what could Elisa Balsamo have done if everything had gone according to plan? She asks herself this too, but doesn't like to talk about "what ifs" or play the victim; she prefers actual results. Sooner or later, bad luck will have to end. For younger athletes, she is an example of strength through her resilience and ability to set new challenges. No fall can stop Elisa, who is quickly back in the saddle and eager to win. But what is her real secret? "I believe my greatest strength is the ability to reset everything. After a fall, I'm already looking ahead, and after a victory, I immediately think about the next challenge. I realize this can be somewhat negative; I risk not fully enjoying a success, but I'm a very demanding person who requires a lot from everyone, both myself and others. Perhaps sometimes I should try to be happy, but it's not in my nature. It's impossible for me to rest on my laurels. Sure, I've won a world championship, worn the pink jersey, but I actually have many other goals I want to and absolutely will achieve. It always seems a bit strange to me when someone says they want to take me as a reference point, but this following pushes me to bring out the best in myself."

After some relaxation in Cape Verde, Elisa has already started working towards 2026, and her biggest goal she tells us directly, without beating around the bush: winning a classic. "For next year, I first hope for a healthy season without hitches, and then I definitely want to focus on the classics. My dream is to win a great classic. I don't have a specific one in mind; it could be the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, or Milan-Sanremo, but I really want to stand on the top step of the podium. For the second part of the season, I'd like to win a Tour stage. With the team, we've been trying for a long time, and something always goes wrong. It's time to repay everyone for the hard work."

Will track cycling still be part of her plans? Actually, Elisa has never really stopped using the track for training and team tests, even though she's been absent from races for a while. 2026 will still be focused on road cycling, but the rider from Piedmont promises she'll return, though there's no specific date. One thing we can't ignore: in 2028, the Olympics will be in Los Angeles, and we're sure Balsamo will do everything to be there.