The day of the presentation for the SD Worx-Protime It's always a special occasion, sometimes with a touch of originality. This year the Dutch team revealed itself to FOMU – Photo Museum in Antwerp and before taking to the stage in blocks as usual, the athletes had their media day appointment. We took the opportunity to take the pulse of Barbara Guarischi, a portion of the Italian share of the team (opening photo Getty Sport).
At the start of her third season (and with a 2026 contract already in her pocket), the sprinter from Lecco has completed her full integration into SD Worx, finding a dimension more within her reach. Not that she hadn't integrated well before, quite the opposite, but It's not a given that you can join the strongest team in the women's panorama and immediately become a perfect cog in the wheel.Guarischi has built a role of trust for herself along the way, primarily for Wiebes and secondarily for Kopecky. Now, with that good dose of experience that accompanies her, she is ready for a year in which she wants to set new goals. both team and personal.
Barbara, how did the retreats go?
Very good, I was surprised in both. This year I started training later than usual, taking a two-week total break.I finished in December on a high note, but then around New Year's I caught the flu and had to stop. Honestly, I was a little worried about going to the retreat in early January having lost my form. Instead, I finished on a very positive note. Day after day I felt better and better..
Have you also drawn up the competition program?
We have drawn up an initial calendar overview with several “long lists”, i.e. the races in which we could compete. Personally I will start on February 6th at UAE Tour Women's cycling and after a few weeks at home, I will return on March 2nd with Hageland, even though I'm a reserve for the Nieuwsblad the day before. Generally speaking, I should be able to complete a good portion of the Northern races. At the moment I am a reserve for the Vuelta, I should almost certainly race the Giro Women's cycling, while I won't do the Tour Femmes. We'll obviously see the rest as we go along and how the season goes.
Continuing with a news story from a few days ago, the UCI has banned celebrations for teammates. Thinking back to the sprint at Giro Women's cycling won by Kopecky launched by you, what are your thoughts on this?
Now I will have to be very careful, even more so since I was at the Tour the first "ammonite" of history. (he says smiling with healthy irony, ed.) Jokes aside, I believe that with these regulations we risk killing the emotions that come instinctivelyIn Foligno, I'd said after the stage that I wanted to celebrate Lotte's victory, but also knowing I wouldn't hinder any of my opponents in the sprint, since I was at a safe distance. That hadn't been the classic general sprint, where we all know we shouldn't get distracted or celebrate too early. However, I understand the new regulation and I believe that I, like all the other athletes, will have no problems adapting..
Another flash. You girls often take turns in the kitchen during training camps. Is it easier to cook dinner for the team or to sprint perfectly for Wiebes?
Good question (smiles again, ed.). Considering that this year There are eighteen of us athletes and counting all the staff, I would say that it was more difficult to make four kilos of Italian risotto for everyoneBut I can tell you that it turned out very well, following the recipe to the letter and using chicken broth instead of vegetable broth. Together with our chefs we then wanted to give it an extra touch. We added some caramelized pears, which paired beautifully with the mix of parmesan and another more mature cheese. Everyone loved it!
As we enter our third year together, how are the interactions between Guarischi and Wiebes?
Immediately Lorena and I had a great time without any problems.And everything became even easier when Kopecky was on the train too; we didn't even have to talk. Of course, every now and then something didn't go right, and this year, since the two of them should have separate calendars, Lorena and I are also thinking about other mechanisms. To avoid losing her strength, I could also try to be the second to last wheel and leave the lead out to another teammateWe'll understand it race after race.
So you'll always be where Wiebes runs?
Generally speaking, yes, because we still have important goals to achieve in many races with her. However, this year, the coaches and I have chosen a different program. Where we won't have Lorena, Lotte or Anna (Van der Breggen, ed.) as captain, I will have more freedomThe intention is to try to achieve results with greater consistency in the many alternative matches. It won't be easy because in women's cycling no one gives you anything for free, but we'll try..
Was this “promotion” a reward for your work over the past two years?
I don't know why In this team, each of us knows what our role is.The sacrifices are many and every day must be done to perfection to achieve the best possible result or to be able to maintain a certain level. I can say instead that The victory at the Simac Tour in mid-October gave me back the confidence that I had largely lacked in previous years to play my cards. That spark ignited again, and for me it became an additional motivation, especially considering that I'm no longer a young girl (smiles, ed.).
You've been an elite/pro for seventeen years, but you don't look it. Have you noticed a change in yourself since you arrived at SD Worx?
I think I used to talk about it with my sports directors during training camps. From my first day here until today I'm a completely different athlete.I've grown so much. If you join a big team, you have to prove you can handle it, and if you work well for great champions, you'll inevitably improve a lot too. It's neither easy nor a given. This is why I am very happy to give my contribution to the team and to my growth..
Now that Van der Breggen is back racing, will she continue to be your coach?
Yes, she will always be the one to follow my preparation and that of 2-3 other girlsI laughed with Anna during the training camps because in the gym she noticed how much weight they'd given her. We were standing next to each other, I turned to her and said, "You didn't believe me when I told you, but you saw how hard it was?" This spirit is one of our greatest resources. This year I don't know if we will be the strongest, but we will be strong because the new additions have been carefully considered..
