Elisa Balsamo eyes Paris in her recovery from horror Vuelta crash: "The Olympic dream is still there and it is burning stronger than before"
Cycling
It's been just a short while since the latest update on Elisa Balsamo, but to her fans, it must have felt like an eternity. The former world champion had to undergo surgery to treat the several injuries she suffered in a scary crash during the opening stage of La Vuelta Femenina.
However the newest update is the best one we could have received as the Lidl-Trek rider herself informed on her latest progress on her Instagram. Of course, considering the severity of her injuries, immediate return to competition is not possible, however Balsamo is still optimistic about her appearance at the Olympic race in Paris. In just two months.
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"I introduce this post with a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has written to me, showed your love to me and sent their best wishes. It has been a difficult two weeks, I won't deny it. A roller-coaster of emotions. From fear to sorrow, from anger to hope," she wrote.
"The only constant has been the determination to get up, once again. It will take time, patience and sacrifice. But thanks to the help of extraordinary people and the affection I feel around me, I know I can do it."
"At the moment I cannot make any predictions about my return. The Olympic dream is still there and it is burning stronger than before. But now, unfortunately, I have more hopes than certainties. I live the present focused on recovery. The worst is over and now I am turning disappointment and anger into strength. Once again, thank you all. We will talk soon, I promise!"
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- A great route aswell. Col D'Arcy is a toughie
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - Let Torito have a shot at it
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - A great route, much more exciting than the Tour de France. Monte Livata is an interesting one, because they experimented with it at the 2026 Baby Giro, and it was fantastic. 4 km at 10%, then 10 km at 6.5% made for a great spectacle. The stage 16 is horrible
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - I remember when Mark went through that. He was really experiencing lows and thought about quiting many times. It took him a long time to recover. I, like many others were overjoyed when he came back. I hope Lafay has been tested. I wish him the best.Paggss03-11-2026
- That sucks for him. I've always wondered what guys like him do after retiring from cycling - go back to uni? He's still a very young manCrashjames03-11-2026
- Good Point, I wonder if he's been testedmhfrvz03-11-2026
- A busy boy!Lozza03-11-2026
- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
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