Matthew Riccitello Knocked Out of Dauphiné on Day One

Matthew Riccitello was supposed to be one of the last riders with Paul Seixas when the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes hits the French Alps this weekend.

Instead, the American climbing ace was heading home from the rebranded Critérium du Dauphiné before stage 1 had properly clicked into gear.

The Decathlon-CMA CGM rider abandoned early in Sunday’s opening stage in what’s a blow to Seixas just as the French teenager’s biggest race of the season ramps up.

Seixas flagged his teammate’s condition before the start in Vizille.

“[Riccitello] is a little sick this morning, I think it’s food poisoning or something,” Seixas told CyclingProNet. “We hope he can finish the stage.”

That optimism quickly faded, and Decathlon later confirmed the withdrawal.

“Feeling sick last night, Matthew Riccitello had to leave the race early,” the team posted. “Get well soon Matthew.”

Missing a shot at the French Alps

This week would have been Riccitello’s first crack at the long, sustained French Alpine climbs since his breakout Tour de l’Avenir in 2023 when he battled Isaac del Toro and finished fourth.

The climbing ace could still rebound in time for the Tour de Suisse (June 17-21), and a spot on Decathlon’s 2026 Tour de France squad isn’t out of the question.

The Arizonan told Velo earlier this season that the Vuelta a España, where he hit a breakout fifth overall last year, was his primary grand tour target.

But Seixas’s surprise Tour de France confirmation changes the calculus for the whole team.

Riccitello has been central to Seixas’s breakout spring, and he raced alongside the French teenager at the Volta ao Algarve, where Seixas took his first pro win, and helped deliver him to victory at the Itzulia Basque Country.

He was also at Decathlon’s recent altitude camp in Sierra Nevada.

The exit is an unwelcome speed bump for a rider who has otherwise been one of the best American stories of 2026.

After his transfer from Israel-Premier Tech, Riccitello won a stage and the GC at the Tour de Provence, finished ninth at Volta a Catalunya, and took the Tour du Jura in April.

Other Americans this week in France include Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Emirates-XRG), who attacked late Sunday and finished fourth.

Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost) also line up, while Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished in the main GC group Sunday.

Seixas down a key rider in Tour warmup

Riccitello’s exit means Seixas is down one rider right out of the gate at the high-pressure, eight-stage Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

With Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar both skipping the race, Seixas enters the race at the center of attention.

With massive hype in the French media, he ended up losing a few seconds in Sunday’s attack-riddled first stage.

Stage 1 offered an early reality check. Ten riders, including Kévin Vauquelin and Oscar Onley (Netcompany-Ineos), drove a late wedge to the main GC group to gain 12 seconds on Seixas and the other top favorites.

João Almeida lost more than 24 minutes, meaning that rival UAE Emirates-XRG will fully back Isaac del Toro in the GC clash with Seixas.

Even without Riccitello, Decathlon still has some legs for Seixas.

Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Nicolas Prodhomme will step up in the mountain stages, while Daan Hoole, Stefan Bissegger, and Léo Bisiaux — who chased Sunday’s late move — cover the rest.

The 78th edition continues Monday with the 234.3km second stage from Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux to Le Puy-en-Velay.

Four rated climbs could set up early breakaways, with the sprinters hoping to keep a lid on things for a reduced bunch kick.