Seixas domestique Riccitello's Tour de France debut isn't going well: 'It’s not like it’s gone for good'

Halfway through the Tour de France, Paul Seixas is still very much in the running for a podium finish. The young Frenchman from Decathlon CMA CGM is in fifth place in the general classification. His team is supporting him well, but his designated lead-out man has been virtually invisible so far. Matthew Riccitello hasn’t been able to deliver what was promised—but why is that?

Riccitello made a tremendous impression last year for Israel-Premier Tech, including a victory in the Sibiu Cycling Tour but, above all, a fifth-place finish in the general classification of the Vuelta a España. The 24-year-old American then made the switch to Decathlon CMA CGM and immediately made his debut in the Tour de France. After eleven stages, however, the top climber is in 59th place in the general classification.

That’s largely due to a crash on the third stage to Les Angles. As a result, he rode very cautiously during the first week of the Tour. “I haven’t quite felt like myself since my crash on the third stage, but I’m feeling better and better,” he tells Cyclingnews. “Yesterday I finally felt some positive signs, so hopefully things will continue this way.”

So there’s certainly confidence that he’ll be in the mix during the final week. “I knew I felt good going into the race, and that kind of form doesn’t just disappear. I think I’ve just lost a few percentage points. It’s not like it’s gone for good, so I just have to be patient. I was already feeling better yesterday. Everything should be fine, and I’ll be able to support Paul in the high mountains.”

After the rest day, he was able to assist Seixas on the way to Le Lioran, where Nicolas Prodhomme took over the role of lead-out man. The fact that the next two stages had almost no elevation gain works out well for the American. “There isn’t much I can do for Olav (Kooij, ed.) in the lead-out,” he laughs. “It’s not really my style, so I can definitely just look forward to the coming days.”

After the Tour, Riccitello will refocus on the Vuelta, where he’ll be able to go for his own chances. That’s not the case in France. “The Tour was always for Paul. I just have to be there for him in the high mountains. Right now, my full focus is on the Tour, but the plan is to go for the general classification in the Vuelta afterward. But first, we have to finish this race.”

How has his debut been so far? “It’s definitely lived up to the hype. Before the race, everyone talks about how big it is compared to other races, and it’s definitely lived up to that. But it’s been an amazing experience. It’s also the first Tour for Olav and Daan (Hoole, ed.), so it’s new for all of us. We’re going through this together. It’s very special—something we’re trying to enjoy as much as possible.”