Fondriest Cles – Classic Steel Racing Bike – Campagnolo Athena – 1990s

History:

The Fondriest brand is inseparably linked with one of the most talented Italian bicycle racers of the late 1980s and 1990s—Maurizio Fondriest. Born in the Trentino town of Cles, he celebrated his greatest triumph in 1988 at the age of 23 when he was crowned World Road Race Champion in Ronse, Belgium. With the legendary rainbow jersey on his shoulders and later Monument victories such as Milan-San Remo (1993), he was one of the defining faces of international cycling.

In the early 1990s, while still active in his professional career, Maurizio founded his own bicycle manufacture together with his brother Francesco. Fondriest frames immediately made a name for themselves in the pro peloton through uncompromising attention to detail, innovative geometries, and outstanding craftsmanship. Another hallmark of the young brand was the extravagant, extremely elaborate, and colorful paint schemes that perfectly captured the zeitgeist of the 90s. The combination of traditional Italian frame-building artistry and the constant pursuit of technical perfection quickly allowed Fondriest to grow into an absolute premium destination for ambitious cyclists.

Description:

This Fondriest bears the model name "Cles"—a direct homage to the founder's birthplace in the Val di Non. An Oria TT 0.9 steel tubeset serves as the foundation. Oria tubes were favored by many renowned Italian manufacturers in the 90s and provide this frame with a first-class balance of reliable stability and direct power transfer. The visual appearance is a prime example of typical Fondriest design. Set against a white base coat, flowing color gradients in deep blue on the rear stays and fork, bold red on the downtube, and vibrant yellow on the top tube set striking sporty accents.

The drivetrain relies on a classic Campagnolo Athena groupset, with gears precisely operated via Campagnolo downtube shifters. A special feature of this build is the beautifully crafted Miche Monolithic Performance crankset, which adds an exclusive touch to the drivetrain. Braking is handled by a Modolo setup. Here, Modolo EXE brake calipers are combined with aerodynamically shaped, distinctively curved Modolo brake levers made of a robust special composite, ensuring excellent ergonomics on the handlebars. This fascinating, cross-brand combination of Campagnolo, Miche, and Modolo corresponds exactly to the original factory equipment of the time. It was deliberately combined this way by the factory to achieve an optimal symbiosis of Italian performance and individual style. The wheelset rotates on smooth-running Miche hubs and dark Ambrosio Gentleman rims, fitted with Michelin Dynamic Sport tires, whose white sidewalls harmonize wonderfully with the white bar tape. Seating is provided by a black Selle Italia saddle.

Condition:

Pre-owned. The road bike is in a beautiful, extremely well-maintained condition and has undergone a comprehensive mechanical revision at Goldensteelcycles. The Oria steel frame is structurally completely intact, dimensionally stable, and shows no distortion or dents. The original paint was carefully cleaned, gently polished, and sealed with carnauba wax, allowing the typical 90s play of colors to truly shine again.

All mechanical components from Campagnolo, Miche, and Modolo were disassembled, cleaned in an ultrasonic bath, freshly lubricated, and precisely adjusted. The headset and bottom bracket bearings run smoothly and absolutely play-free. To guarantee reliable function and direct riding pleasure, all essential wear parts such as the complete brake and shift cables along with their housings, the handlebar tape, and the Michelin tires were completely renewed during the service. A characterful Italian road bike that functions flawlessly and is ideally suited for your next sporty ride.

Details: