Vuelta white jersey Riccitello leaves Israel-Premier Tech for Decathlon
A day after winning the best young rider classification at the Vuelta a España, Matthew Riccitello has confirmed that he will ride for the ambitious Decathlon CMA CGM in 2026.
Vuelta a España best young rider Matthew Riccitello will leave Israel-Premier Tech and join Decathlon CMA CGM in 2026. The American has signed a three-year contract with his new team.
“I’m very excited to be joining Decathlon CMA CGM in 2026,” Riccitello said in a statement on Monday morning. “I admire the team’s ambition and progress over the last few years. I want to continue to progress as a rider in stage races and grand tours.
“I’m convinced that this team will push me to reach my full potential. I’m motivated to make the most of this new chapter and confident that this is the right environment to continue to grow, both as a rider and as a person.”
Riccitello turned professional with Israel-Premier Tech in 2023 and he made his Grand Tour debut at that year’s Giro d’Italia before placing fourth overall at the Tour de l’Avenir.
In 2024, he placed fifth overall at the Tour de Suisse, and he scored his first professional wins in 2025, claiming a stage and the GC at the Sibiu Tour.
Riccitello carried that form into the Vuelta, where he placed fifth overall and claimed the white jersey of best young rider after a spirited contest with Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).
His Israel-Premier Tech squad was the subject of repeated human rights demonstrations on the Vuelta due to Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza. The final stage of the race on Sunday was cancelled after pro-Palestine protestors spilled onto the course in Madrid.
Riccitelli is the latest high-profile departure from Israel-Premier Tech for 2026 after Derek Gee signalled that he had terminated his contract with the team and Michael Woods announced his retirement.
Israel-Premier Tech currently have just 17 confirmed riders for 2026, with Simon Clarke set to retire in January.
Decathlon, meanwhile, have been bolstering their squad significantly following news that CMA CGM will arrive as co-sponsor in 2026.
Olav Kooij, Tiesj Benoot and Daan Hoole are among their eight signings to date, while the squad also boasts French talent Paul Seixas, who underscored his long-term potential as a Grand Tour rider by winning the Tour de l’Avenir. Riccitello’s arrival gives the team another option in three-week races.
“We’ve been interested in Matthew Riccitello’s profile for several seasons now,” said Decathlon directeur sportif Sébastien Joly. “He’s an excellent climber, as he showed again at the Vuelta, where his consistency over three weeks enabled him to win a fine white jersey and fifth place overall.
“We think he has plenty of room for improvement. Matthew strengthens the group for stage races and general classifications, and is a real asset to the team. After strengthening our sprint pole, we’re now strengthening our mountain pole.”
