COMANO TERME – A puncture with 3,8 kilometers to go. The end of a tricolor dream which has a bitter taste seasoned with so much anger and tears. Filippo Baroncini today he was undoubtedly among the favorites and during the race he demonstrated that want this shirt with 45 kilometres to go, when he left the group together with Matteo Sobrero and Matteo Trentin. After a frantic chase, theThe finale was set up for a sprint finish among today's magnificent seven.
However, on arrival Filippo crossed the finish line with his wheel lifted from the anger and a scream that had very little to do with liberation. About a hundred meters later he threw his bike to the ground and burst into tears with the hands on face.
Filo Fans Club
On the route one curve made the most noise of all, it was the one of the Fans Club of Filippo Baroncini. Directly from Romagna, in particular from Massa Lombarda His hometown, dozens of supporters flocked to see him. Piadinas, sausages, and the sound of a chainsaw engine livened up the tranquility of Comano Terme, which was festively decorated for these Italian championships.
The same faces that they accompanied the former U23 world champion for 227 kilometers They were there to console him in front of his hotel after his arrival. Baroncini's tears, however, never stopped. For an hour the disappointment was too strong to take the car and head towards his RomagnaNot even the strength to eat a slice of pizza, given to his girlfriend after a bite.
From the eyes of the father
When we arrived at the camper van Trek-Segafredo Philip's anger had not yet subsidedThe curses had the same decibels as the chainsaw that had accompanied him for nine laps on the circuit. Once again, tears were on his face, this time sitting on the grass with his gaze turned towards the Sarca River below. To console him there was David Bramati, sports director of the Soudal-Quick Step. «I understand him – he says – he is not my rider, but I understand him. I ran and I can imagine how you might feel right now». To give him a little hope and consolation before leaving he turned around and shouted at him: «Don't worry, you will win an Italian, now go take a shower!
Besides his girlfriend, there was someone to give him a shoulder to cry on. father Carlo Baroncini: «I'm so sorry. Philip is so angry and disappointed because he believed in it a lotHe could have played it, he was fine. If he had had a puncture five kilometers away, he could have come back, but there was nothing to be done. I don't remember any disappointments of this kind. I can say that it usually boils over quickly and he doesn't brood too long. This time, however, bad luck has struck him again."
Philip's misfortune
Filippo has a score to settle with fortune. After turning pro, when that rainbow jersey was still on his shoulders but couldn't be worn, an ordeal began. Two stops at the start of the season, in 2022 and 2023, both for the same reason. The fracture of the radius which still forces the class of '99 to carry the guardian even while running.
Today, Lady Luck ignored him, snatching his dream three kilometers from the finish. It's clear that this time, once the anger has passed and the tears have dried, he will surely be able to draw a conclusion from the analysis of the race. positive balance on the conditionThe chase shared with Trentin and Sobrero first, plus a revving up shown with 14 kilometers to go. A few hundred meters that showed that for Baroncini, this could have really been the right day.
An almost perfect race
His attorney was also there to console him. Luca Mazzanti, torn between joy and sorrow. On the one hand Velasco, gave him an unexpected victory and on the other hand Filippo in excellent condition but with a completely different state of mind. ciccone He packed his bags and after patting his partner on the back twice, he set off to join his wife, whom he married two days ago.
Whoever, after two pats on the back, stopped and put himself in sports director mode, is Jacopo Fly who will remain here until tomorrow to attend the Italian of his fiancée Elisa Longo BorghiniWe asked the Piedmontese what he would take home from this day for Trek Segafredo.
«I'm sorry about how the race went – he says – I feel like saying that we did everything right. Obviously more than anything sorry for PhilipHe didn't deserve it given all the bad luck he's been through. Falls are normal, but this year he suffered another injury at the start of the season. It's not true that he would have won, but he was really well.I rode the first laps of the circuit to reduce the gap on the escapees. There were three of us and these were our cards to playWe must remember that whoever won deserved it, so congratulations to him."
