Elisa Balsamo to undergo surgery after fractures in stage 1 of RideLondon Classic crash

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.

Ad 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. RideLondon ClassiqueDeignan 'feeling stronger' for RideLondon and hopes to inspire next generation11/05/2023 AT 13:51 »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,