Hailing from Pavullo Nel Frignano in Italy, Rachele is new to the team for the 2024 season and brings her years of experience racing in the bunch to our Women’s sprint group.
Getting into cycling by following in her older sister’s footsteps, she joined a local training club where she learned the basics of how to ride a bike and everything that comes after that. Rachele tried everything two-wheeled which really made her enjoy the bike and after 21 years of riding, she still enjoys it.
It wasn’t just cycling though as a young Rachele was sport-mad, trying everything from swimming to karate, football to artistic gymnastics, and she’s thankful that her parents gave her the opportunity to do whatever sport she likes. Her passion for cycling shines through and the bubbly and talkative Rachele loves the opportunities the sport brings.
“Our work is hard but at the same time it gives you the possibility to travel around the world and see new things, experience new cultures which is really nice. Even back home training, on a five-hour easy ride you can go someplace you’ve never been before, even if it is just two hours from your home.”
The end of 2023 marked a hard career choice for Rachele who had to make the decision whether to continue trying to fight for a spot in the Italian Olympic track team or focus fully on the road.
“It was a difficult one to make but I am happy to have made the choice to go all-in for the road. I think I was never at the very top of the track cycling recently and did what I could there, but I think with the team I can get the maximum out of myself on the road and see where the upper limits are.”
Not diminishing her previous experiences though, Rachele says she owes a lot to track cycling as it was where she got her first “big results”, and she learned a lot through it and the sport itself.
“Cycling is good for your body and mind, and it is like a school for your life. You learn about difficult moments, learn about living alone but also living together; how to respect time and rules.”
Looking to the future, Rachele is excited to get stuck in on the road as part of the sprint group where she more often than not will ride as last lead-out ahead of Charlotte in the sprint train. Something which makes her both scared as she “wants to be good enough” but equally also very excited of the opportunities.
Previously admiring the team from afar, the togetherness and camaraderie in the Women’s program is something which inspired Rachele to join the team and the if “my teammate wins, I win”, attitude.
Despite appearing direct and quite loud, Rachele is actually quite a sensitive soul and hopes grow more into the team and bond with her teammates on a personal level once she has settled in.
“I hope to have found a place that I can 100 percent be myself.”
Away from the bike, in an almost stereotypical like fashion Rachele is, in her own words, “really good at shopping” and she loves nice clothes and high-end fashion. She also has a passion for design so there’s no doubt the décor in her house is top-notch. If she’s not kitting out her wardrobe in the latest trends, then Rachele enjoys catching up with friends or playing a game of volleyball when the time and season allows for it!