OFFICIAL: Domenico Pozzovivo returns to pro cycling at age 43 - "This decision comes from objective analysis of my condition"

The year Domenico Pozzovivo turned professional was 2005. In 2026, the Italian veteran will still be racing in the pro peloton, as Team Solution Tech - NIPPO - Rali have announced this Friday morning that they have signed Pozzovivo on a one-year deal which will see his return to the peloton after an initial retirement from the sport.

“We are thrilled to welcome Pozzovivo,” team director Serge Parsani said in a statement. “From our first discussions we sensed clarity and a strong condition. He can be an important added value for the team.”

Gazzetta dello Sport reported on this transfer recently, informing that the Italian would make a comeback and that he is likely to make his debut at the Tour of the Alps, a race he won in 2012. Pozzovivo initially retired from cycling at the end of 2024 after almost two decades of racing.

In 2022, 2023 and 2024, he always found himself starting the year without a contract, but through persistency and no slowing down in training, he always found a contract. In the first of those years he proved to be an excellent addition to the Intermarché team who had its golden year and where he finished eighth at the Giro d'Italia. Then in 2023 he joined Israel - Premier Tech already in March; whilst in 2024 he only found a contract in late February, with the Bardiani team in which he had spent many years earlier in his career.

Whilst he didn't have top results, he continued to show competitive form in the sport, finishing Top10 at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, Giro d'Abruzzo, Tour of Slovenia and Giro della Toscana. He raced to 20th at the Giro d'Italia as well, before retiring at Il Lombardia. However after year and a half away from the peloton, he decided to make a comeback, aided by his passion which saw him continue his training in northern Italy at a high pace. He found new motivation in KOM hunting in the Alps, before understanding that his level remained very high and that there was interest in him from the peloton.

The Italian ProTeam provides a platform for him to continue his career after a comeback, and most likely in a leading position whilst having the chance to race high-level events. “This decision comes from objective analysis of my condition,” Pozzovivo explained. “I am grateful to the team and will do my best to repay their trust with experience and competitiveness.”