‘I’m for old-fashioned cycling’ - Scaroni ready to trade UCI points for wins in 2027

Christian Scaroni scored 3,062 UCI points for XDS Astana in 2026, more than any other Italian rider. The 29-year-old ended the season 11th in the individual ranking from three wins and ten podium finishes, and he wants that balance to change next year.

Two of the three wins came at the Tour of Oman in February, where he took a stage and the overall as Astana collected 1,068 UCI points in a single day. He also won the Classica Camp de Morvedre and finished fourth at San Sebastián. At the European Championships in Slovenia he attacked from the chase group 14km from the finish to take bronze behind Remco Evenepoel and Giulio Ciccone.

Points have been Scaroni’s main contribution at Astana since he led the team’s escape from relegation in 2025.

“They were definitely super happy with me. I brought a lot of them, but I would have preferred 500-1,000 fewer and maybe two or three more victories. In short, I’m for old-fashioned cycling, I look at the victories,” Scaroni told BICI.Pro.

XDS Astana finished sixth in the UCI team rankings this season, and Scaroni thinks the whole team should change its approach.

“In the team we should think less about points and try to win a few more races. We have all the characteristics and strength, on certain occasions we just need to be more united,” he said.

The interview was published as L’Équipe reported that XDS is considering ending its title sponsorship, with tension inside the team since Yana Seel’s return. Scaroni did not mention the sponsor, and his own contract runs to the end of 2028.

He says the directors and staff treat him as a leader, but he has also been willing to work for others. At the Giro d’Italia he told the team he would sprint for Guillermo Thomas Silva because he knew he was not the fastest, and Silva went on to win stage 2 and spend two days in the maglia rosa.

Four years ago Scaroni came close to leaving the sport. He was one of 21 Gazprom-RusVelo riders left without racing in 2022, after the team was shut out following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Italy coach Daniele Bennati brought them into the national team that June, and two stage wins at the Adriatica Ionica Race earned Scaroni a contract with Astana.

“Few people really know what I went through. I was very close to quitting, but once that period was over, nothing scared me any more,” he said.

His numbers show how his season changed. In 2025 Scaroni won five races, including stage 16 of the Giro, and scored 2,399 UCI points. This year he scored more than 600 points more but won two fewer races.

He will sit down with the team in December to set his targets for 2027.

“Races like the Ardennes, the team knows that they suit me best. And then I’d like to be in good shape for the World Championships. It will be very, very difficult, if not impossible, to win, but that’s the level and we have to get there well,” Scaroni said.