Vittoria Guazzini brought Italy its first rainbow jersey at the 2022 UCI Road World Championships on Saturday in Wollongong, Australia. 21-year-old Guazzini won the world title in the under-23 women's time trial, a combined event in the new elite U23 category, to win the world title.

"Time trials always make me nervous. Time trial is my favorite event and it's my inner race. So in the end, I didn't think about under-23s or elites, I just went full throttle from start to finish," Guazzini said at the post-race press conference while wearing her new rainbow jersey.

"I heard on the radio that I had a good time among the elite racers. I was aiming for the podium too, but the other riders were stronger. I am happy with my performance. I was able to wear this jersey. It's always been a dream to wear the rainbow stripes.

Guazzini finished fourth in the 34.2km time trial, which consisted of two laps around the circuit, including the Dumfries climb. She was 52 seconds behind elite time trial world champion Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands), 40 seconds behind silver medalist Grace Brown (Australia), and only 11 seconds behind bronze medalist Marlen Reusser (Switzerland).

"For me, climbing is really difficult. So today my legs were very good, I felt good right from the start, I didn't feel the climb too much," Guazzini said.

"I was really motivated to wear this jersey, and when I was on the course I was just thinking about going as fast as possible, not focusing on anything else, learning the corners, and keeping the gas pedal fully open until the end."

This is the first year that the UCI will award world titles to women under 23 in both the time trial and the September 24 road race; since 1996, the UCI has not offered a single event for women under 23, as it has for men under 23. controversial decision to encompass it in the elite women's competition, but aims to offer a stand-alone race in 2025.

"I think it's good that there is now a category for girls under 23. It's a huge jump from junior to elite and if I know I can compete and win something, that's a great motivation," Guazzini said

"It will be in the middle [of the elite races] until 2025, so for now we I have to be happy with that, but if it becomes two independent races, of course it will be better. For now I will enjoy my title and we will see what happens in the future."

Guazzini won the under-23 title in a single event at last year's European Championships, and now she has won the under-23 world title. Asked if she would one day like to add an elite time trial world title to her collection, she replied: "Of course, this would be a great motivation. [Of course this is a great motivation. I think I did a really good race and it gives me hope that I am going in the right direction for the future. Hopefully, I can wear this jersey in the elite category as well. Who knows?"