The future looks bright with young North American talent Matthew Riccitello continuing to race in Israel – Premier Tech colors in 2023, when he is set to turn pro.
“Matthew is a brilliant young talent with a bright future. Welcome to IPT, we are expecting big things,” says IPT Partner Sylvan Adams.
20-year-old Riccitello, who is currently riding as a stagiaire for IPT, has signed a three-year deal with the Israeli team.
“We are very happy to see Matthew Riccitello join us from next year. He has already impressed us in Burgos when he rode in support of our WorldTour guys and was right up there on the climbs. Matthew is one of the top up and coming riders coming from North America and shows huge potential when it comes to being a General Classification rider. At only 20-years-old, Matthew has a big career ahead of him and we are very happy to play a role in Matthew’s development in the next years,” explains IPT General Manager Kjell Carlström.
Riccitello made his IPT debut at Vuelta a Burgos, where he finished fourth in the young rider classification, and already felt at home in the IPT environment.
“It felt good to ride in IPT colors at Burgos. It was nice to get to know Mason Hollyman, Marco Frigo, and the other riders and staff a bit better. The team has been super helpful in getting me set up with new equipment. It’s been a really encouraging and positive environment,” says Riccitello. “I’ve raced pro races before, but never with this high of a field. I struggled with the heat a bit the first days, but managed to get it right the last couple days. It was a bit surreal finding myself on the wheel of guys like Nibali, who I’ve been watching on television since I was little. It was nice having such great support,” says Riccitello.”
For 2023 and beyond, Riccitello already has plans to hit the ground running and continue his development.
“Next year, I look forward to working with the riders and staff at IPT to continue my development as a General Classification rider. I’ll look to improve on my positioning, descending, climbing, and time trialing as much as possible. I look forward to contributing to the success of the team and helping my teammates as much as I can. I really value the opportunity to learn from some of the best in cycling, like Chris Froome, Mike Woods, and of course, also the directors and mechanics. I’m grateful for the team’s belief in my potential and ability to grow as a rider.”
Riccitello is part of IPT’s addition of young riders in its 2023 roster, alongside Mason Hollyman, Marco Frigo, and Derek Gee, who are all graduating from Israel Cycling Academy.
