Barbara Guarischi, one of Team SD Worx-Protime most experienced riders, has committed to the team for two more years. The Italian routinier is an important strongholder within the Dutch World team. “Barbara Guarischi carries professionalism and sets a good example. She puts in a lot of work and thus forms an important foundation of Team SD Worx-Protime,’ sports manager Danny Stam confirmed.
Barbara Guarischi joined Team SD Worx-Protime in 2023 and played an important role in getting the sprint train on point. Danny Stam explained, ‘She and Lorena Wiebes have meant a lot in optimising our lead-out. They are a duo that can blindly rely on each other. When Barbara signed with us, everyone thought it was a bit of past glory, but she has proved everyone wrong. She is invaluable. Not only in sprint stages, but also in classics. Barbara Guarischi is a paragon of the professionalism needed to deliver a top performance. Barbara expressed her desire to race for two more years and we are happy that she will do so with us.’
For Barbara Guarischi, Team SD Worx-Protime is the team where she found her motivation and regained self-confidence. ‘When I first arrived here, I was no longer 100 per cent motivated. But at Team SD Worx-Protime, I found the joy in cycling completely back. I felt myself getting better month after month. Cycling has evolved tremendously and become a lot tougher. You have to sacrifice a lot for it, but when you feel you can make a difference for champions and help them to victory, you get a lot of satisfaction from that.’
‘A career has a certain duration,’ Guarischi continued. ‘Five years ago I was still winning bunch sprints myself, but at a certain point I couldn’t do that anymore. I accepted that and focused on trying to help others get wins. My greatest strength has always been my ability to assess and anticipate the movements of other riders. I have the gaze of an eagle, so to speak. I have a good overview of what is happening and almost always find the gap. That comes in very handy in the lead-out. I have been able to celebrate many great wins since I arrived at Team SD Worx-Protime. There is a match between the DNA of this team and how I am in life myself. The work here is super professional, but at the same time there is a warm, jovial atmosphere. You also get the necessary freedom. As a professional athlete, you are passionate about your job and you do know when to be disciplined and focused. I am proud to be able to ride for this great team for two more years and finish my career here.
