"It's just incredible to win two days in a row" - Cristian Scaroni almost single-handedly leading Astana's fight against World Tour relegation

Cristian Scaroni is in top form at the moment. The 27-year-old Italian has fired to a stunning summit finish stage win on the opening day of the 2025 Tour des Alpes Maritimes, just one day after taking the victory at the Classic Var.

“I can't believe it! It's just incredible to win two days in a row," Scaroni reflects afterwards, in a post-stage press release posted to the XDS Astana Team's official website. "I aimed to start this season strong, preparing myself to be in top form for the first months. Everything was going well, but I was missing a victory. Breaking that ice yesterday and finally winning was a huge relief."

Despite being outnumbered by Bahrain - Victorious duo Lenny Martinez and Santiago Buitrago in the finale, Scaroni was able to defy the odds and secure the victory, plus some much needed UCI points in Astana's fight against World Tour relegation. "Today's stage was very tough. My rivals set a high pace, knowing that long climbs aren't my strongest suit, but I managed to stay ahead, respond with a fast sprint, and take another victory," he concludes. "Now, I need to focus on tomorrow's stage. We need a solid race plan because there’s no time to relax. We must stay focused and be ready to fight in the second stage. For now, I just want to thank the entire team for their incredible work throughout the day.”