# Matthew Riccitello on His Vuelta Breakout, Trading NBA Dreams for Cycling Stardom, Leaving IPT for a French Super Team & Taking on Tadej Pogačar

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-peloton-podcast-7315974/matthew-riccitello-on-his-vuelta-breakout-trading-nba-dreams-for-cycling-stardom-leaving-ipt-for-a-french-super-team-taking-on-tadej-poga-ar
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-peloton-podcast-7315974/matthew-riccitello-on-his-vuelta-breakout-trading-nba-dreams-for-cycling-stardom-leaving-ipt-for-a-french-super-team-taking-on-tadej-poga-ar.md
Podcast: [Beyond the Peloton Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/beyond-the-peloton-podcast-7315974)
Published: 2025-11-29T04:45:25+00:00
Episode link: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/p/matthew-riccitello-on-his-vuelta
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/180115027/155c7c020cb3ef5b98f751d6fa8c0efd.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3519

## Resource

Spencer Martin and co-host Andrew Vontz sat down with Tucson local/American GC star Matthew Riccitello live at the El Tour de Tucson to discuss his breakout ride at the Vuelta a España, his development from aspiring NBA star, to novice cyclist, to finishing 5th place overall at the Vuelta in just a few years, his decision to leave Israel Premier-Tech for the French superteam Decathlon-CMA CGM for 2026, and how he sees his career developing in the near future. This episode is brought to you by Join Cycling. ⁠⁠⁠Get your first month free through this link⁠⁠⁠ Beyond the Peloton Newsletter⁠⁠: Season in Review #4: Most Improved & Regressed Stars of 2025 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew’s Choose the Hard Way Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Important note: To access all posts, including the members-only off-season chat rooms , you must be a paying BTP subscriber . This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthepeloton.substack.com/subscribe

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