Career
Born in Cles, Trentino, Fondriest turned professional in 1987 with the Ecoflam team He subsequently rode for Alfa-Lum in 1988, winning the World Cycling Championships along with stages in the Tour de Suisse and Tirreno–Adriatico. He retired in 1998 after riding for Cofidis for three years, and founded a bicycle manufacturer, called Fondriest, which makes carbon fiber bicycles.