Elisa Balsamo claimed her first Giro d'Italia Donne stage today in Sardinia ©Getty Images

Italian Elisa Balsamo of Trek-Segafredo was a popular winner after surging past Dutch rider Marianne Vos from Jumbo-Visma in the final seconds to claim the second stage of the 2022 Giro d'Italia Donne, in her debut year at the race.

Over the 106.5-kilometre course from Villasimius to Tortoli, riders went down to the southern tip of Sardinia, with Trek-Segafredo's Lauretta Hanson from Australia and Amalie Dideriksen of Denmark supporting Balsamo well heading into the sprint.

She was able to overcome Vos, who finished second, as well as another cyclist from The Netherlands - Charlotte Kool of DSM to cross the line in 2 hours 39min 13sec.

Hanson and Dideriksen took control of the breakaway, with the bold riders being brought back into the peloton with 10km to go.

Vos' compatriot and team-mate Anouska Koster made a run for the line with a mile to go.

With 75 metres to go, it was Balsamo who got up to Vos and past her to take her first Giro stage win.

Belgian Lotte Kopecky of SD-Worx and Italian Chiara Consonni from Valcar Travel and Service were fourth and fifth across the line.

Balsamo now leads the general classification by four seconds to American cyclist Kristen Faulkner of Team BikeExchange-Jayco, yesterday's time trial winner.

Faulkner's team-mate Georgia Baker sits in third overall, eight seconds behind Balsamo.