Well begun is half done. Christian Scaroni has scored the first Italian flourish of 2026 in the first European race of the year. The twenty-eight-year-old from Brescia of XdS Astana Team claimed the Classica Camp de Morvedre on January 23rd (and then repeated the feat at the Tour of Oman!), confirming the good form shown in the previous season which saw him raise his arms to the sky five times and just outside the podium of a European Championship dominated by phenomenal riders. His arrival in a breakaway with teammate Lorenzo Fortunato on the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia at San Valentino Brentonica was iconic, and his consistency was rewarded with victory in the overall standings of the Coppa Italia delle Regioni.

"Scaro" has finally blossomed, but his path in the top category began anything but smoothly. His professional career started amid pandemics and global conflicts, which seriously risked ending a future that is proving to be bright. Thanks to a stubborn mindset and two strong legs, Christian is now aiming straight for the Ardennes Classics, a second stage win at the Giro, and to wear that Italian national jersey that saved him in the toughest moments and which he now dreams of wearing at the world championship in Montreal.

How important is it to win right away?
«Very much so. The team gave me confidence, my teammates pulled all day long, I had to repay them. Coming off an important season, I was aware that confirming myself wouldn't be simple, but I couldn't have asked for a better debut. Starting strong takes some pressure off me, pressure that I first put on myself. The success gave me peace of mind and confidence for the upcoming races, particularly Drôme Ardèche and Trofeo Laigueglia».

What changed compared to 2025?
«Especially the European Championship gave me greater awareness of my capabilities. Finding myself in the finale battling with Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogacar, and the rising star of world cycling Paul Seixas is not something everyone experiences. Now I know I'm under the spotlight, but I continue to work with peace of mind, looking at the next objectives, race after race. Last year I collected several podiums in many small group sprints, so in winter I focused on refining my sprint ability. The explosive speed is in my wheelhouse and, without losing my climbing characteristics, it needed more specific training. A first signal has come, the goal is to seize more opportunities to collect the full result».

Which races have you targeted?
«After the first block of races I'll go to a training camp at Teide to prepare for the Ardennes Classics. I dream of the Flèche Wallonne, but I'd also like to do well at the Amstel Gold Race and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I'll get there racing the GP Indurain and the Itzulia Basque Country. After that I'll focus on the Giro d'Italia, I'll aim for victory on the Andalo stage, which passes through "my" mountains (he's from Botticino Sera, province of Brescia, ed.). I also want to wear the Italian jersey at a world championship, I've never had this opportunity so far. I know I'll have to earn my call-up with results, I hope to deserve it this year. September and Canada are far away, but I'll do my best to arrive there in good form».

What did you dream of as a child?
«I watched the Giro on TV with my maternal grandparents, I grew up more with them than with my mom Lidia and dad Fabio who worked 8 hours a day (Christian also has an older sister, Samantha, ed.), and I dreamed of winning a stage. I managed to do it, grandmother Alessandra was able to enjoy this joy, grandfather Rodolfo will have cheered for me from above because he passed away two years ago, on the day of the Flèche Wallonne. He's the one who introduced me to cycling, he rode for pleasure and when I was 6 years old he started taking me to training sessions and races. As a very young rider I often won, then from U6 to Junior level I struggled a bit because there were kids who developed before me. As a Junior I started getting good results again. I needed some time, like a professional, gradually I returned to high levels. Through hard work I always collected something good, even though I was never a champion».

You've also been quite unlucky.
«Those who don't know me can't know everything I've been through and maybe wonder why I'm only emerging now. Recapping the story: in 2020 I raced little because of covid, as you'll remember everything came to a halt, races included; in 2021 I broke my wrist and was out for 2 months; in 2022 Gazprom Rusvelo, the team I was riding for, was shut down and I was left without a contract. In the following years it really devastated me to see that the standard of judgment used for Russia, even in sports, was completely different from that reserved for Israel. I never wished upon my Israeli colleagues, who suffered all sorts of things at the Vuelta last year, to lose their jobs like riders and staff from Gazprom did, but it's undeniable that at the time many found themselves from one day to the next without a contract and unable to find another one. In any case, now, despite the dark times in general, I only look forward. In my early career years I didn't have the continuity that a young rider needs, when I finally found it at Astana the whole picture changed completely. I just needed time and trust».

You're tied to XdS Astana until 2028.
«I'm very happy there: it's the right team for many riders. It's a very family-oriented squad, where there's peace of mind. Last year we fought to save our World Tour license and at the end of a great season we managed to do it».

Cycling is increasingly global. Do you love to travel?
«Yes, but since I'm away so much for work I can't wait to be home with my family and my girlfriend. Barbara often follows me, when she can with her work commitments on weekends she comes to my races. It was magical to embrace her after crossing the finish line following my first victory in the first race of the year. We've been together for 8 years, we met thanks to cycling when I was an amateur because her brother also raced (Stefano Gandin, professional with Corratec in 2022 and 2023, ed.)».

What's the most beautiful place you've been to?
«I'd like to go back to Norway, I went to the Arctic Race of Norway three times and the landscapes I saw there are priceless. I promised myself I'd go back, without the bike, to enjoy a mini vacation».

Who do you usually train with?
«There are many of us living in San Marino, when I'm home it depends on who's around. Based on everyone's calendar, someone is always available. I write in the WhatsApp group we have, it's called I Titani, and Simone Velasco, Luca Mozzato, Simone Consonni, Matteo Fabbro often respond present... I'm happy they've also started strong at the beginning of this season».

You've come of age in the era of phenomenal riders...
«With today's tools it's easier to identify talent from a young age and it's hard to make mistakes. By now at 20 years old the promising riders manage to show all their potential, they're already ready. I feel like one of the last of the "old generation" who can express themselves at their best at 26/27 years old and, unlike those who bloom prematurely, will have a long career. It's certain that riders like my teammate Diego Ulissi, still competitive at 37 years old, we won't see many like that in the near future».

If you could talk to yourself from some time ago, what would you tell him?
«That it will be worth persevering and putting aside the diploma as a mechanical technician. In 2022 I thought many times about quitting. Without my stubborn mindset and the National team that allowed me and other teammates from that time to race in some events like the Adriatica Ionica Race, where we managed to win and get another chance, I wouldn't be here».

And what message do you give to yourself today and tomorrow?
«"Don't set limits for yourself". If I think back to how I was three years ago and where I am now, that's how you have to think. I couldn't have asked for a better season than 2025, I hope 2026 will be even more thrilling. In the coming years I want to continue working to achieve the goals I dreamed of as a child».

cover story from tuttoBICI February issue