Matthew Riccitello leaves Israel - Premier Tech for Decathlon: "This is the right environment"
Cycling
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team has added another promising name to its roster ahead of 2026, securing the signing of American climber Matthew Riccitello. The 22-year-old arrives from Israel – Premier Tech after a breakthrough Vuelta a España, where he finished fifth overall and claimed the white jersey on the slopes of the Bola del Mundo. His performances in the mountains confirmed him as one of the most exciting young riders on the market.
Riccitello himself expressed his enthusiasm for the next chapter in his career. "I am very excited about joining DECATHLON in 2026. I admire the ambition and progression of the team in recent years. I want to continue to progress as a rider in stage races and grand tours. I am convinced that this team will push me to reach my full potential. I am motivated to make the most of this new chapter and confident that this is the right environment to continue to grow, both as a rider and as a person."
Team manager Sébastian Joly explained why the French squad has been targeting him for several seasons. "Matthew Riccitello's profile has interested us for several seasons. He is an excellent climber, he proved it again in the Vuelta with a regularity during three weeks that allowed him to conquer a beautiful white jersey and a fifth position in the general classification. We believe he has a good margin of progression. Matthew comes to reinforce the group for the stage races and the general classifications, he is a real asset for the team. After having strengthened our sprint block, we are now reinforcing our mountain block."
Riccitello’s career already shows a steady progression. In 2025 he claimed overall victory at the Sibiu Cycling Tour, with one stage win and another podium finish, before shining again at the Vuelta with fifth overall and sixth on a stage. The year before, he impressed at the Tour de Suisse with fifth in the general classification, a third place in one stage and two fourths, and later another sixth overall at the Vuelta. Back in 2023 he won a stage at the Tour de l’Avenir and finished fourth overall, adding eighth in the Vuelta a San Juan Internacional. His first breakthrough came in 2022, when he won the general classification of the Istarsko Proljeće – Istrian Spring Trophy.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- 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
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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