'I'm more at peace now' - Baroncini back on the bike after horror crash

The Italian suffered fractures to his collarbone, spine and face in the accident on stage 3 that left him in a medically induced coma for two weeks.

"I'm more at peace now. I'm happier, I'm back on my bike, and everything was immediately better," Baroncini told bicipro. 

Baroncini recently joined his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates in the United Arab Emirates, where the squad gathered for off-season activities. His return to the saddle comes after an intensive rehabilitation period spanning two and a half months.

"It's a special time, with a few ups and downs," Baroncini explained about his recovery journey. "In the hospital, I was lucky enough to have my family by my side every day, and that helped me a lot mentally."

After initial hospital treatment, Baroncini completed his rehabilitation as an outpatient at the Physiology Center in Forlì. "My recovery was good right away, especially my muscles, which was the main thing I had lost, besides the various aches and pains," he said.

The young Italian talent faces the challenge of rebuilding his fitness from scratch, particularly his cardiovascular system. "I'd also like to do four hours and train hard right away, but in the end, it's like I've started from scratch, especially with my cardiorespiratory system," Baroncini admitted.

His return to cycling has been gradual, beginning with walking before progressing to a stationary bike, rollers, and finally his road bike. He's made minor equipment adjustments, switching to 170mm cranks from his previous 172.5mm setup.

Reuniting with his teammates in Dubai provided an emotional boost for Baroncini. "It was a great feeling, as if I'd left the group and then returned. It was important to me, it was what I needed most right now: to be back in the team," he shared.

Looking ahead, Baroncini plans to progress cautiously with his training. "My trainer finally started putting something on TrainingPeaks, so having a weekly schedule is already a big deal," he said. "Slowly, day by day, increasing the workouts a little at a time, but always following my body's sensations."

The Baloise Belgium Tour winner has received widespread support during his recovery, with visits from UAE Emirates officials, including president Matar Suhail, team managers Matxin and Mauro Gianetti, teammate Alessandro Covi, and Italian cycling federation president Cordiano Dagnoni.