'I don't take his age into account' - Ayuso and Almeida braced for Seixas challenge in Algarve

Matthew Riccitello joined Decathlon CMA CGM over the winter after a breakthrough Grand Tour performance where he finished fifth overall and won the youth classification at the Vuelta a España. The 23-year-old American has already started with a bang in the colours of the French team, winning a stage and the GC at the Tour de la Provence on debut.

“I think they Decathlon signed him on his potential, to be honest. First race, won it, super young. Who knows what the potential is?” Haussler told Domestique. “I mean, I’m also new on the team, I know of him, and I’ve seen him last year at the Vuelta. So I mean, he’s still also looking to find himself and what he is capable of.”

Riccitello beat Ineos star Carlos Rodríguez on the toughest stage at the Tour de la Provence, showcasing his form ahead of the action kicking off in the Algarve. 

“He’s definitely getting his chances, the way he rode Provence, against guys like [Carlos] Rodríguez, you know, I think it’s going to give him a massive confidence boost,” said Haussler.

Riccitello is joined in the Decathlon line-up in Portugal by Paul Seixas, who is starting his second season in the pro ranks. Still only 19, the Frenchman carries enormous expectations after his fine 2025 campaign.

“We also have Paul Seixas here, also in good shape, coming down from altitude, so the team is in a good position to play their cards, but also the peloton is also super strong, so it’s going to be exciting and interesting to see what he can do,” said Haussler.

Haussler, himself a two-time Volta ao Algarve stage winner, pointed to the 19.5km individual time trial in Villamoura on stage 3 as a key indicator of the team’s GC dynamics. “The team obviously has a plan, and I think it will all come down to the TT.”

Seixas' potential certainly hasn't gone unnoticed. In the pre-race press conference for the race, attended by João Almeida and Juan Ayuso, both riders were asked about the rising star that is the 19-year-old Frenchman, and the challenges that he could face after a stellar neo-pro season.

Both Almeida and Ayuso enjoyed very successful neo-pro campaigns. Almeida shone at the Giro d’Italia on debut in 2020, wearing the maglia rosa for 15 stages, before eventually finishing fourth. Meanwhile, Ayuso became the second youngest male rider behind Henri Cornet in 1904 to finish on the podium of a Grand Tour.

“I think he's for sure one of the guys that can be here for the win. I don't really take his age into account, because as you say, I was also there quite young, already fighting for victory, for sure he's ready,” Ayuso told reporters.

“About how to manage [expectations], I think everybody’s different, but I do think he has a bit of a similar way to me, that he has a lot of French press in this case, so I hope he knows how to manage it quite well and that it doesn’t distract him.” 

Ayuso's thoughts were echoed by his former teammate Almeida, who views Seixas among the contenders for the victory in the Algarve this week.

“I think nowadays, experience is not such a big weight on your performance because we have so much data, so much information,” Almeida said of Seixas. “I think it still has some weight, but not that much, so yeah, I think he is just lacking a bit of experience with time, other than that, I think he should be good.”