Barbara Guarischi will continue her long and successful spell with SD Worx-Protime after signing a new contract that keeps her with the team until the end of 2027. The Italian, now 35, has become one of the most trusted road captains in the Women’s WorldTour and says the environment in the squad continues to motivate her year after year.
A veteran presence who still relishes the job
Guarischi described the atmosphere within the team as the driving force behind her decision to stay. She spoke of finding renewed purpose in a group where experience, responsibility and camaraderie all carry weight. “I feel at home here,” she said. “Cycling still excites me, and being surrounded by great people makes the hard work worthwhile.”
A rider who has spent more than half her life in the sport, Guarischi reflected on what it means to contribute to collective success. For her, the best wins are the ones built on teamwork. “The most beautiful victories are those you achieve together as a team. It is about all the pieces falling into place, not one rider standing out.”
Building leaders by being the rider behind them
Since joining SD Worx in 2023, Guarischi has become a central figure in the team’s sprint and lead-out structure. She highlighted the role that training alongside Lorena Wiebes has played in raising her own level and, in turn, refining the team’s approach in critical moments.
“To be good for my leaders, I had to be good for myself,” she said. “By challenging myself and going deep, I could position my leaders better. This team has made me stronger and more confident.”
Her next two seasons will continue to be shaped by that sense of responsibility. Guiding younger riders, passing on knowledge and anchoring the sprint train remain key elements of her role.
The value of experience in a powerhouse squad
SD Worx-Protime sports manager Danny Stam said the renewal reflects the importance of having a rider who understands the nuances of race finales and the demands of guiding a group with major ambitions. “We are pleased to extend Barbara’s contract. She has played a key part in many of our victories since 2023. Nobody finds the right lines in the final metres quite like Barbara.”
Stam emphasised that a balanced squad requires a mix of youth and experience, and described Guarischi as a road captain whose knowledge is indispensable.
A career grounded in resilience
Guarischi’s trajectory is one built on effort rather than early stardom. She said she was not the biggest talent in her youth, but credits discipline and perseverance for carrying her to the top level, earning victories at the Giro d’Italia Women, Thüringen Ladies Tour and Sparkassen Giro among others.
Across a career spanning more than a decade and a half, she has taken eight professional wins, most recently a stage at the 2024 Simac Ladies Tour.
Her journey continues now into a fifth season with SD Worx-Protime, with a contract that secures her future through 2027 and ensures the team retains one of its most reliable leaders as it builds toward the next era of its dominance.
