Sunday afternoon the Italian championships on the road took place. As expected the race finished in a bunch sprint. Rachele Barbieri showed her fast legs again and finished on the podium.
In Italy a flat route between Medolla and San Felic sul Panaro waited for the peloton. Despite several attacks the peloton came back together in the final kilometres. Without her Liv Racing Xstra team mates Rachele Barbieri positioned herself well for the final sprint. World champion Elisa Balsamo was the fastest at the line, Barbieri took a silver medal.
“I am happy with my second place, because Elisa was really strong today. Of course I am a little bit disappointed, because I would love to bring the tricolore jersey to the team and ride in it for a whole year. During the race I tried to get in a breakaway, but nobody wanted to work with me. So I focused on my sprint then. I am happy with my sprint as I leave some strong riders behind me. I will take this result to the Giro and aim for the highest there again”, Barbieri told after the race.