“With Giulio, we can aim for the top step of the podium” - Christian Scaroni admits World Championship regret after convincing Ciccone to join European title fight
Cycling
Christian Scaroni left Montreal convinced Italy had ridden well enough to come away with more than ninth place. A few days later, the same core of riders are already looking towards another medal shot at the European Championships.
Italy were aggressive throughout the elite men's World Championship road race and Scaroni was involved several times before later dropping back to work for Giulio Ciccone. Their biggest regret came when the dangerous move containing Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert went clear with just under 100 kilometres remaining and nobody in blue made it across.
Tom Pidcock and Giulio Ciccone in action at the 2026 Montreal World Championships
“We deserved a medal”
“I think we can be proud of our performance in Canada,” Scaroni said on Bicisport’s Una voce in fuga podcast. “We deserved a medal. The only regret we can have as a national team is that we didn’t get a rider into the group with Van der Poel and Van Aert that formed with just under 100 kilometres to go. If we’d had someone up front, it wouldn’t have been down to me and Piganzoli to pull behind.”
Ciccone stayed in contention until the final kilometres and eventually finished ninth, just 14 seconds behind new world champion Brandon McNulty. He and Tom Pidcock were among those trying to close the gap on the final climb before the chase stalled again.
Scaroni crossed the line 18th after spending much of the race working for Italy’s leader, while Davide Piganzoli finished 20th. “But overall we raced the way we had planned, and I’m satisfied with that regardless of the result,” Scaroni added.
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Scaroni and Pellizzari persuade Ciccone to race again
Italy will get another chance in Ljubljana, and Ciccone might not have been there at all without some persuasion from inside the Montreal squad. “Now we’re going to the European Championships to do well,” Scaroni said. “In Montreal, Pellizzari and I tried to convince Ciccone to take part, and in the end we managed it.”
Scaroni arrives with his own reason to believe another major championship can produce something more. At the 2025 European Championships in France, he finished fourth, 23 seconds behind bronze medallist Paul Seixas. Tadej Pogacar had already ridden away to gold and Remco Evenepoel took silver, leaving Scaroni just one place short of the podium.
Twelve months later, he returns to the Euros off another strong championship ride and with Ciccone alongside him after that Montreal persuasion campaign. “With Giulio, we can certainly aim for a medal and, why not, even the top step of the podium.”
Scaroni was one place from a European medal last year, while Ciccone left Montreal convinced Italy had been capable of more there too. Slovenia now gives both another chance to turn those near-misses into something tangible.
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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- Hey Lance, Go away in a reproductive manner!Lobz7730-09-2026
- Context matters. From the way Onley blew up, it was clear that he knew he was struggling and probably told Pidcock that. Simmons finished 4th. Of course, Pidcock could have and should've taken the gamble
Rafionain-Glas30-09-2026 - Great story. Surprises me though that Sagan’s amazing career hasn’t produced more of a legacy of young Slovak talent.Lozza30-09-2026
- Del Toro did a LOT of work in that group, riding on the front and pulling it along. By the time McNulty attacked I should think he was mostly cooked!Lozza30-09-2026
- I don’t entirely agree with this @RidesHills. Whilst I can entertain what you’re arguing, writing off IDT’s inability to follow Pidcock purely as IDT being "gassed" ignores the complex tactical chess match happening on the road. IDT’s body language, in the final kms, showed plenty of hesitation, tactical marking, and looking around. With the addition of the WC pitting teammates against each other, there were several moments that indicated his behaviour was a calculated refusal to destroy McNulty’s, and by that extension, UAE’s chances of maintaining their hold on the rainbow stripes. We know IDT had the ability to win that race, I stand by the belief that he chose not to chase after his team mate. Whilst I was frustrated watching it… I can respect it.anonymouscyclist30-09-2026
- I guess the president is very happy to see one American win in Canada. Leave the president and politicians aside the sports. Was a great victory from a very smart move in the right moment. Quick Step won a lot of classics like this. Having numbers. Del Toro also played some part. Going to blame him? Thats a great friend. Also don't forget McNulty last time in Montreal. He was there with Pogacar. When big guns control each other others can win. Well done McNulty.
PAULO30-09-2026 - Not sure why you are hating on Americans but looking at cycling there are many more Europeans that cheated in cycling than Americans. Looking at the TdF's that Armstrong won, the top 5 -10 in all those doped and weren't Americans.GB30-09-2026
- if you get to within just 10 seconds and can't close the gap that's on you Tom and Mike. both of these losers wanted del Toro to help them which of course wouldn't be cross border collusion, it's only collusion if it's perceived that he's helping someone else besides them. sour grapes all around. bunch of pussies in the UK and Australia. bring a better team next time.whkman30-09-2026
- yeah sucks your guy lostwhkman30-09-2026
- @MrMauMau: at the moment that McNulty took off, del Toro had Seixas on his wheel. Later on, was he able to follow Pidcock as he linked up to and passed Ciccone? He was not. That tells me what I need to know - he was gassed and couldn't follow. Maybe he had less reason because of team politics, but it can't have all been politics.RidesHills30-09-2026
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