Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleIt has been predicted for several years that he has a bright future ahead of him, and in this Vuelta a España, Matthew Riccitello finally seems to be showing his potential at the highest level. The 23-year-old American from Israel-Premier Tech is competing in his third Grand Tour, and on day 10 of the Tour of Spain, he was once again able to keep up with the very best. As a result, he entered the top ten of the GC.
ADVERTISEMENT
Riccitello was 56th in his 2023 grand tour debut and finished 30th in the Vuelta last year. He has been riding rock hard uphill for several years, but still lacked some body for the hard watts on the flat or in technical descents. So it was "only" this year that he recorded his first two victories as a pro in the Sibiu Cycling Tour, winning a stage and the overall classification. He also finished fifth in the Tour of Switzerland in 2024, fourth in the Tour de l'Avenir in 2023.
So it was possible, and a punchy Vuelta offers him the opportunity to make the most of his 55 kilos and 1.72 meters. In the first week, he finished ahead of the other GC contenders in almost all the uphill finishes, and he repeated this feat in stage 10 on Tuesday. “It was an incredibly fast day, actually, the whole stage. It took forever for the leading group to break away, which is not nice for the guys who are sitting on the wheel and don't want to go with them. Such a tough day also made the final climb more selective.”
Continue reading below the photo
Riccitello saw UAE dominate on the final climb in the Vuelta
The young American, whose contract with the much-discussed Israel-Premier Tech expires at the end of this season, is thus showing himself to the world. But where will this end? “All I could do today was follow. I'm glad Vingegaard and the others didn't drop me, given how the race has gone so far. I'm really taking it day by day, there are still so many tough stages to come,” he said cautiously to Eurosport.
However, the fact that he was able to keep up with the enormous pace set by UAE Emirates-XRG, as one of the few among the GC contenders, was a good sign. "Ayuso set a very high pace from the start, for about 1 or 2 kilometers. João (Almeida, ed.) tried to break away, leaving a small group behind. Jorgenson set the pace from there, partly because it levelled out towards the top and the riders stopped trying."
Read also
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
IDL-productions
Celia Gery won the European cyclocross championship while awaiting surgery: 'It'll be a new beginning'
Dutch team coach De Knegt annoyed by European Cyclocross Championships dispute: "A bit of a let down"
Glasgow set to shine as World Cup demand outstrips expectations and Mason eyes first home cyclocross race
Pogačar, Vingegaard and Van Aert went faster again in 2026... except when they didn't
Team GB dominate, China on the rise, Lavreysen the best ever? Five takeaways from the 2026 Track World Championships
Latest Cycling News
Pinarello-Q36.5 weigh up Pidcock and Ciccone as co-leaders in 2027: 'Rather have two spirited riders than one'
Pidcock's turbocharged vacation leads to struggles on the bike: 'No wonder people think cycling is hard'
Primoz Roglic's contract options continue to shrink, but a surprise new team enters the conversation
Disappointment at Lidl-Trek after Juan Ayuso's poor start: 'I don't know if it was a mental issue'
Tadej Pogačar reveals his insane training data in new HBO film: 'I think that's what works best'
Popular Cycling News
Cycling transfers 2026/2027 | Cycling transfer market still in full swing in November
Tadej Pogačar reveals his insane training data in new HBO film: 'I think that's what works best'
Sven Nys spoke with Lucinda Brand straight after European Championship drama: 'Is that enough to ultimately relegate someone'
Fears of serious injury to Alvarado, bronze medalist, after the European Cyclocross Championships
Picnic PostNL's WorldTour uncertainty has five rival teams, and Tom Pidcock, watching the UCI closely
Latest Comments
- If he finished ninth at the Tour, why didn’t he get a stage win too? I’m still trying to understand how the overall standings work.julien11-11-2026
- No ‘cross at all this winter? That’s a shame, but with his road season starting in February, I can see why he’d want a proper break. Does stepping away mean he’s done with cyclocross for good?gearguru3311-11-2026
- I like the honesty of that training post. Even the best riders feel the difference after a few weeks off, and he’s got plenty of time to build back up.samanthak11-11-2026
- Three sets of tyres in two days at the Nürburgring! The man clearly doesn’t do anything by halves. Bet a winter without cyclocross will feel strange, though.bikebuffj11-11-2026
- Fifth in the world rankings after that autumn run is some achievement. Pidcock was so aggressive at the Tour, too—hopefully he can turn a few of those near-misses into wins inpatriciaw11-11-2026
- Does XEFI’s investment mean the team will have more money to sign riders, or is it mainly a sponsorship and naming change? And is Roglič expected to race much next season?jeremya11-11-2026
- If the roster is nearly complete, why bring up Roglič at all? Feels like the article is turning a firm “no” into a transfer rumour.andrewf11-11-2026
- Wuling is no joke—105 km of climbing to 3,275 metres is brutal. Five minutes off Dyball’s record is still an incredible ride.velodromevirtuoso111-11-2026
- Roglič at TotalEnergies would be a fascinating move, but Heulot sounds pretty clear that it isn’t happening. His experience could be a massive boost for the younger riders, though.jennifer1911-11-2026
- Eight riders told to go for stages, and nobody gets one—hard to know what the plan was there. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pick a clear leader next time.bikebuffj10-11-2026