Barbara Guarischi had the biggest win of her career today at the Sparkassen Giro UCI World Cup in Bochum, Germany. Incredibly it's the Velocio-SRAM rider's second win in less than 24 hours after Guarischi last night won the Prudential Ride London Grand Prix in central London.
Today, in a very narrow sprint victory Guarischi won the World Cup ahead of Lucinda Brand (RaboLiv) and Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products).
The 124 kilometre race had action from several teams trying to create a breakaway on the circuit. The small climb on each of the eight laps provided a launch pad for attacks, in particular from RaboLiv.
Team Director Ronny Lauke said, "After the final climb it was clear that the peloton would be going for a bunch sprint. We had planned to go for Barbara in the sprint because of the hard and fast final kilometre. We had said she must go into the last corner in only first or second position, nothing else would work. Everyone in the team worked well to make it happen and once again the girls executed the plan. They deserve the great result."
Guarischi can hardly believe that she has won a World Cup, saying "It's unbelievable, really it's too much for me! After we traveled from Ride London race last night and this morning, I didn't feel good in the first lap. I went to our road captain Trixi and told her but she just told me to be patient and wait until the middle of the race see what happens. But still in the middle of the race I didn't feel good! Trixi and the girls believed in me and they delivered me perfectly in the lead out. Tiff was the last person with me at 600m to go. I could see Brand try to come through the last corner fast and D'Hoore was on her wheel. Tiff and I kept our position and she gave me space to go onto Brand's wheel. It was a similar way to how I beat Brand in the Giro Rosa stage. Except this time it was really close at the end. Just before the line I wasn't sure if it would be first or second, but then I threw my bike and I said to myself, 'it's the win!' And it was!"
The team will next race in Vårgårda, Sweden on 21 and 23 August for another two UCI World Cup's, including the Team Time Trial.