Young American Matthew Riccitello may have lost his last junior season to the Covid pandemic, but he still joined Hagens Berman Axeon for 2021, where he got to experience a few races against the WorldTour riders.
Fast-forward to 2022, Matthew has already won the GC at the Istrian Spring Trophy and is a contender for the U23 Giro d’Italia, which serves as a bit of a revenge tour for the 20-year-old, after getting ill before the race began last year forced him to abandon on the second stage.
I called Matthew about a week before the Giro began to get to know more about a rider who is strong on the climbs and can deliver a good TT.
“So far, this year has been so far so good. I started in Croatia and did a few one-day races and the Istrian Spring Trophy, which went really well. I wasn’t expecting too much there as it was my first race of the season, I just went for the experience and ended up winning the GC. That’s a good start! We also rode really well as a team there too. After that, I went home for three weeks. It’s always nice to get back for a bit, and once I came back to Europe in April, I basically wouldn’t be home again until the end of the season. I then did Tour de Bretagne, U23 Liege and Fleche Ardennaise upon my return. Those are races that didn’t necessarily suit me perfectly, but it’s all about getting experience in different races and trying to become a well-rounded rider. That was the thought behind going to those races.”
Matthew clearly identifies as a climber who can also test well against the clock, and says his biggest weakness is that he is trying to make up for lost experience in races due to the pandemic and other factors.
“Definitely climbing is a strength, and, somehow as I am a smaller rider, I can TT well too! I’d say a climb of about five plus minutes onwards is good for me, but I prefer the longer climbs, preferably a few days into a stage race when everyone is getting tired! I hopefully see myself as a GC rider in the future, but there’s time to figure that out. I’d say my biggest weakness is a lack of race experience. Covid meant I lost my last year as a junior and some races from my first U23 season. As a US rider, you’re already having to play catch up, as we have a different introduction to the sport and we don’t have the same level of experience as the European guys, who have been doing these kinds of races since they were seven or eight years old.”
As a 19-year-old last year, Riccitello was racing against the WorldTour riders at Volta ao Algarve, Tour de l’Ain and Tour de Wallonie, as well as a string of one-day pro races in Belgium. Despite being chucked in the deep end from an early age, Matthew was delighted to have the chance to test himself against the pros, and even managed 25th on GC at l’Ain.
“I was super excited to get the opportunity to do races like Algarve and Tour de l’Ain, which are known as harder stage races with a lot of climbs. Algarve was basically my first race of the season last year, and racing against the WorldTour guys, it was really being thrown into the deep end. But it’s good to start at those races, there is no better way of getting experience than racing with those guys. I enjoyed it a lot and it was great to get the opportunity.”
Despite the turnover of riders to the pros every offseason and new recruits from all over the world arriving, things always still look super close from the outside looking in to Hagens Berman Axeon. Riccitello confirms that to be the case, stating the effectiveness of the program is down to the legacy and culture built by Axel Merckx and his staff.
“It’s super cool to be on this team. Axel has shown each year he has a good program to develop guys, both as riders and as people. We have a real mix here, an international team, so you get to meet people from different cultures and countries. This team has a proven method not just for turning guys pro, but them going on to have successful careers. That’s a testament to Axel and his staff and the program they have created.”
Looking ahead, there are a lot of tough U23 stage races coming, and Matthew will be looking to show himself in them all, starting with the U23 Giro.
“My main goals for the season are what’s coming next. I’m looking forward to the Bay Giro. Up to this point, I’ve never really done a stage race with climbs like this, since I got sick last year before the race. I’m excited to see where I stack up against the best U23 climbers in the world. After that, there’s Valle d’Aosta too. Hopefully, the US are sending a team to l’Avenir too. It’s not 100% confirmed yet, but it’s looking good.”
Given US coverage of European racing has at times been limited to the Tour, it’s not a shock that is the race a lot of American riders resonate most with. Riccitello comes from an athletic family, and can remember his father having the Tour on from a very young age.
“I’d say the Tour is the dream. That was always a big inspiration. It was always on when I was little, but I didn’t take up cycling until I was 14. My dad was a pro triathlete and he would always have it on TV before I went for swim practice, since the Tour is on in the morning in the US. I’d say from 2008 I remember the race being on, with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen commentating, That’s memorable.”
There is no question Matthew Riccitello is a very talented rider, and he does indeed possess all the skills to become a very strong stage racer. Over the next three months or so, it’s going to be fascinating to see how the man from Arizona stacks up as a GC man against some great climbers, and I don’t see any reason why can’t be up there with the very best of them.
U23 Cycling Zone wishes to thank Matthew for taking the time to answer my call, and I wish him all the best for the Giro, the rest of his season and beyond. I also wish to thank Chad Childers, as always, for coordinating the interview. You can find Matthew on Instagram and Twitter.
U23 Cycling Zone 