They gave him the two boxes with the clothes as soon as he arrived at the hotel and at that point Filippo Baroncini realized that he had entered a world bigger than he had imagined.Then dinner. Trying to memorize all the names. The photos. The bikes. Only that little pain in his knee every now and then brought him back to reality..
“It all seems so big,” he says, “it’s impossible to know everyone already. I'm understanding the mechanisms, everyone's roles. And the knee problem itself made me realize how competent they are. The osteopath treated my back using acupuncture and said he found me a bit blocked.It should pass. I had an MRI, and they suggested I stay home for three days."
With Aru and with Moscow
Last days in Altea for the Trek-Segafredo. The team and its marketing staff have monopolized the hotelIt's understandable that for the Under-23 world champion, everything seemed immense and, in some ways, even a little confusing. He had spoken about his first steps in professional football. with Fabio Aru on that ride in the Sibillini Mountains, bringing the rainbow jersey to the lands of the 2016 earthquake. This time however he found himself in the room with Jacopo Mosca, who during the ten days in Spain did nothing but provide him with references and coordinates.
Have you ever had doubts about choosing a team?
Not even one. I saw how they work with the young people and I immediately liked the idea. They supported me, albeit remotely, even in the final months of the season. At the World Championships, before the time trial, they helped me stay motivated.One day before the road test, they jokingly came to tell me I was going to win the world championship. I like that.
What do you think you can get from this first year as a pro?
Experience. I would like to go and try the Belgian races right away, which are run on courses similar to those of the Leuven World Championships. If I had to look at our home country, a good example would be Stuyven. Otherwise I'm crazy about Van Aert, I see myself in his way of racing.
If you had found a place to stop by sooner, would you have done it?
In 2020 I won two races, Vicenza-Bionde and Memorial Polese, and two professionals came looking for me. But I wanted a WorldTour and I didn't want to rush things.I would have thought about it even if a squadron had come right away and I think I wouldn't have accepted, because I didn't feel safe.
When did you feel truly strong?
Certainly at the World Cup, but also before, when I won the Etoile d'Or and found the confidence to do well in Leuven.
Translate security…
I found out calmness in managing appointments and tensionIt's like I don't feel it anymore. Let's just say I don't feel the tension others can put on me; if anything, I feel my own more. Before, even the Italian championships gave me anxiety, now it's the oppositeIf the date is big, I feel less pressure.
What kind of winter has it been so far?
In some ways quite stressful, having had to travel back and forth several times between home, Bergamo and Milan. And then, when I finally got back to training, I had to stop right at the best part.
How are things going in the room with Moscow?
I had already met Jacopo at Gran Piemonte. He is a sunny and expert person, he is giving me a lot of good advice..
Advice on what to do?
My ambition it has always been and still is to winIt's what I need to move forward. But those who know me know that I have never backed down if I needed to help a friend.. So now let's fix this knee and then we'll go again. In the meantime I'll have to find a way to bring home a lot of material. I saw that the guys from #InEmiliaRomagna, I'll ask them if they can help me take something away...
