'This role doesn't belong to me anymore'–Barbara Guarischi steps into unfamiliar sprinting role at Giro d’Italia Women following Lorena Wiebes's disqualification

Barbara Guarischi found herself in an unexpected position at the Giro d’Italia Women after her teammate Lorena Wiebes was disqualified for riding an underweight bike during stage one. With Wiebes removed from contention, the SD Worx-Proteam squad shifted their focus to Guarischi as their lead sprinter for stage two. The 35-year-old Italian, who had primarily served as Wiebes’s lead-out rider since joining the team in 2023, embraced the challenge despite personal doubts, ultimately finishing fifth in the bunch sprint in Caorle. The decision to back Guarischi as the sprinter was a significant departure from her usual role, as she openly admitted feeling out of place in the position. She expressed that sprinting no longer felt like her forte, having long identified Wiebes as the team’s primary finisher. Nevertheless, the team management and her fellow riders encouraged her to take on the role as a symbolic gesture, recognising her experience and contribution to the squad rather than expecting a victory. On race day, the absence of the dominant favourite Wiebes altered the dynamics of the sprint finish, with SD Worx-Proteam adopting a more conservative approach. Guarischi described the stage as challenging, citing strong headwinds and a fast final five kilometres, but acknowledged that without Wiebes to lead her out, the sprint lacked its usual cohesion. Despite these hurdles, she managed a respectable top-five finish behind race leader Elisa Balsamo, who secured her second consecutive win. Guarischi’s performance and candid reflections highlight the complexities teams face when adapting to sudden changes in leadership during high-profile races. The situation underscores the importance of versatility and resilience within professional cycling squads, especially in the women’s peloton where team roles can be sharply defined. Moving forward, SD Worx-Proteam will need to recalibrate their sprint strategy as the Giro progresses, potentially looking to other riders like Femke Gerritse to support or share sprinting responsibilities in the absence of Wiebes.