Deaf cyclist Francesca Baroni on pursuing her passion: ‘You pedal with your head, your heart and your legs, not with your ears…’
The Italian multi-discipline rider began cycling at the age of six, and her hearing impairment has never prevented her from competing in road racing or cyclocross: ‘The passion and love for cycling drive me every day not to give up,’ the 24-year-old told us in an exclusive interview.
Cycling Road
"But if you’re deaf, how do you ride a bike?"
Francesca Baroni, an Italian cyclist competing on both road and cyclo-cross terrains, has heard this question countless times.
"I always tell everyone that you pedal with your head, with your heart, and with your legs, not with your ears!" the 24-year-old shared with Olympics.com, responding to written questions via Facebook Messenger.
Baroni, who was named after St. Francis of Assisi, was born deaf. Her cycling journey began at the age of 6, after 'falling in love' watching two-time Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso during the 2006 multi-stage race: "I am trying to turn cycling into my profession, as it has been my main passion since childhood, but unfortunately, it's not easy...," she remarked.
However, the current Hubo - Remotive CX rider is also a natural fighter who embraces challenges: "The passion and love for cycling drive me every day not to give up," she said.
"My personal motto is and will always be ‘never give up until the end’!"
Francesca Baroni was a four-time Italian champion in cyclo-cross at the youth level.
The 24-year-old was raised in the small town of Bozzano in Tuscany, near Lucca, not far from the Versilia coast.
"Fortunately, I have never encountered major problems, either at school or in cycling, due to my disability," she shared. "I have never had difficulty interacting with others, and I have always been well-received by everyone."
Thanks to the unwavering support of her family, Francesca not only learned to speak but also graduated in accounting from high school with top marks.
Reflecting on her upbringing, she noted, "My parents taught me everything: without them, I wouldn't be who I am - willpower and authenticity above all!”
When asked to describe herself in three words, she responded: “Honest, genuine, and very meticulous, perhaps sometimes even too much so...”
On the road, Francesca Baroni rides for the Aromitalia - Basso - Vaiano team.
Dealing with hearing impairment in cycling
Francesca is one of the few professional cyclists currently riding with a hearing impairment.
However, as this disability is not included among the Paralympic classification categories, she is not eligible to compete at the Paralympic Games. On the other hand, her deafness prevents her from joining a military corps and, consequently, from receiving support, unlike many other Italian athletes.
In her day-to-day life, though, the handicap doesn't pose an insurmountable obstacle.
"I only need a few precautions. When lip-reading, I ask to be spoken to from the front. I can't talk on the phone, but with modern technology, I can use WhatsApp, email, or make video calls," she explained.
During races, she successfully navigates her hearing deficit with the assistance of teammates, sport directors, and event organisers.
"In cycling, on the road, I can't use a radio, so usually, with the team, we plan everything before the race. During the competition, if I need anything, I talk to my teammates or go directly to the team car so that I can receive all the necessary instructions or information," Baroni shared.
"In cyclocross, if there's no starting signal, I ask for the race to begin with a hand signal or flag from the judge. During the race, a few glances or gestures are enough to communicate with the sports director. Sometimes a small board is also used for various instructions or suggestions."
Francesca acknowledges that many people are curious to know what she 'hears' and 'feels' when on the bike.
"The hearing aids I use and the vibrations I perceive also help me to some extent," she said.
"Naturally, like everyone, I have to pay a lot of attention to dangers, especially cars or other unexpected obstacles, and always look ahead... otherwise, just a moment is enough, and it's easy to find yourself on the ground!"
Francesca Baroni: My adventure on the muddy tracks
Francesca, who divides her season between road and cyclocross, is currently based in Belgium, competing in the off-road cycling discipline on the World Cup and Superprestige circuits.
The 24-year-old resides by herself in a small village called Oevel, not far from Herentals, the hometown of local superstar Wout van Aert.
"It's truly a great experience, especially on a personal level," she commented.
"Living alone in a different country is not the usual, and one thing I consider very important is the daily use of the English language. It's certainly challenging, but it will also serve me well in the future in my life beyond sports!"
This season she made significant progress on the cold and muddy terrains, securing two victories and three podium finishes, while consistently achieving strong placements against notable stars such as Ceylin Alvarado, Puck Pieterse, and Lucinda Brand.
"Cyclocross is my favorite discipline, and it was love at first sight," the former U23 and junior national champion admitted.
She went on to explain, "Cyclocross is a mix of emotions, joys, and disappointments. It's a demanding sport that requires a lot of discipline, consistency, and sacrifices. However, passion helps you overcome everything. In the end, you have fun, and that's why you 'throw yourself into the mud'!"
In 2023 Francesca Baroni took part in the Giro d'Italia Donne.
The Olympic dream
On the road, Baroni represents the Aromitalia-Basso Bikes-Vaiano team and last year took part in several prestigious events such as the Strade Bianche Donne, the Scheldeprijs, and the Giro d’Italia.
“My idol has always been Ivan Basso, and then I also liked Peter Sagan a lot for his interpretation of cycling,” she said.
If she had to highlight her main quality on the bike, she would say ‘consistency’: “Long distances don't frighten me. As a cyclist, I would describe myself as a ‘passista’ or long-distance rider, but when I'm feeling good, I can defend myself a bit on all terrains in the end.”
The sport means more to her than just racing: “Cycling is my life. Riding makes me feel good! Sometimes there are challenging moments where I pedal less willingly, but one should never give up, and in the end, you keep going... pedal stroke after pedal stroke!”
Despite being just 24, Francesca doesn’t feel ‘very young’ cycling-wise anymore:
"Currently, many strong girls are even a few years younger than me, but my hope is to always try to improve more, and that's why I 'fight and strive' every day!"
Following her passion helped her overcome challenges, but there are still other big dreams to chase:
"I would love for cyclocross to become an Olympic sport, perhaps Winter Olympic...," Baroni admitted.
"How wonderful it would be to participate in the Olympics, I think, like for every athlete, it's the biggest dream!"