Most in form rider in the peloton had to battle through COVID and the war in Ukraine to reach the WorldTour: "That has made me a lot stronger as a rider"

Christian Scaroni’s remarkable rise in 2025 is quickly becoming one of the biggest stories of the early cycling season. Just two months in, the XDS Astana Team rider has emerged as one of the most in-form cyclists in the peloton, delivering results that few would have predicted at the start of the year. And boy have Astana benefited from his impressive form.

At 27 years old, the Italian from Brescia has long been considered a talented but under-the-radar rider, yet his incredible performances across multiple races this season suggest he has taken a huge step forward over the winter. Speaking to In de Leiderstrui after Strade Bianche, Scaroni reflected on his rapid development, the setbacks that nearly ended his career, and his ambitions for the future.

Cristian Scaroni’s 2024 season hinted at his potential, as he was regularly found in the top ten and proved himself to be one of the most aggressive riders in the Giro d’Italia until fading in the final week. However, his start to 2025 has been on another level entirely.

In just a few short weeks, he has delivered a series of podium results, including 5th, 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd in Spain at the Challenge Mallorca, before winning the Classic Var and claiming both stage and overall victory in the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes. His momentum continued at Trofeo Laigueglia, where only Juan Ayuso of UAE Team Emirates-XRG was able to beat him.

By early March, Scaroni had accumulated more UCI points than any other rider in 2025, making him one of the standout names in the peloton as he lined up for his debut at Strade Bianche, something he could scarcely have believed at the end of 2024. While expectations were high, the Italian remained cautious about the challenges posed by Tuscany’s white roads.

"I am a rider who likes to climb from the saddle, but in Strade Bianche that is not so easy because of the gravel. You have to apply the pressure from the saddle, so I am a bit afraid of that."

Unfortunately, Scaroni’s race came to an early end, as he crashed 81km from the finish, just before Tadej Pogacar and Tom Pidcock launched their monster attacks. The good news, however, was that he avoided fractures and only had to take three days off the bike. For a rider who has been cycling since the age of six, that brief break felt like an eternity.

"That's when I started, because my uncle was a professional cyclist. I grew up with racing and eventually became a professional at Gazprom-RusVelo in 2020. I rode there for three years, but without much luck. In 2020 we had to deal with Covid-19, in 2021 I broke my arm, and in 2022 the team was excluded because of the war in Ukraine."

Scaroni’s career almost ended before it even truly began when Gazprom-RusVelo was suddenly disbanded in March 2022. Left without a contract, he found himself at a crossroads.

"That's not easy, because as a novice professional, you have to make miles and gain experience. I had a really hard time mentally and even thought about quitting, because Gazprom-RusVelo was excluded in the middle of the season and there was no possibility of signing anywhere else. I didn't feel like just sitting around waiting.

“Fortunately, the Italian Cycling Federation came to help, so I never lost motivation. Three years later, I can therefore say that I am very happy that I am still a cyclist."

The Italian Cycling Federation’s support proved to be crucial. Scaroni and a few other Italian riders left without teams were given the chance to race in national colours for the remainder of 2022. Two stage wins at the Adriatica Ionica Race caught the attention of Astana, who signed him for 2023.

"I only really turned pro there in 2023. Fortunately, because I never thought about anything else other than cycling. I wouldn't know what kind of work I would have done then. I love football and am a fan of AC Milan, I like being with friends, but what kind of work... Fortunately, I can continue to focus on cycling for years to come."

While Scaroni showed flashes of brilliance in 2024, he was still lacking a major breakthrough victory. Over the winter, he and his coaching team adjusted his training approach, shifting focus towards one-day races to help Astana accumulate more UCI points in their bid for a WorldTour license for 2026-2028.

"That has made me a lot stronger as a rider. For example, I train a little less, but when I do train, I also go all out. On the days that I don't train, the focus is also really on recovery. That focus in training on the one-day work has proven to be a good choice."

Scaroni is well aware that some critics have downplayed his results, arguing that his early-season success has come in smaller races. But he strongly disagrees.

"I showed that I can follow the best riders in the world, even though people said I only did it in small races. But Santiago Buitrago won in a strong Tour of Valencia, and I was able to keep up with Juan Ayuso.”

Despite his rapid progress, Scaroni isn’t yet sure what type of rider he will become.

"I might not really know what kind of rider I am until after 2025. Until last year, I rode all kinds of races, but now I can really focus on becoming the very best version of myself. My numbers are good, so we expected that I would be able to do what I have done now. It's just not easy to show it in the race, to show your full potential."

Astana’s continued belief in him played a major role in his decision to extend his contract rather than move to another team.

"The team continued to believe in my qualities, which is why I decided to stay after last year. I could sign elsewhere with an expiring contract, but I like being with a slightly smaller team—that is better for my growth. Here, I can really ride for my own chance. With another team, you might be played out as a domestique more quickly."

As one of the most in-form riders of early 2025, Scaroni’s next big objectives are fast approaching. He will race Milan-Turin on March 19, followed by Coppi e Bartali, before heading to an altitude training camp in Tenerife. From there, his focus shifts to the Ardennes Classics (Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège) and then the Giro d’Italia, where a stage win is his biggest goal.

"I like to ride in the attack, even if that sometimes costs a bit more energy. I also like to be a leader, but I still have a lot to learn in that, from Diego Ulissi for example. He is a fantastic person and has a lot of experience."

While some riders dream of transitioning into Grand Tour contenders, Scaroni is in no rush to focus on general classification ambitions.

"Let's see if I can be a good leader in the future, but right now, that's not very important to me. I want to enjoy this role first. That's also why I didn't want to do Tirreno-Adriatico—that would have been too much. A rider also needs rest, I've already raced a lot."

Scaroni’s journey has been anything but straightforward, yet his determination and persistence are paying off in 2025. With his best years still ahead of him, the Italian climber and one day specialist looks set to continue making waves in the peloton.

He is certainly one to keep an eye on in 2025.