By Taylor Johnson
Copyright hoodline
American cyclist Matthew Riccitello, aged 23, is set to join forces with the French cycling team, Decathlon CMA CGM, for the upcoming seasons with his eyes firmly set on further proving his mettle in the arena of stage races and grand tours. As reported by ABC15, Riccitello has inked a three-year deal with the team. Reigning from Tucson, Arizona, Riccitello has grabbed headlines recently for his remarkable performance in the Spanish Vuelta, where he not only finished fifth but also snagged the white jersey for best young rider.
In a strategic move to potentially climb the ranks in the competitive cycling scene, Decathlon—a global sporting goods powerhouse—has teamed up with CMA CGM, a major player in the world shipping industry. The joint venture looks to ambitiously overhaul the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team by year’s end, as per the team’s announcement cited by Yahoo Sports. The ultimate goal? To conquer the Tour within a half-decade, despite boasting a budget of 40 million euros ($47 million), which notably falls 20 million euros short of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the prolific team behind Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar.
Amidst the figures and future forecasts, Riccitello remains the human interest focal point. Acknowledging the team’s upward graph, he spoke highly of its ambition and his own alignment with their goals, “I admire the team’s ambition and progress over the last few years,” Riccitello told ABC15. It’s this blend of youthful vigor and seasoned guidance that the team’s sport director, Sébastien Joly, believes will fortify their climbing division: “Matthew strengthens the group for stage races and general classifications, and is a real asset to the team,” he explained to Yahoo Sports.
Not only does Riccitello bring climbing prowess to the table, but he also promises to partner up with another promising name in cycling, Paul Seixas, an 18-year-old French talent and eighth-place finisher at the Critérium du Dauphiné. Together, they’re poised to create a mix of expertise and raw talent, alongside experienced cyclists Felix Gall and Aurélien Paret-Peintre. However, Riccitello’s transition hasn’t been without its challenges. This year’s Vuelta saw political tensions rise to the surface as pro-Palestinian protesters called for the expulsion of his team, Israel Premier Tech. Riccitello, amidst the turmoil, remained undeterred and focused, “There is no doubt that this was a difficult race for us, with everything we have been dealing with out on the road,” he reflected, according to ABC15. “But it also pulled the guys really close, being in it together.”
