Seriously injured Baroncini released from hospital after a month, extends contract with UAE: "Miracle I’m still alive"

As we mentioned, Baroncini was the hardest-hit rider in the crash during stage 3 in Poland. UAE was quick to provide a statement last month: “He sustained multiple facial injuries, as well as a fractured cervical vertebra. He’s currently receiving care in the hospital, and the medical team is closely monitoring him,” the team reported.

The fact that Baroncini was placed in an induced coma showed just how serious things were. The impact of his crash into a wall caused facial fractures, and doctors in Poland decided to induce a coma as a precaution. “He didn’t suffer damage to any vital organs, and his life isn’t in danger.” Team manager Mauro Gianetti flew to Poland to be by his rider’s side. “He’s in an induced coma, and his condition is stable.” A fractured cheekbone meant that he needed to remain under anesthesia until surgery on his face could be performed.

Later in August, Gianetti provided another reassuring update. “His face was deformed, and you can’t imagine what the oral surgeons have managed to do. They performed an incredible surgery that lasted more than eleven hours. Modern medical science has made amazing progress. Procedures are now possible that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. I won’t go into detail, but trust me, they did something extraordinary,” said the team boss.

Just over a month later, Baroncini was finally able to leave the hospital. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport for the first time, he said: “It’s a miracle I’m still alive. I remember almost everything. It was a tricky descent because it was very narrow. There was a tight turn, and I got off the road. I hit a little wall and immediately felt pain.”

He felt the impact right away. “In my ribs, because I was having trouble breathing. I could still move my legs well, so that wasn’t a concern, but I could tell something was wrong with my face,” the Italian explained, realizing pretty quickly how serious the situation was.

He then underwent two surgeries in Italy, both of which went well. “Thankfully, my eyes were spared by just a few millimeters… I didn’t suffer any serious internal injuries. I’d love to speed up the recovery process, but at the same time, I know I shouldn’t,” Baroncini said, already starting to think about a comeback.

How long that recovery will take is still unclear. “I know I need to recover at the right pace if I want to reach my full potential again. I have to keep a close eye on my mouth and jaw. I’ve lost a lot of muscle mass and weight in the last few weeks, but I need to and want to look forward. I want to come back in a big way,” he added determinedly.

His team, UAE, has already offered him a contract extension. Baroncini signed on for two more years with the team. “I’m really happy to be going home and feeling stronger every day. The past month has been an extremely difficult time, but the support I’ve received from the team, the fans, and my family has been incredible. It’s given me so much motivation,” he said.

“Extending my contract for another two years means a lot to me, and I want to thank the team management for believing in me,” the Italian continued. “I’m looking forward to repaying that trust with hard work and hopefully achieving even more success with this family.”