If motivations are the salt of an athlete's life, then Barbara Guarischi He used more than a pinch of it to season what he wanted with his future.His career has been anything but insipid, especially in his final season with thegold in the Mediterranean, tricolor gravel and podiums on the track, synonymous with versatility. Perhaps, however, it was still missing something to spice it up further. The new adventure at SD Worx, officially started a few weeks ago, seems like the right recipe.
We've known Guarischi for many years, and his tone of voice immediately conveys a mix of serenity and greater determination than in the past. The transition to the Dutch battleship has deeper roots than one might imagine, born from a sort of challenge with herself that she had to resolve. During the retreat in Denia, In Spain, we asked him to tell us about his first days with SD Worx. Sensations, plans, role, Wiebes, comrades…
Barbara, how has this last period been?
A little hectic, but stimulating. I've always thought that in winter you lay the foundations for the rest of the season.Cycling in the heat is very useful. We will be here on retreat with the team until January 16thThen stop in Belgium for medical visits then I will return to Spain on January 22nd and will be on retreat with the national road team until the 31st. Because the debut will be just around the corner at that point.
Do you already have a draft of your calendar?
Yup. No European Track Championships and Nations Cup in doubt due to date overlaps, although I could do the test in Cairo in March. Anyway, I'll talk about it with the team and Villa (the track manager, ed.). I will debut at UAE Tour (from February 9th to 12th, ed.). Then the Northern countryside up to RoubaixI will take a period of complete rest and then start again with three weeks of altitude training in Austria or Livigno with some of my teammates. I should compete in the Giro Donne. Then again, high altitude and, hopefully, the world championship.My trainer included it in the indicative table but it's obvious that we'll have to see how I feel, if I'll be called up and if the route will really be suitable for fast wheels or for characteristics similar to mine.
You've been in many top teams. How are you experiencing the move to SD Worx compared to those in the past?
I believe that every team change has its own extra motivational “why.” The pressure is high here, but I'm putting it on myself, it's not coming from the team.Being in the strongest team in the world is a great motivation. In recent years I feel like I have matured a lot thanks to life and the bike.In short, it's the same as other years but there's something more behind it...
What do you mean?
In the spring of 2022 I was no longer feeling well. I never liked to complain or settle.I felt I had to change something and make a personal choice. Perhaps a risky one, but one I had to make. So I took on my responsibilities, got back into the game and asked Movistar to let me go at the end of the season with another year left on my contract., while still maintaining the utmost professionalism, as I've always done. I had nothing in hand, and no one was looking for me because no one knew. I thank Sebastian and Eusebio Unzue again so much. (the two general managers of Movistar, ed.) who understood my decision.
What happened then?
During a mid-season retreat in Livigno I was training with Elena and Chantal (respectively Cecchini e Blaak, ed.) and I confided in them that I had freed myself. They were very surprised, they suggested that I give Danny Stam a call. (the sports director of SD Worx, ed.). I wasn't at all convinced, but I did it after a few days. And we started negotiating the transition. And the two of them helped me integrate into the team.
While you've had a good relationship with Cecchini for a long time, did you also confide in Blaak that you had predicted his victory at the World Championships in 2017?
Yes and she started laughing (she answers us amused, ed.). I've always liked Chantal as an athlete. We both know how to read the race well.We have a good bond, even though she's stronger than me. She's very intelligent, especially considering how she handled her pregnancy by going out on her bike with us. Now he is acting as an intermediary between us and the managementFor example, if we have to complain about something we tell her and she then finds the right way to tell our sports directors (smiles, ed.).
And how is it going with Wiebes?
We're getting to know each other. We've always shared a room together. Lorena is always available and smiling. We're working well and it's very easy to work with her., even in training sprint tests. UAE Tour will be the first time we put them under pressure. We just have to runThere is already good harmony, even if we know that we could face more difficult days but we are not afraid.
And what about the rest of the team?
Great, better than I expected. It's a very professional, yet very relaxed environment. The November training camp organized by Specialized in San Francisco was essential in strengthening the group's unity, as confirmed to me by my comrades who have been here longer. There we were able to get to know each other for who we really are.On the bike rides I was impressed by the team's potential. And think, so far I have pulled very little because all the girls are not afraid to be in front.
Has Barbara Guarischi already set goals with her SD Worx in these first days of 2023?
Right. I want to be useful to the team's causeSince they believed in me, I want to prove that I'm worthy. I would like to contribute to forming the train for Lorena with more carriages just right for her.We know that if we do things right, we will have no problem getting results.
