"I was disappointed that they didn't want to help" - Matthew Riccitello finds sixth place in stage 17 hard to swallow

Stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana 2025 was won by Giulio Pellizzari. The Italian took advantage of the parsimony in the group of favorites to attack with 5 km to go. That ended up affecting Matthew Riccitello, who is fighting for the Top 5 against the day's winner, which was a hard blow to his aspirations. After the stage, he showed his anger with the rest of his rivals for not doing anything.

The stage was decided on the Alto de El Morredero. There, Pellizzari went solo without any response from anyone. Matthew Riccitello was surprised by the move, and did not go quickly to match it, even though he had the legs to do so.

That's why, speaking to the media after stage 17 of the Vuelta a España, the Israel - Premier Tech rider was first angry with himself, and then with the rest of the favorites who didn't try to jump on Giulio Pellizzari's attack.

"In the end, it's my fault that I didn't follow Pellizzari from the start. But I expected the rest of them to want to ride the stage, so I was disappointed that they didn't want to help. They didn't have much to lose, but that's cycling. It is what it is," Riccitello began.

"I think we were pretty evenly matched with the wind. However, no one wanted to do anything, especially Jai (Hindley) when Giulio was ahead. Maybe the rest have already won too much? I'm frustrated, but I can only blame myself for not following him," added the rider from an Israel - Premier Tech that remains in the crosshairs of pro-Palestinian protests at the Vuelta a España.

Now comes the individual time trial in Valladolid. There, Matthew Riccitello knows that he has to cut time on Giulio Pellizzari (5th) and Felix Gall (6th). Then, at the Bola del Mundo, he will try to overtake them in the overall. But it all starts in the time trial on stage 18.

After 17 days of competition, Riccitello's gap to his two rivals is 2 seconds (behind Felix Gall) and 1 minute and 8 seconds (behind Pellizzari).