Domenico Pozzovivo set to return - 43-year old Italian to make pro cycling comeback after retirement in 2024
Cycling
Domenico Pozzovivo is set to rejoin the professional peloton more than a year after announcing his retirement. The Italian called time on his career after Il Lombardia 2024 at 41, but now he is preparing an unexpected comeback to competition in 2026.
According to reporting from Gazzetta dello Sport, multiple sources have confirmed that Pozzovivo already has a deal in place with Solution Tech–Vini Fantini, paving the way for his return to the international calendar. His comeback ranks among the most striking stories in recent cycling, especially given the time elapsed since his retirement.
The return would not be long in coming. The Italian press reports his first start will be at the Tour of the Alps, scheduled from the 20th to 24th of April. It is a demanding race with a mountainous profile that suits the attributes that have always defined the Italian.
Pozzovivo is a rider that much like Alejandro Valverde, has kept a high level all throughout his career and into his 40's, product of a clear passion for training. Even after his retirement he never slowed down, and has been pursuing KOM's throughout the Alps as a result. His climbing performance continued to stand out and his level continued to be that of a pro rider.
He has finished in the Top10 of the Giro d'Italia on six different occasions and finished 20th in his final participation back in 2024.
Pozzovivo’s career
Throughout his career, Domenico Pozzovivo compiled several standout results, particularly in stage races. His major achievements include overall victory at the Giro del Trentino in 2012, where he also took three stage wins across different editions (2010, 2012, and 2015). He also won the Brixia Tour overall in 2010, a race in which he collected three partial victories, and claimed stages at marquee events such as the Giro d’Italia (2012), Volta a Catalunya (2015), and Tour de Suisse (2017).
He also showed remarkable consistency in general classifications, with runner-up finishes at the Giro del Trentino (2014 and 2018), the Tour of Oman (2019), and the Brixia Tour (2009 and 2011). He added two second places at the one-day Tre Valli Varesine (2010 and 2011) and took third overall at the Volta a Catalunya in 2015, cementing his status as a competitive rider on demanding courses.
| Year | Team |
| 2024 | VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè |
| 2023 | Israel - Premier Tech |
| 2022 | Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux |
| 2021 | Team Qhubeka NextHash |
| 2020 | NTT Pro Cycling |
| 2019 | Bahrain Merida |
| 2018 | Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team |
| 2017 | AG2R La Mondiale |
| 2016 | AG2R La Mondiale |
| 2015 | AG2R La Mondiale |
| 2014 | AG2R La Mondiale |
| 2013 | AG2R La Mondiale |
| 2012 | Colnago - CSF Inox |
| 2011 | Colnago - CSF Inox |
| 2010 | Colnago - CSF Inox |
| 2009 | CSF Group - Navigare |
| 2008 | CSF Group - Navigare |
| 2007 | Ceramica Panaria - Navigare |
| 2006 | Ceramica Panaria - Navigare |
| 2005 | Ceramica Panaria - Navigare |
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
Loading
1 Comments