Baroncini and the beginnings, a story full of surprises

FILIPPO'S STORY Barons, even though it has just started, it already has many good chapters behind it. The story of his beginnings can be surprising in some ways, a little out of the ordinary but it also leaves enough room for what his future could be., provided that the professional world gives him the right opportunities and the Romagnola knows how to seize them, but this uncertainty is the very essence not only of cycling, but of the entire sport.

Filippo's adventure begins in Massa Lombarda, a small town in the province of Ravenna. It starts with… a minibus, the one from Massese Cycling who continually stops in front of his house. At first, Filippo doesn't pay much attention: the van is taking Giuseppe Graziani, his neighbor and playmate, home. Then, little by little, he becomes more and more intrigued. One day, Gian Franco brusque, who coaches the club's youth team, notices the boy and asks him if he wants to try out. "Why not?"

At the time Filippo is dedicated to football, he doesn't seem to have this great passion for two wheels, but The first thing Gian Franco notices is that he doesn't need any help at all, as often happens with kids who haven't had much experience on the pedals yet.He takes him to a small oval-shaped track near his house: Filippo goes round and round and round and never stops, but above all he never gets tired…

The beginnings… without a victory

At 10 years old, Filippo Baroncini's story at Ciclistica Massese began, a story that would last 7 years: «The beautiful thing is that the beginnings were not so idyllic – says Brusa – We often hear stories of champions who, as soon as they got on a bike, immediately won. This wasn't the case for him: in three years he won only one race.I still remember his first: he was supposed to take part in a race right here in Massa Lombarda, but the start time was approaching and he was nowhere to be found. I tried calling him on the phone and he calmly replied that he wasn't coming because his bike wasn't in order and he didn't feel fit enough... He was already like that back then, very attentive, serious, almost fussy.

At the beginning Baroncini still had to reconcile football with cycling, but the balance that was initially leaning in favour of football soon changed: «It was immediately clear that he had great qualities, only he was too generous.There was a Moldovan friend of his with whom he shared everything, in the race they always went on the attack, set the pace and promptly passed the others in the end».

Ruthless in the race, friend outside

The turning point came with that first, only victory: «It's as if something clicked in him that day, he probably understood what he could do.. He was given the right motivation to continue and make the leap to the ranks of the novices." In fact, from then on, the decision was unavoidable: enough with football, Filippo Baroncini would become a cyclist.

In the next 4 years, under the guidance of Andrea Randi, Baroncini continued to run and above all to learn: «From the first day he took it very seriously – continues Brusa – He is an extremely serious boy, not so playful, who loves cycling in all its aspects. For example, many people leave their bikes behind after the race and go away: he took care of it, cleaned it himself, you could see that there was a special feeling inside, above all a great desire to win. At that time, for example, there was another guy who often beat him: in the race it was a ruthless battle, outside they went to train together. Filippo is like that."

The importance of family

That same boy, a few weeks ago won the Under 23 world titleMany rejoiced for him, but for Gian Franco Brusa those TV images were an immense emotion: «That shot was something… professional. When I saw him, do you want to know the first thing I thought? He's finally learned to choose the right moment... In fact, I was sure it was coming."

Baroncini's strength also lies in his family: «They never put any pressure on him, nor especially on any of us. Many parents have an obsessive presence, perhaps unconsciously, but they have always let us do our job with complete freedom. But the same can be said about his sporting and technical directors. Let's just say that Filippo has been able to do his due diligence, growing through the necessary stages."

Next year… the story begins again

Filippo Baroncini's stay in the Massa club lasted seven years in total: «We will never stop thanking him enough – intervenes the president Loretta Bark – and to praise him for his achievements and the dedication he put into them, because he is an example for today's children and perhaps tomorrow's championsMany sirens approached over the course of those years, but Filippo never listened to them, he believed in us as we believed in him and he remained within the ranks of the house".

Next year, as world champion, Baroncini will join the Trek Segafredo and therefore of the professional world. Gian Franco Brusa is sure he has the qualities to stay there: «It's a tough world, everyone knows that, but I know Filippo has the brains and drive to get through it. Time will tell what he can do, though... I'll tell you an anecdote: one day I took the kids to watch the Giro d'Italia finish in Ravenna. At the end of the stage, they went to meet the cyclists, and Filippo asked everyone for their water bottles; he wanted to collect them to resell. I told him that one day he would be the one to give water bottles to the kids who asked for them because he would be the champion.. Time is proving me right…».