Team SD Worx-Protime has signed Rachele Barbieri through 2028. The 29-year-old Italian will strengthen the sprinters' department of the team. Barbieri hopes to regain her best form with Team SD Worx-Protime and progress in her career. Last August, the Italian won the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games held at home. «Rachele will have a fundamental role in the lead-out train for Lorena Wiebes», emphasizes sports director Danny Stam.

Rachele Barbieri has been on Team SD Worx-Protime's radar for some time. The Italian riders already in the squad, Elena Cecchini and Barbara Guarischi, had also indicated Barbieri as a possible valuable addition to the group.

Danny Stam: «Elena Cecchini will retire at the end of this season and Barbara Guarischi, who is now 35 years old, is also approaching the end of her career. We signed Rachele with the future in mind. She is destined to fill the void that will be created when Barbara also retires and, subsequently, will become the new lead-out rider for Lorena Wiebes. We've already had the opportunity to see her perform this role very well for Charlotte Kool. In the professional peloton, there are not many athletes capable of effectively setting up a sprint. Rachele is one of the few who has perfected this task and can therefore be of great value to our team».

Rachele Barbieri says that Team SD Worx-Protime has been her dream team throughout her career. «I still can't believe that next year I'll be racing for this iconic team. It's a great opportunity for me. The team's DNA perfectly aligns with the type of athlete I am. I'm a cyclist who always gives everything for her teammates. I've transitioned from being a leader to a cyclist who helps others achieve the best possible result. That's why, when one of my teammates wins, I feel immense joy. A victory is the result of the work of the entire team and staff. In Team SD Worx-Protime, moreover, it's evident from the outside that there's a real family atmosphere. A positive work environment helps you push beyond your limits for your teammates», she states.

And further: «I can't wait to be part of the lead-out train of the strongest sprinter in the world. I couldn't imagine a better mentor than Barbara Guarischi. Being part of the same train as Barbara and Lorena Wiebes is a dream come true. I was also in Livigno when the Tour de France team was there for an altitude training camp. I trained with them for a day and they were all incredibly helpful and friendly. Knowing that I'll soon be working with such strong athletes is a great motivation for me»

 «Obviously my main role will be to be part of the team for sprints, but I want to be a good domestique for any team leader. I made that clear from the first conversation: I want to develop into a road captain, a cyclist able to put her work at the service of the team's objectives. The last three years haven't been my best seasons. I'm confident that with Team SD Worx-Protime I'll be able to return to my best form. I thrive in environments where there's a strong bond between athletes and staff and where you have the freedom to combine, for example, track cycling and road racing. I believe that track training makes a cyclist stronger on the road as well», says Barbieri, who in 2017 became world champion in the scratch discipline and who will return to compete at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai, scheduled for this October, after a three-year absence

Barbieri adds: «The gold medal I won at the Mediterranean Games was a real confidence boost. I can't wait to start this adventure with Team SD Worx-Protime. I would also like to thank Elena Cecchini for the trust she has placed in me. I will work extremely hard to reach the best condition of my life and to repay the team for the trust and opportunity they've given me».