"The Giro definitely helped me take a step forward" - Filippo Baroncini's Baloise Belgium Tour win gives UAE yet another GC contender
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates - XRG are the outstanding peloton leaders in 2025, as shown by their strong points lead over the rest of the World Tour. Whilst the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida take most of the headlines however, even down to 'lesser' names in the team, they're all winners.
This was proven once again recently, when at the 2025 Baloise Belgium Tour, Filippo Baroncini took just the second pro win of his career to secure the overall victory in Belgium. "I’m used to working for others, so being the one protected was a nice change — it felt like a bit of payback for all the effort I’ve put in for the team," the Italian reflects on his performance in conversation with Bici.Pro. "Even at the Giro d'Italia I worked hard for the others, so I know what it means. This time, it felt good to be on the receiving end."
Clearly, Baroncini didn't feel any added pressure from the expectations of leadership either. "No pressure, not really. I’m not someone who gets overwhelmed by it," he explains. "In fact, sometimes maybe I should feel it a bit more! But pressure, in the right dose, is useful."
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For the majority of his time at UAE so far, Baroncini has been a reliable domestique. Having shown some strong form at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year however, the 24-year-old is beginning to show signs of his true potential.
"Yes — I noticed that too. It’s great to hear, especially when the compliments come from riders on other teams. It’s a source of pride," he says proudly. "The Giro definitely helped me take a step forward — mentally as well as physically. It was my second Grand Tour after the Vuelta, and it made a big difference in the legs."
"Having already done the Vuelta helped me understand that kind of effort. That made it easier to manage myself at the Giro," he concludes. "Still, with how I was climbing this year — honestly, I even surprised myself sometimes!"
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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