The Italian Championship took place on Sunday afternoon. As expected, the race ended in a bunch sprint. Rachele Barbieri showed her fast legs once again and finished on the podium again.
In Italy, a mostly flat course between Medolla and San Felic sul Panaro awaited the peloton. Despite a few attempts at attack, everything came together in the last kilometres. Without her Liv Racing Xstra teammates, Rachele Barbieri still managed to qualify for the sprint. World champion Elisa Balsamo turned out to be the fastest at the finish, and Barbieri raced to silver.
“I’m happy with my second place because Elisa was very strong today. Of course, I am also a little bit disappointed, because I would have liked to bring the tricolour jersey to the team and be able to ride in it for a year. During the race, I tried to jump a few more times in a breakaway, but nobody wanted to cooperate with me. So I focused on my sprint. I’m happy with that because I’m leaving a few strong riders behind me. I will take this result with me to the Giro and aim for the highest there again”, said Barbieri after the race.