LOCAL CONDITIONS:
Maurizio Fondriest

World Champion, Milano–Sanremo winner, two-time UCI World Cup champion and lifelong Trentino local, Maurizio Fondriest knows the roads of Val di Non and the Dolomites better than most. Born in Cles and raised among the climbs that would later become his training ground as a professional, Fondriest still spends countless hours riding the region’s roads, passes and gravel tracks. Since becoming a Q36.5 ambassador in 2024, he continues to explore the same mountains that shaped both his career and his lifelong love of cycling.

How did your relationship with Luigi Bergamo and Q36.5 begin?

I used to train regularly between Val di Non and Val di Sole. Back then, there was often a young rider sitting on my wheel whenever I headed towards the climbs.

That rider was Luigi Bergamo.

Luigi grew up in Bolzano, but his grandparents lived in Val di Sole, so he spent much of the summer there. At the time I was already a professional rider while he was still very young. He was strong on the flat roads, although he definitely wasn’t a climber.
Many years later our paths crossed again through Q36.5.

What is your favourite climb in Val di Non and the Dolomites, and why?

In Val di Non, my favourite climb is the road from Tregiovo through Lauregno to Proves. There’s very little traffic, the scenery is incredible and it’s one of the quietest roads in the valley. It’s the kind of climb where you can settle into a rhythm and simply enjoy being in the mountains.

Among the major Alpine climbs, Passo Gavia remains my favourite. It’s a long climb, but never a repetitive one. The road is narrow, the switchbacks keep coming and the scenery constantly changes. No matter how many times I ride it, it always feels special.

What is your favourite descent and why?

Without hesitation, Passo Mendola.
The road surface is excellent and the corners flow perfectly into one another. It’s one of those descents where you can really enjoy riding fast while still feeling completely in control.

What is the characteristic you appreciate most about Q36.5 garments in general?

The first product that really stood out to me was the bib short. It has a very close fit but never feels restrictive. You get all the support you need without sacrificing comfort.
I also appreciate the base layers. In our region, especially during spring and autumn, you need clothing that regulates temperature well and dries quickly once the intensity goes up.

The same applies to the jerseys. I like a close-fitting jersey, but not one that feels tight or restrictive. That balance between performance and comfort is what I appreciate most about Q36.5 garments.

Describe your perfect Trentino summer ride.

A typical summer ride is around two and a half hours, although weekend rides often stretch beyond 150 kilometres when riding with friends.

Most of the time I ride on the road, but during the summer I also enjoy gravel and mountain bike rides with my wife and friends. One of my favourite routes starts in Val d’Ultimo, climbs towards Lago Corvo in Val di Rabbi and returns through Val di Sole. It combines spectacular scenery with quiet roads and trails away from traffic.

I’ve always enjoyed climbing, so my rides are rarely flat. I often ride through Val di Non, Val di Sole and the surrounding mountain passes. Sometimes I ride all the way to Passo Gavia, while closer to home I prefer quieter secondary roads where I can build routes of around 60 kilometres and 1,500 metres of elevation gain.

On longer rides there are two essential stops: one for a cappuccino and one for a sandwich. Those small rituals are just as much a part of the ride as the riding itself.

How wide is the temperature range on a typical summer ride in Trentino? Does this make choosing your kit more difficult?

Living at around 700 metres above sea level, I regularly ride between 1,500 and 2,000 metres of elevation, sometimes reaching high altitude within only a few kilometres from home.
Because of that, conditions can change very quickly. A brief rain shower or a few clouds can easily bring a temperature drop of ten degrees or more. In the mountains, being prepared is essential.

I always carry a Rain Shell Vest because it packs easily into a jersey pocket and provides effective protection from both wind and rain. I also carry the Dottore Light Rain Jacket together with my repair kit. Most of the time they stay in my pocket, but when the weather changes you’re always glad to have them with you.

The increase in summer traffic has also changed the way I ride. During the busiest periods I often choose gravel or mountain bike routes, which allow me to get away from the traffic and enjoy a more direct connection with the mountains.

Have you had the chance to try the new Unique Pro Shoes, How did you find them?

This year I had the opportunity to test the new Unique Pro Shoes and was among the first riders to try them.
They are an exceptionally lightweight shoe with a full carbon sole, but what stands out immediately is the fit.
Even before adjusting the BOA^® dials, you notice how naturally the shoe wraps around the foot. From there, you can fine-tune the fit depending on the intensity of the effort and the level of support you prefer while riding.

If you had to choose just one Q36.5 product to always take with you, which one would it be?

Without any doubt, the Dottore Pro Bib Shorts.
They were the product that impressed me most from the very first ride and they continue to make the biggest difference in terms of comfort, support and overall riding sensation.

What still motivates you to ride today?

I stopped racing professionally in 1998, but I never stopped riding my bike.

Over the years I continued practising endurance sports, including ski mountaineering during the winter, but cycling has always remained at the centre of everything.

I still ride because I genuinely enjoy it. I enjoy being outside, riding with friends and sharing the sport with people of different ages and backgrounds. Cycling is also a way to stay fit and spend time with my family and my wife. After all these years, it still gives me the same sense of freedom.

Trentino and the Dolomites will always be my home roads, but whenever I travel, whether in Italy or abroad, I always try to ride. The bicycle remains one of the best ways to explore a place and experience it properly.

Gregarius Clima Dolomites Extreme Jersey Gravel Grey

Color: Gravel Grey | Size: M

Inspired by and dedicated to the extreme nature of riding on our local Dolomites road, the Q36.5 Gregarius Clima Dolomites Extreme Jersey features our new #radarfocus logo first launched with the 2025 Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team kit. The radar is the ultimate symbol of both focus and navigation under difficult conditions, metaphors of the high performance qualities of Q36.5. The technical characteristics of the jersey are identical to those of Gregarius Clima jersey, with a body mapped cut that conforms perfectly to the shape of the torso, enhancing the aero benefits. The arms and shoulders are cut to ensure no fabric bunches up behind the neck and no material flaps in the wind. The longer arm length also works to keep an aero edge. To wear the Dolomites Extreme jersey is to feel beyond prepared, it is to become a Q36.5 SCIENTIAE OFFICIALIS INVESTIGATOR.

US$190.00

Gregarius Pro Bib Shorts Gravel Grey

Color: Gravel Grey | Size: M

Totally redesigned from the ground up for 2025 with 100% proprietary components, the Q36.5 Gregarius Pro Bib Shorts for Men have been engineered to provide the rider with the most free, unrestricted, and “not-even-there” on-the-bike feeling, without any compromise to our signature comfort and ergogenic support. This uniquely unrestricted feeling of the Gregarius Pro is the result of a system that fuses a new ergogenic pattern (four different fabrics, minimal stitching) with our revolutionary adaptive chamois pad. The Q LAB Air Chamois employs single layer cover fabric without lamination or foam for rapid drying and breathability during hot conditions while the C-shaped foam pad underneath is inserted directly into the pattern of the shorts, creating a single plane from straps to groin. This design offers noticeably superior stability and comfort for the rider. Even during the hardest moments of the climb, you will need to look down at your legs to remind yourself that you are even wearing anything!

Variants from US$189.00

US$270.00

Base Layer 1 Sleeveless Poppy Orange

Color: Poppy Orange | Size: S-M

The Q36.5 Base Layer 1 represents our technologically extreme vision of the traditional seamless base layer that provides optimal moisture management thanks to our use of the cutting-edge Karl Mayer Seamless knitting machines. The seamless design uses multiple integrated yarn structures with varying densities to pull sweat away from the skin and move it to an outer layer where it can evaporate.

US$80.00

Air Vest Optic White

Color: Optic White | Size: M

Offering exceptional wind protection, the Q36.5 Air Vest uses advanced, lightweight material to insulate while remaining super packable, meaning you won’t even notice it in your back pocket during warmer moments of the ride. Designed for 4-season effectiveness, the Air Vest is perfect for everything from cold, windy winter rides to summer rides high in the mountains. Its body mapped cut ensures it will sit close to the torso and not flap in the wind.

Variants from US$105.00

US$150.00

Dottore Light Rain Jacket Poppy Orange

Color: Poppy Orange | Size: M

Our lightest ever rain jacket, the Dottore Light Rain Jacket is a performance masterpiece of small-scale Italian manufacturing. By combining exceptional ultralight materials (55gsm ripstop nylon + 10.000mm membrane) with a sartorial taped construction, Q36.5 is able to offer a truly low-volume Rain Jacket that can be used across weather conditions and temperatures throughout the year. Particularly suited to short showers and other situations demanding emergency light thermal protection.

US$470.00

Dottore PRO Bib Shorts Black

Color: Black | Size: M

The Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts for Men are the world’s leading high performance woven bib shorts, using technologies pioneered by Q36.5 and continuously refined over the last ten years. From the very first pedal stroke, riders will appreciate a feeling of superior muscular support, comfort, and on-the-bike stability. This unique feeling is achieved through the use of four different proprietary woven fabrics as well as our patented Q LAB Air Chamois, which provides total comfort and superior moisture management. The use of a high-density woven material with gradual compression along the leg panels in particular ensures a superior alignment of muscle fibers during the repetitive action of lengthening and contracting the legs, creating an important performance advantage over long distances. The Silver yarn found in the leg panels reduces the negative impact of naturally occurring electric charges produced by the body during exercise as well as boosting the blood flow and increases oxygen supply to cells.

US$340.00

Unique Pro 4.0 Road Shoes White

Color: White | Shoe Size: 37

The Unique Pro 4.0 is a new 4-hole version of our highest performance model, the Unique Pro which offers market-exclusive compatibility with the new SRM X-Power Direct road pedal and cleat system. Engineered for total control, the Q36.5 Unique Pro Shoes use proprietary Italian manufacturing technologies to achieve a new level of stability, power, and comfort for riders, allowing you to push yourself to the limit with a renewed level of confidence. At the heart of the shoe’s superior performance is a market-leading 4.4mm stack height. The artisanal carbon fiber sole is made in Montebelluna using a patent-pending layup. The outsole also features an extra wide metatarsal area for guaranteed comfort across different foot sizes and a cupped heel for increased stability. A signature of all Q36.5’s racing shoes, the Unique Pro Shoes feature no tongue but rather use a proprietary mesh panel across the bridge of the foot in order to maximize the shoes’ cooling effect. No other racing shoe on the market offers such a large and effective ventilating surface, representing an additional example of our commitment to thermoregulation as the new frontier for performance gains as well as rider comfort and health. Please note that the 4.0 version of the Unique Pro remains compatible with all major existing pedal and cleat systems.

US$600.00

Ultra Big Logo 19 Socks Ice Grey

Color: Ice Grey | Size: 40-43 / 8-10.5

A cult item in the peloton for years, the Q36.5 Ultra sock is engineered for the most efficient, zero-crease, shoe-sock interface. The result is an unparalleled sense of comfort and control. You will be surprised just how different these socks feel to anything you have used before.

US$24.00

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LOCAL CONDITIONS: Maurizio Fondriest

LOCAL CONDITIONS:
Maurizio Fondriest